Considering the conditions for this match, Ton Pentre picked up a terrific three points on their visit to Maesteg Park for a Welsh League Division One match at Tudor Park. In a freezing environment with a chilling wind sweeping across the ground, the winners of this match would be the team that used the wind to their advantage. And it was Ton Pentre who had to play against it in the first half.

Maesteg put the Rhondda Bulldogs under immediate pressure and won a corner after Dean Morris gave away a free kick. Richard Johnson in the Ton Pentre goals did well to save the resulting shot from the free kick with the defence clearing the ball from immediate danger by hitting behind for the corner. Johnson plucked the ball from the air when Maesteg sent the corner in too close to the Ton Pentre 'keeper.

Ton Pentre put together an excellent move in the 10th minute, which started with Jason Roberts and ended with Ceri Harding in possession whose shot won a corner for the Rhondda outfit. Nothing came of the corner due to the strong wind that Ton Pentre were playing against.

Maesteg were then straight back onto the offensive when Ali Kiyaga (ex-Ton Pentre) used his strength to play Matthew Allwood through on goal. His shot saw Johnson pull off a good save that could have resulted in disaster. The Ton Pentre goalie saved the ball between his knees and for a split second it looked as though the ball had gone though his legs while he was diving.

Midway into the first half the referee awarded a free kick to Maesteg in the Ton Pentre box for obstruction. The free kick hit the Ton Pentre wall and reflected for a corner. In the space of a few minutes Maesteg won corner after corner but failed to score. Their best chance came when Ian Shepherd, another ex-Ton Pentre player, had a free header but the Rhondda Bulldogs cleared from the danger zone.

Ton Pentre did well to get to half time without conceding a goal, as they were unable to get out of their own half because of the strong wind. The second half would always be easier for Ton Pentre as it was their turn to use the wind advantage.

At the interval Alex Lawless replaced Neil Davies who picked up a dead leg in the first half.

The wind advantage was apparent in the first five minutes of the second half when Ton Pentre piled the pressure on Maesteg. The Rhondda Bulldogs had a possible penalty turned down when a Maesteg defender fouled Mark Evans. He appealed for a penalty but the referee gave a free kick outside the box. Jamie Michaels struck a shot from the kick which just nipped over Adrian Tucker's cross bar.

A minute later Maesteg's James Sullivan fouled Ton Pentre's Morris. As things got out of control Morris was head butted by Sullivan as this cold game suddenly thawed out as the temperature rose. Sullivan was sent off by the referee and shockingly so was Morris. It is unclear what Morris was sent off for, as he made no physical contact with the other player. Ton Pentre following this incident will surely lodge an appeal.

In the 79th minute Tom Billings replaced Evans. Billings got straight into the thick of the action when a cross into the Maesteg box fell to the player who brought the ball down with his right foot and shot with his left. Tucker just managed to dive low to it before it hit the back of the net.

Ton Pentre finally scored two minutes following the previous chance when Harding sent the ball into the home teams area from a corner. Carl Thomas scored with his head at the near post to make it 1-0.

The Rhondda Bulldogs nearly doubled their lead in the final minute through Michaels when his shot from 25 yards out skimmed Tucker's crossbar.

Ton Pentre did well to plough through the conditions and deserve the three points for their first half performance alone after soaking up all the pressure.

Please note that the next home match at Ynys Park against Penrhiwceiber Rangers has had its kick-off time moved from 3.00pm to 2.15pm on Saturday 28th December.

Ton Pentre: Richard Johnson; Lee Tapper; Neil Davies (Alex Lawless, 45mins); Jason Roberts; Nathan Prygodzicz; Andrew Hughes; Mark Evans (Tom Billings, 79mins); Dean Morris; Carl Thomas; Jamie Michaels; Ceri Harding. Sub Not Used: Craig Thomas

Match report by Rob Dowling.