Welsh Challenge Cup Round Four
07/02/04: Ton Pentre 0 - 1 Port Talbot Town

THERE was no place in the Quarter Finals of the Welsh Cup for Ton Pentre as Welsh Premier side Port Talbot Town ran out 1-0 winners at Ynys Park. Even the Rhondda Bulldogs brave second half effort saw them unable to find an equaliser.

Port Talbot were the first to apply pressure, with defender Liam Hancock connecting with a freekick from the left to send the ball just over the top of Jon Howe's crossbar.

When Andrew Hughes played the ball into Alyn Jones moments later, the striker attempted to chip goalkeeper Simon Rayner. Jones saw his effort fall down onto the top of the cross bar, much to the delight of the Port Talbot goalie.

There was no lack of incident in this Welsh Cup tie with a disallowed goal and a penalty appeal all occurring within a minute of each other. Mark Dodds saw his goal ruled out due to a raised flag by the referee's assistant for offside. Then with the ball being sent into the Port Talbot box the Ton players felt they had a good case for a penalty when it appeared a defender had handled the ball. Jones was later booked for his protest to the referee.

It was the Port Talbot captain who gave the visitors the lead with a goal that would prove decisive. A weakly hit strike, that may have been intended as a cross from Russell Wigley, got the better of Howe in goal.

Port Talbot had two more chances to further their lead before half time. After Dodds had hit the ball over the bar from 15 yards out, Howe denied Wigley's low shot as he got himself down early to the ball.

The second half saw Ton dominate. When Jones broke down the right he supplied an inside pass to Hughes who was advancing into the Port Talbot box. The Ton captain, however, striked the ball over Rayner's bar.

A rare second half chance fell to Dodds moments later when his run and shot ended with Howe diving to divert the ball out for a corner.

Dean Morris presented another chance for Hughes to score with a neat pass into the captain's path. With a clear sight on goal the player missed the target, once more hitting over the bar.

The bombardment on the visitors' goal continued with a header from Carl Thomas landing onto the foot of Jones. His strike went inches wide of the goal post.

When Hayden Fleming fouled Morris, Shaun Fackerel was given the chance to send the ball into the box from a freekick. When he did so there was no Ton player able to connect with it. But its course continued goalwards and forced a spectacular save from Rayner to stop it from ending up in the net.

Soon after Hughes was denied an equaliser when his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Morris connected with the corner but his diving header, although coming close, ended up on the wrong side of the post.

Port Talbot's new signing, Chris Watkins, looked to secure the victory as his side counter attacked, but Howe saved well.

Kevin Richards then replaced a defender for a forward with Nathan Prygodzicz making way for Ton new boy Kristian Orchard, signed from Ton & Gelli Boys Club in January.

With three strikers to aim for in the box Kerry Harding sent a great cross into the area from the right. Thomas though was unable to direct his header towards goal under the pressure of a defender.

Soon after Ton were awarded a freekick a footstep away from the edge of the box. After the referee had moved the Port Talbot wall back, Thomas attempted to curl the ball into the net. As the ball was about to go over the wall, it was clearly stopped by a Port Talbot players' raised hand. The referee turned down Ton's valid penalty appeal with full time quickly approaching.

Ton were then reduced to ten men with Fackerel picking up a second yellow card after being booked in the first half for kicking the ball away.

The final chance of the game fell to Orchard who struck straight into the arms of Rayner in injury time.

After beating Ton 1-0 Port Talbot are rewarded with an away trip to NEWI Cefn Druids in the Quarter Finals.

Ton's attention will now solely concentrate on their Welsh League Division One title challenge. On February 14 they face Pontardawe Town away (K.O. 2.15pm) with a home tie against Caerleon the following Tuesday, February 17, kicking off at 7.30pm.

Ton Pentre: Jonathan Howe; Mark Evans (Ian Shepherd, 71mins); Neil Davies; Mike Jones; Nathan Prygodzicz (Kristian Orchard, 75mins); Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackerel; Dean Morris; Carl Thomas; Alyn Jones; Kerry Harding. Substitute not used: Jason Roberts.

Sent off: Shaun Fackerel, 88mins.

Port Talbot Town: Simon Rayner; Robert Cockings, Alan Clark, Richard Carter; Liam Hancock; Hayden Fleming; Sean Mainwaring; Russell Wigley; Mark Dodds; Craig Hughes; Chris Watkins. Substitutes not used: Craig Lima; Nathan Cotterrall; Jonathan Casey

Match Report by Robert Dowling.