TON PENTRE dropped out of the Welsh Cup in the cruellest of ways as Bala Town progressed into the Fourth Round following a penalty shoot out.

Although Ton Pentre gave their finest performance of the season with some excellent one touch play, all the luck was on Bala’s side as the Bulldogs totally dominated the second half and the extra time period.

Scott Young gave Ton the lead after 14 minutes when Dale Price delivered the ball into the box from a corner. Bala were unable to scramble the ball away after Carl Thomas had brought it down for Young to strike.

Ton’s lead lasted just two minutes as Robbie Chesters turned Neil Davies to score after a Ton move broke down with a misplaced pass.

Before half time the North Wales side took the lead. From the edge of the centre circle Gethin Lloyd struck a perfect shot that looked impossible for Jon Howe to save.

The Rhondda Bulldogs threw everything at Bala in the second half as they went in search of keeping their cup hopes alive.

Kristian Orchard and Lyndon Williams replaced Lee Tapper and Carl Thomas during the second half as Ton continued to push forward.

Williams was denied at point blank range as Bala goalkeeper, Paul Evans, produced a good save.

From a corner Orchard had the time to shoot but not the fall of the ball as he hit over the bar six minutes from time.

Bala were lucky to escape once again in the 89th minute. After Young’s first shot was saved by Evans, the Ton Pentre assistant manager turned the rebound painstakingly wide. As Young fell to his knees putting his head in his hands it seemed that was to be Ton’s last chance.

However, in the third minute of injury time all the possession and dominance paid off when Dale Price headed in a dramatic equalising goal to take the game into extra time.

In the first minute of extra time Williams was unfortunate to see his attempted chip miss the target as Ton remained in control of the cup tie.

Williams was involved once again immediately after when his pace scared the Bala defence into committing a foul. From around 22 yards out Andrew Hughes made the goalkeeper scurry across his line but the ball floated wide.

Moments after Geraint Pitt replaced Young, Hughes and Price linked in a one-two movement to square the ball to Williams in the six yard box. Although the ball went beyond the ‘keeper, Williams was unable to stretch enough to tap it over the line.

During the second period of extra time Williams hit the cross bar with an effort from outside the box. Evans smothered the rebound shot from Hughes as Bala rode their luck.

The referee signalled the end of extra time with a blow of the whistle and the third round Welsh Cup match was to be decided by a penalty shoot out.

Ton missed their second penalty as Bala went on to score from all five to win the match 5-3 on the shoot out.

The Cymru Alliance outfit’s reward for winning the match is an away trip to the Welsh Premier’s Welshpool Town.

Ton Pentre must now turn their attention to their Shamrock Travel Welsh League Cup match away to Goytre United on Saturday 13th November.

Match Facts

Line-up:

1. Jonathan HOWE
2. Lee TAPPER
3. Neil DAVIES
4. Scott YOUNG
5. Nathan PRYGODZICZ
6. Andrew HUGHES (Capt)
7. Andrew SEBURN
8. Dale PRICE
9. Carl THOMAS
10. Alyn JONES
11. Scott HAYWARD

Substitutes:

12. Lyndon WILLIAMS on for Carl Thomas, 74 mins; 14. Kristian ORCHARD on for Lee Tapper, 68 mins; 15. Geraint PITT on for Scott Young, 96 mins.

Goals: Scott Young, 14 mins; Dale Price, 90+3 mins.

Penalty Shoot Out:

Price 1
Hughes x
Orchard 1
Pitt 1

Bookings: Alyn Jones, 82 mins; Andrew Hughes 108 mins.

Match report by Rob Dowling