06/09/03: Ton Pentre 2 - 1 Caerleon

TON PENTRE reached the second round of the Welsh League Cup by beating visitors Caerleon 2-1 with goals from Kerry Harding and Carl Thomas. However, the Rhondda Bulldogs Division One counterparts provided the toughest challenge yet.

Ton Pentre could have opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Harding managed to get a pass to Andrew Hughes before being challenged to the ground in the Caerleon box. Hughes turned and set up Thomas who sent his shot wide.

After 20 minutes of play Hughes controlled the ball with his chest having received it from Alyn Jones. The Bulldogs captain then played a wonderful ball inside the box for Harding to run onto. His hard shot saw Fitzroy Hutchinson get a hand to the ball but was unable to stop it crossing the line.

Before the break Caerleon began to fight back with Shane Williamson coming close to scoring.

Seconds later the ball was back in the Caerleon half with Thomas. The Ton forward hit a confident strike from outside the box that just went wide of the post. Had the effort gone in it would have been a superb goal.

The last action of the first half saw Caerleon have their best chance yet to level the score. With the Ton defence stretched John Seymour sent a useful cross into the box from the left. Williamson connected but was unable to direct the ball on target having been unchallenged.

Caerleon opened the second half looking the more likely to score with two of their chances being cleared off the Ton line. The visitors though, were to rue these missed chances.

A 55th minute penalty gave the Rhondda Bulldogs a 2-0 lead after Lewis Andrews handled the ball in the area. Thomas was the scorer smashing the penalty kick into the top right of the goal hitting the stantion.

The 2-0 lead only lasted for two minutes. The Caerleon goal provided a bizarre match event. With the ball having crossed the Ton goal line it appeared as though the referee's assistant, who was indicating an offside, had ruled it out. The referee then went over to his assistant and ruled out the offside awarding the goal to Caerleon. The Ton Pentre players looked baffled as the game continued.

Caerleon had their chances to get back into the match and Ton could also have taken a further lead.

It was not a classic Ton Pentre performance but a win nonetheless. Credit must be given to Caerleon who stopped Ton from playing in the second half and will be disappointed by losing the game.

• Welsh League Cup Round One: Llanelli 7-1 Llanwern; Albion Rovers 0-7 Porthcawl; Porth Tywyn 7-0 Pentwyn Dynamos; Seven Sisters 0-1 AFC Llywdcoed; Risca & Gelli 0-2 Ammanford; UWIC 1-4 Goytre United; Garw 1-0 Caldicot; Aberaman 4-1 Chepstow; Newcastle Emlyn 2-1 Penrhiwceiber; Garden Village 0-3 Bettws; Briton Ferry 4-1 Neath.

• Ton Pentre have unveiled that their new sponsor for the season is GUSWINDOWS of Gelli with Football Mad of Cardiff set to provide the Rhondda Bulldogs with a new home kit.

Ton Pentre: Jon Howe; Mike Jones; Jason Roberts; Neil Davies; Dean Morris; Andrew Hughes; Craig Morgan (Ian Shepherd, 74mins); Mark Evans (Lee Tapper, 79mins); Carl Thomas; Alyn Jones (Tom Billings, 84mins); Kerry Harding.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.