FOLLOWING an early scare Ton Pentre fought back and scored two quick goals to turn this Welsh Cup First Round match around to their advantage at Ynys Park.

Ely Rangers could have taken the lead in the 11th minute when the visitors worked a good overlap for Terry Monkley to cross for Spencer Clarke. His header hit the underside of the cross bar but failed to cross the line.

Ely only had to wait four minutes until they created another chance, which this time they scored from. Paul Davies made a busy run forward and decided to strike the ball from twenty yards out. His shot dipped over Jon Howe on its way into the net.

This seemed to wake Ton up and they began to play football. Following a corner kick Dale Price struck a rocket shot goal wards that forced some desperate defending when Monkley managed to boot the ball off the line.

Soon after the Rhondda Bulldogs levelled through striker Lee Brown, who having received the ball from Andrew Hughes, used his strength to hold off a defender and get himself into a scoring position.

Moments later Ton forced their way into the lead after Lee Tapper won the Bulldogs a corner. Price delivered the ball to the back post where Nathan Prygodzicz converted with a tricky tap-in.

Kristian Orchard saved the Bulldogs blushes as half time approached when he caught up with an Ely break to edge the ball away from Jason Kavanagh’s feet in the Ton box.

At the start of the second half Hughes made a good run that saw him get into the Ely box. His performance deserved a goal but the Ton captain shot wide of David Boulton in goal.

During the second half there was a torrential downpour of rain that made the condition of the pitch very difficult. Howe though was unfazed and denied an Ely player a goal with a fine save.

Ely plodded on in an attempt to draw level to take the Welsh Cup game into extra time. However, it looked as though Hughes was going to finish them off when in the 88th minute he was clean through in the box again but on a slippery surface he scuffed his shot, but it wasn’t to matter as the Bulldogs held out to progress into the second round.

Match Facts

Line-up:

1. Jonathan HOWE
2. Lee TAPPER
3. Neil DAVIES
4. Ian DAVIES
5. 5. Nathan PRYGODZICZ
6. Andrew HUGHES (capt.)
7. Kristian ORCHARD
8. Andrew SEBURN
9. Lee BROWN
10. Alyn JONES
11. Dale PRICE

Substitutes: 12. Carl THOMAS (Alyn Jones, 44 mins); 14. Shaun FACKEREL (Dale Price, 73 mins); 15. Scott HAYWARD

Goals: Lee Brown, 20 mins; Nathan Prygodzicz, 24 mins.

Yellow Cards: Lee Brown, 6 mins.

Match report by Rob Dowling