Motaquote Welsh League Division One
22/11/03: Ton Pentre 1 - 1 Goytre United

LACKLUSTURE finishing from Goytre United denied the second placed team in the Welsh League all three points against Ton Pentre. They had plenty of chances against the Rhondda Bulldogs but saw their lead cancelled out by a well taken strike from Richard Ryan who marked up his first goal for his new club.

Ton were dealt a blow within the first two minutes of the match when they were forced to replace Lee Tapper with Mark Evans, after a fair clash with a Goytre player left a gash on his forehead.

Soon after Goytre were given their first chance to score when Jamie Michaels conceded a free kick several yards from the Ton box. The ball was rifled goalwards and missed the cross bar by an inch.

With a third of the first half played a Shaun Fackerel corner was curved into the Goytre box. Andrew Hughes jumped and connected but directed the ball wide of the left-hand post.

During another Ton attack Richard Cleverly fouled Fackerel on the edge of the visitors goal area. Carl Thomas strongly struck the ball goalwards but goalie, Gareth Scantlbury, was well positioned to comfortably collect the ball from the air.

In the 23rd minute, as he was heading the ball away from defence, Nathan Prygodzicz fell awkwardly on his ankle. After receiving treatment from Ton physio Keri Bassett, the Bulldogs were forced to make a second first half substitution. Jason Roberts replaced the injured player.

Goytre then started to make an impression on the game as they ploughed forward in the last fifteen minutes of the half.

Paul Wiseman sent Ian Jones up the right wing in the 31st minute. He then made a forward run into the box to connect with the cross from Jones. As the ball came in it was a Ton player who connected as Neil Davies cleared over the bar after looking for a split second that he was going to score an own goal.

Carl Evans produced Goytre's next chance when he shot low and hard from outside the box at the Ton goal. Howe pulled off a splendid save getting down low to stop the ball crossing the line with his right hand.

Goytre started the second half like they ended the first. Evans was again through on goal two minutes after the restart but Howe rushed off his line and executed a fine sliding challenge to stop the player from going any further.

After this chance Ton found themselves in a good spell as they pushed forward looking for the goal.

Ton made their third substitution in the 64th minute when Richard Ryan replaced Alyn Jones up front.

After the referee had played good advantage when Hughes fouled a Goytre player, Cleverly was in on goal. His shot forced Howe into yet another wonderful save to stop Ton from conceding.

The deadlock between the sides was then finally broken when Goytre scored after 77 minutes of play. It took them three attempts to put the ball in the back of the net with the scrappy goal eventually being scored by Ian Jones.

It looked as though that would be the goal to separate the two sides but Richard Ryan had other plans.

Ryan was ruled offside on one of his runs into the box as it looked like he had beaten the defence.

Moments later Ryan beat the defence again and the offside rule as he ran clear into a one on one with the 'keeper. From around twelve yards out he fired a cracker that Scantlbury had no chance of saving.

This goal in the 81st minute secured the point for the Rhondda Bulldogs sponsored by Gus Windows.

Ton Pentre are home once again on Saturday November 29 against Gwynfi United, kick off 3pm.

Ton Pentre: John Howe; Lee Tapper (Mark Evans, 4mins) Neil Davies; Tom Billings; Nathan Prygodzicz (Jason Roberts, 27mins); Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackerel; Jamie Michaels; Carl Thomas; Alyn Jones (Richard Ryan, 64mins); Kerry Harding.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.