TON PENTRE turned in a fine performance as they replaced AFC Llwydcoed at the summit of the Motaquote Welsh League Division One. The Bulldogs were reduced to ten men before they took a strong grip on this fixture when Nathan Prygodzicz was harshly shown a red card in the first half.

Both teams were going for the win in this match and AFC Llwydcoed looked very useful going forward. Jarrod Price found himself in on goal but the presence of Neil Davies saw the defender deny any chance of a strike by knocking the ball out of play.

Scott Young put the Llwydcoed back line under pressure moments later when a useful ball forward won Ton a corner. Nathan Prygodzicz saw his headed shot punched away by Marc Boulton to set up a counter attack. Both Scott Hayward and Davies combined to defend against the threat to deny Llwydcoed a goal

As the half hour approached Prygodzicz tangled with a Llwydcoed attacker. The referee awarded a free kick with a yellow card the likely outcome. However, the referee went to his back pocket and sent Prygodzicz off judging that the Ton Pentre player had denied a goal scoring opportunity.

Ton Pentre’s response to the sending off was excellent. Alyn Jones held the ball up well just before half time and his reverse pass to Lyndon Williams allowed the player to place the ball past Boulton into the net.

At the start of the second half Lee Tapper replaced Shaun Fackeral and it turned out to be a very good substitution decision by Kevin Richards. Tapper’s ball over the top of the defence for Dale Price to run onto resulted in the player lobbing the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.

Llwydcoed then made a substitution bringing on Matthew Smith for an outfield player. Smith then replaced Boulton in goal who took up a position at right back.

Immediately after this the visitors were reduced to ten men when Stuart Evans was sent off for stamping on Williams. Ton were quick to take the freekick and caught the ‘keeper off guard with a cross into the box that Ian Davies headed a goal from.

In the games 58th minute Jarrod Price went to ground injured with suspected ligament damage. The physio’s of both teams elected not to move the player from the field until an ambulance turned up at Ynys Park. Play resumed 23 minutes later.

Just after play restarted Williams ceased up and was replaced by Dwayne Mardenborough and later Kristian Orchard was brought on in the place of Hayward.

Llwydcoed were hitting all the right areas as they looked for a way back into the match but there was no end product when it came to scoring.

The Rhondda Bulldogs then stamped their class on their title rivals. Dale Price was allowed to break through the middle of the defence again but on this occasion the midfielder squared the ball to Orchard who scored Ton Pentre’s fourth goal of the match.

In the closing moments of the game Ton made it 5-0 when Alyn Jones played a great through ball for Dwayne Mardenborough to run onto. When inside the box the striker dummied the ‘keeper to score his first goal for Ton Pentre on his home debut.

This win saw Ton Pentre go top of the league on goal difference over Grange Quins who have two games in hand.

The Bulldogs next match takes them away to Taffs Well on Saturday 18 December, kick off 2:15pm.

Ton Pentre Match Facts:

Line Up:

1. Jon HOWE
2. Scott HAYWARD
3. Neil DAVIES
4. Ian DAVIES
5. Nathan PRYGODZICZ
6. Andrew HUGHES (Capt)
7. Lyndon WILLIAMS
8. Shaun FACKERAL
9. Scott YOUNG
10. Alyn JONES
11. Dale PRICE

Substitutes:

12. Dwayne MARDENBOROUGH on for Lyndon Williams, 83 mins.
14. Lee TAPPER on for Shaun Fackeral, 48 mins.
15. Kristian ORCHARD on for Scott Hayward, 90+5

Goals: Lyndon Williams, 43 mins.
Dale Price, 51 mins.
Ian Davies, 53 mins.
Kristian Orchard, 90+17 mins.
Dwayne Mardenobrough, 90+21 mins.

Bookings: Ian Davies, 30 mins.
Shaun Fackeral, 36 mins.

Match report by Rob Dowling