Motaquote Welsh League Division One
13/03/04: Goytre 2 - 0 Ton Pentre

BOTH teams fought hard for a win in this Division One clash. However, one team was fighting for promotion to the Welsh Premier the other was not. And it was this factor that separated Goytre United and Ton Pentre.

The Rhondda Bulldogs dominated the first 40 minutes leaving Goytre in a state of panic and unable to handle the footballing technique of their visitors.

When Kerry Harding was snapping at the heels of a Goytre midfielder, he pressured him into a mistake that allowed Alyn Jones to brake. He crossed into the box for Tom Billings who won a corner. Nathan Prygodzicz then watched his goal bound header denied by a fantastic save by the Goytre goalkeeper, whose efforts were all the more commendable as he saw the ball late.

During the 35th minute Ton forced another corner when Andrew Hughes ran at the defence to pass to Jones who once again tried to pick out Bilings on the far side of the box, but a defender got in the way of the pass. With the corner Fackerel found Billings but he directed his header inches wide.

• Ton's Ian Shepherd taking a throw-in versus Goytre

Then great play down the field saw Goytre slide through the Ton team with ease in the 41st minute with Richard Ryan, a player that had a brief spell with the Bulldogs this season, scoring the goal past Marty Ellacott.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half Ton were extremely poor and Goytre deserved to score their second goal. As a result of a lapse in the Ton defence, Richard Cleverley connected well with a cross from the right to hit the net.

With Kristian Orchard and Jason Roberts then entering the field of play in the places of Billings and Prygodzicz, Ton were looking to drag themselves back into a match that they had to win to keep alive any chance of regaining the League title.

However, Goytre fought hard and pulled just about everyone back to defend their 2-0 lead. Hughes had two chances to score, the first saw the 'keeper pull off another fine save and the second saw the Ton captain ruled wrongly offside.

Neil Davies was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar ten minutes from time as Ton maintained the pressure on the home team but the Rhondda Bulldogs were unable to breach the Goytre defence.


• Ton's Neil Davies attacking from a corner

This result dashes Ton Pentre's title challenge as Llanelli continued their fine form to beat Neath 2-1 at Stebonheath Park.

Wednesday evening (March 17) promises to produce an entertaining match as Ton have a League clash with UWIC Inter Cardiff at Ynys Park, kick off at 7.30pm. Then on Saturday March 20 Grange Harlequins travel from Cardiff to the Rhondda for a 3pm start.

Ton Pentre: Marty Ellacott; Ian Shepherd; Neil Davies; Mike Jones; Nathan Prygodzicz (Jason Roberts, 69mins); Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackerel; Dean Morris; Tom Billings (Kristian Orchard, 57mins); Alyn Jones; Kerry Harding. Substitute not used: Lee Michaels.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.