Motaquote Welsh League Division One
17/01/04: Llanwern 1 - 6 Ton Pentre

ALTHOUGH Llanwern created a few chances this Welsh League Division One game was only going to go one way. The Rhondda Bulldogs were 3-0 up at half time and after throwing away such lead against Bridgend Town a week earlier; there was no such repeat as they scored another three by the time the full 90 minutes were up.

Ton Pentre, sponsored by Gus Windows, provided early indication that they were in the hunt for goals when Carl Thomas saw his headed effort cleared from the line after connecting with a corner in the opening two minutes.

The Bulldogs looked threatening in front of goals against a stagnant Llanwern defence. The travelling Ton fans didn't have to wait too long for their team to open the scoring at Newport Stadium with the Rhondda team taking the lead in the 11th minute.

After a freekick was given for a foul on Ian Shepherd, Thomas was first to make head contact with the ball but could only direct it upwards. The ball fell onto the head of Lee Michaels with the defender hitting the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later Alyn Jones delightfully chipped the ball over Llanwern 'keeper Marc Porter after the last defender was caught out on his blind side by the pace of the Ton striker. There was no attempt to chase Jones as he had made too much ground.

The same player nearly scored again seconds later with an identical goal. This time, however, the chip went wide of the post.

The third goal was scored two minutes before half time, when a long cross from Shepherd to the far post was met by Thomas who headed past Porter for Jones to chest the ball over the line.

At the start of the second half Llanwern grabbed a goal back when John Howe was beaten by a 25 yard shot but it did not signal a comeback as Ton went further into the lead minutes later.

As Jones ran down the wing Thomas and Andrew Hughes also made forward runs into space in the Llanwern box. When Hughes received the ball he squared it to Thomas who capped off the fantastic piece of play with Ton's fourth goal.

Lee Tapper replaced defender Mike Jones who appeared to have a slight pull in his thigh after 64 minutes.

Tapper got involved straight away and was the creator of the Rhondda Bulldogs' fifth goal in the 71st minute. Good sweeping play saw Hughes place the ball into Tapper's path. Having taken the ball into the box he squared for Jones to score his third.

With 13 minutes remaining on the clock Ton replaced hat-trick hero Jones with player/assistant manager Richard Haig.

And it was Haig who completed the 6-1 win over Llanwern seven minutes later when he scrambled the ball over the line with several defenders and goalkeeper Porter unable to clear.

Dinas Powys travel to Ton Pentre on Saturday January 24 (3pm) with the Bulldogs looking to avenge their 3-1 defeat to them back in September.

Ton Pentre: John Howe; Mark Evans; Neil Davies; Mike Jones (Lee Tapper, 64mins); Lee Michaels; Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackerel; Dean Morris; Carl Thomas; Alyn Jones (Richard Haig, 77mins); Ian Shepherd (Kerry Harding, 73mins).

Match Report by Robert Dowling.