Motaquote Welsh League Division One
27/03/04: Ton Pentre 7 - 1 Bettws

A DEVASTATING first half performance from Ton Pentre against Bettws had ended this match as a contest by half-time as the players entered the changing rooms 6-1 up. The match marked the goalscoring return of Raith Plant, who could finally start for Ton Pentre after the "red tape" that surrounded his transfer from Newport County, was resolved. The encounter also saw Carl Thomas notch up a hat-trick against the reigning Welsh League champions.

Ton's goalscoring account was opened up when Carl Thomas did exceptionally well out on the right to play the ball inside and onto Raith Plant, who had made a forward run into the box. Bettws defender, Lee Williams, body checked Plant to the ground with the referee immediately awarding a penalty kick. Thomas scored from the spot to give the Rhondda Bulldogs the first goal of the match.

Moments later Dean Simons was sent-off following an off the ball incident. The card was shown after a conversation between the referee and his assistant. Simons had allegedly kicked a Ton player. A yellow card was also shown to Ton Pentre's Dean Morris, whose afternoon was about to get worse.

Within a matter of minutes Morris was shown a second yellow card after a reckless challenge in midfield. This was Morris's second red card in as many games.

So with both teams down to ten men each, Bettws suddenly felt they had a chance to get back into the match. Any such notion of a comeback was short lived as Ton began to run riot.

Plant passed defender David Mann with ease in the 25th minute to notch up a superb assist as he provided Andrew Hughes with a simple tap in on the goal line, as goalkeeper Mark Stonehouse was nowhere to be seen.

It was 3-0 ten minutes later when Bettws were beaten by a simple ball over the top with four Ton players making forward runs, all of whom were onside. Shaun Fackeral took the ball into the box and squared for Thomas to side foot into the net with ease.

Then in the final five minutes of the half Ynys Park was treated to four more goals. First to score was Plant who lobbed a fantastic ball over Stonehouse after a quick throw-in from Kerry Harding.

Ton made it 5-0 two minutes later through Alyn Jones as he coolly slotted the ball into the net. Seconds later the Rhondda Bulldogs were on another demolishing attack through the individual effort of Thomas, who took the ball around the committed 'keeper to complete his hat-trick and a 6-0 lead for Ton.

On the stroke of half-time Bettws pulled a goal back when Craig Phillips scored from a few footsteps inside the Ton half, when Marty Ellacott was caught well off his line after taking a freekick from outside his box.

In terms of goalscoring the second half was disappointing but Ton's performance certainly was not.

Even when Bettws were awarded a penalty after Ellacott had tripped John Wile in the box, the visitors were unable to score with the Ton 'keeper saving Owen Atkinson's kick.

Ton completed their scoring in the very last minute of the match when Jones set off on an amazing run up the whole length of the pitch. After putting the ball through Atkinson's legs he fired in Ton's seventh to cap off an incredible solo attack.

This result leaves Bettws fighting for Division One survival while it sets up Ton Pentre's trip to Llanelli on Wednesday March 31 at 7.30pm.

Ton Pentre: Marty Ellacott; Raith Plant; Neil Davies; Mike Jones; Nathan Prygodzicz (Jason Roberts, 45mins); Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackeral (Lee Tapper, 61mins); Dean Morris; Carl Thomas (Kristian Orchard, 68mins); Alyn Jones; Kerry Harding. Sent off: Dean Morris, 24mins.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.