With Neath keeping their 100% winning record this season intact with the 1-0 defeat of Pontardawe it was vitally important that Ton Pentre, sponsored by Futureglaze Windows, grabbed all the points available to them in the match against Briton Ferry Athletic. And the three points were gained in the most dramatic fashion.

A lovely ball played from the heart of the Ton Pentre midfield by Andrew Hughes found its way to the feet of Alex Lawless, whose shot forced the Briton Ferry 'keeper, Chris Curtis, to flap the ball out for a corner in the opening moments of the match.

Carl Thomas was Ton Pentre's battling Bulldog in the 19th minute of play when he showed strength by winning possession from a dithering Briton Ferry defender. He played the ball through for Jamie Michaels, who was returning to the Rhondda Bulldog's line-up after a one-match suspension, but was ruled to be offside by the referee's assistant and his effort on goal ruled out.

Soon after, a long goal kick from John Howe in the Ton Pentre goals bypassed the midfield and Briton Ferry defence to fall at Ceri Harding's feet who had a clear shot on goal. He struck well but the ball went wide.

From the goal kick Briton Ferry's Leyton Thomas controlled and looked to run at the Ton Pentre defence. However, Mike Jones made an excellent sliding tackle and passed to Lawless. He then passed to Michaels who knocked a sweet ball forward to put Hughes through on goal. The Ton Pentre captain's sturdy strike went wide of the right post.

A minute before the break Harding attacked the goal after some attractive Ton Pentre play. He passed to Michaels who was in a better position. The forward hit a powerful strike that crashed against the goal post and rebounded to a Ton player outside the area, who was fouled while attempting to hit back into the box. Carl Thomas took the free-kick, which came close but went over the cross bar.

It looked as though Ton Pentre were going to score in the second minute of the restart when Harding turned his marker into the ground and fired a shot at goal. The ball went through the 'keepers legs but did not cross the line. Another inch and Ton would have found themselves one up.

The Rhondda Bulldogs finally hit the back of the net in the 60th minute. Harding and Hughes had linked wide on the left and provided Michaels with a chance to cross the ball into the visitors area. Carl Thomas scored with an excellent header that gave him his eighth goal of the season and Ton a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later Lawless used his skill to play the ball into Carl Thomas's path. He ran into the box and shimmied left and unfortunately hit wide. It was a chance that would have secured Ton's lead. Five minutes later and Ton would rue that earlier chance as Neil Phillips scored for Briton Ferry with his free-kick out wide on Briton Ferry's left wing. It was a soft goal to concede but an accurate free-kick nonetheless.

With the game all square at 1-1 Briton Ferry looked willing to keep it that way. This was evident with any Ton corner seeing all eleven Briton Ferry players defending. This meant that the remainder of the match saw Ton Pentre force attack after attack.

David Withers, returning to Ynys Park after a short managerial spell with Maesteg Park, replaced Carl Thomas who had played an exceptional game, in the 79th minute.

Four minutes before the 90th Hughes hit a long ball forward to the attacking Lee Tapper. With the ball at his feet he ran into the box with Curtis advancing from his goal line to meet the Ton player. Tapper attempted to chip the goalie but Curtis saw the ball hit straight into his arms.

Ton Pentre won a corner in the final minute of play. Harding appeared to have hit the ball too long but Jason Roberts was at the end of it to cross back into the danger area. Jones met it with his head and the ball passed Curtis in goals and was heading for the back of the net. Then from nowhere a Briton Ferry defender appeared and booted off the line. It looked as though that was going to be the last action of the game and spoils shared. However, the drama was not over.

After five minutes of injury time Harding was fouled on the edge of the Briton Ferry area. While Curtis was organising his wall to guard from the free-kick Michaels struck and scored a controversial yet electrifying winner. Briton Ferry were clearly angered by the referee's decision to allow the goal and two of their players were shown a yellow card for their protest.

This could prove to be a vital result as the rest of the season pans out and in the short term certainly an indispensable three points.

Your views can be read and left on the Ton Pentre website at tonpentreafc.com. The Rhondda Bulldogs next four matches are all away games. The first match on the road is an unmissable trip to title rivals Pontardawe on Saturday 2 October. The Rhondda team will next play home on 30 November against Milford United.

Ton Pentre: Howe; Tapper; Davies; Jones; Roberts; Hughes; Lawless; Craig Thomas; Carl Thomas (Withers, 79mins); Michaels; Harding. Subs not used: Prygodzicz & Skyrme.

Match report by Rob Dowling.