Motaquote Welsh League Division One
25/10/03: Ton Pentre 8 - 1 Pontardawe

TON PENTRE thumped eight goals into bottom club Pontardawe while their rivals slipped up. With UWIC and Dinas Powys drawing 0-0, Gwynfi and Llanelli tied at 1-1 and Grange Quins also being held 1-1 at home to Neath, the top of the table now looks very tight.

Therefore, it was important that Ton could score as many goals as possible against the whipping boys of the league to help their goal difference. Before this match with Ton, Pontardawe had conceded 39 goals in eight games.

The first goal came on the 12-minute mark when Alyn Jones ran up the right wing with the ball. He sent a well measured cross into the penalty area where Carl Thomas was positioned to head Ton into the lead.

Moment's later Thomas ran the ball to the by-line and crossed it back into the area. There was no Ton player in a position to score but the accuracy of the cross forced Daniel Luton to attempt a clearance. However, he hit the ball past his own 'keeper to give Ton a 2-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes from half time Ceri Harding found himself in space out on the wing. It gave the player as much time as he needed to cross into the box. Having sent the ball to the far post Nicky Pritchard was stranded in the goalmouth. Jones jumped above everyone and easily headed Ton into a 3-0 lead.

Pontardawe managed to pull a goal back in the 40th minute when Paul Dickie struck a lovely shot low and hard past John Howe after Richard Evans had put him through.

Any vague chance of a comeback was ruled out two minutes later when Harding crossed into the box once more for Andrew Hughes to score with a glancing header at the near post.

It took just five minutes of the second half to produce yet another goal. Ian Shepherd's superb run down the left wing and across the by-line saw him pull the ball back for Thomas to grab his second goal of the game.

Shepherd was involved once again soon after with a run down left. With a pass inside to Hughes, the club captain was then able to play Jones through to shoot. A lovely strike saw the ball rocket into the left stanchion for 6-1.

The 66th minute saw Hughes score for the second time in the game. He tapped in at the far post after the Pontardawe defence failed to clear Harding's low and hard cross into the box from a corner.

The scoring was rounded off a minute from time. Thomas scored with his head to notch up his hat-trick after the chance came from a throw-in where Harding gained possession to cross. The goal, that clipped the post on its way into net, means that Thomas has now scored 14 goals in all competitions so far this season.

The Rhondda Bulldogs face a useful Briton Ferry side on Saturday November 1 away, kicking off at 2.15pm. Following this match the Saturday after (November 8) Ton face Neath in the Welsh Cup third round at Ynys Park.

Ton Pentre: John Howe; Mike Jones; Jason Roberts; Ian Shepherd; Nathan Prygodzicz (Lee Michaels, 45mins); Andrew Hughes (Lee Tapper, 69mins); Shaun Fackerel; Dean Morris; Carl Thomas; Alyn Jones (Jamie Michaels, 58mins); Ceri Harding.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.