Ton Pentre kicked off this seasons Welsh Cup campaign with a hard fought win at Porth Tywyn in the third round, which now sets up a clash with Welsh Premier team, Flexys Cefn Druids.

Ton Pentre's visit to West Wales did not start as well as they would have hoped with Rhondda Bulldogs captain, Andrew Hughes, being substituted in the 14th minute. Hughes had injured himself after he had lunged at a Porth Tywyn player who was in possession of the ball and got booked for the foul. Lee Skyrme was his replacement.

The moments preceding the substitution saw Porth Tywyn putting Ton Pentre under considerable pressure. From the freekick that Hughes had conceded Mark Evans was disappointed in seeing his shot inch wide past John Howe in the Ton Pentre goals. The Rhondda Bulldogs were forced to defend immediately after and if it were not for an important header by Nathan Prygodzicz Ton Pentre could have found themselves a goal down.

The home team had an excellent chance of taking the lead 18 minutes in when Aneurin Evans chipped the ball forward over the defence for Steven Andrews. However, Howe was alert and saved well.

Ton Pentre's first close chance came in the 25th minute when a freekick by Jason Roberts, after a Porth Tywyn offside, saw David Withers head forward to Carl Thomas who was unable to keep his effort from going over the bar.

Ton Pentre were then forced to make their second substitution of the first half when defender Neil Davies appeared to have picked up a leg injury. This enabled Mike Jones to return to the team after a bout of the flu.

Ten minutes later a Ceri Harding run up the left wing won Ton Pentre a corner kick. Porth Tywyn cleared the cross but only as far as Dean Morris on the edge of the area. His wonderful strike gave Ton Pentre the lead.

This advantage only lasted ten minutes when a mistake in midfield by Lee Tapper gave Porth Tywyn's Mike Smith the opportunity to run at the Bulldogs defence. And his attack proved productive as he grabbed an equaliser in the 44th minute.

In the third minute of first half injury time a low cross by Lee Tapper got the better of the home sides defence but Withers was unable to stretch enough to meet the ball in the gaping goalmouth.

Smith used his pace again in the 65th minute as he broke away with his effort going over the cross bar. One minute later Ton Pentre attacked and scored through the inform Carl Thomas, whose soft strike was enough to squeeze past the goalkeeper after Skyrme had headed on. This goal would be the eventual 2-1 winner.

Ali Kiyaga was introduced into the game in the 80th minute for Withers and nearly scored three minutes later. Thomas ran with ball wide on the right and passed inside to Kiyaga, he shot but the 'keeper dived low to his left to deny the players chance of putting the game out of the reach of Porth Tywyn.

With the match heading towards its finish, a vital tackle from Skyrme in the Ton Pentre box stopped Porth Tywyn's Evans in his tracks and allowed Howe to clear his lines.

This 2-1 win sees Ton Pentre, sponsored by Futureglaze Windows, through to the fourth round of the Welsh Cup and a match which sees last seasons loosing semi-finalists play each other. Ton Pentre will entertain Flexys Cefn Druids at Ynys Park on 8 February 2003.

Saturday 23 November sees Ton Pentre visit Garw for a Welsh League match. The Rhondda Bulldogs next home fixture is on Saturday 30 November against Milford.

All the latest Ton Pentre news can be found on their website at tonpentreafc.com.

Ton Pentre: Howe; Tapper; Davies (Jones, 25mins); Roberts; Prygodzicz; Hughes (Skyrme, 14mins); Morris; Craig Thomas; Carl Thomas; Withers (Kiyaga, 80mins); Harding.

Welsh Cup Fourth Round Draw: Barry Town v Pontardawe; Caersws v Bangor City; Carmarthen Town v Cwmbran Town; Llandudno v Connah's Quay; Oswestry Town v Haverfordwest County; Port Talbot Town v Aberystwyth Town; Ton Pentre v Flexys Cefn Druids; UWIC Inter Cardiff v Rhyl.

Match report by Rob Dowling.