BARRY TOWN gave Ton Pentre a fright under the floodlights at Ynys Park when they took an unexpected lead during the first half. Two defining moments though turned this match around for the Bulldogs, the first was a superb one on one save by Jon Howe to stop Barry from taking a 2-0 lead and the other was the introduction of Kevin Richards into the game.

It all started well for Ton as they created the best chances in the opening 20 minutes. Chances fell to both Dale Price and Alyn Jones but neither were able to convert them into goals.

Barry Town then began to influence the match and Lee Piotrowski came close with his 25 yard strike that’s bend looked as though it was going to beat Jon Howe. The ball went wide but moments later Sean Nash should have scored but skewed his shot after breaking free.

Ton’s best chance of the first half was created in the 27th minute when a low cross into the box from Andrew Hughes saw Lee Tapper strike against the crossbar. Carl Thomas poked his foot at the rebound but could only hit it over the target.

A freekick was awarded two minutes later about 25 yards out from the Ton box. Former Wales Under 21 international Leon Jeanne hit a nice kick. The strike hit the goalpost but rebounded off Neil Davies and into the net to give Barry a 1-0 lead that they took into the interval.

Lyndon Williams replaced, what looked like, an injured Scott Young at the start of the second half.

Superb defending by Neil Davies kept Ton hanging on in this match when he made a vast amount of ground to block Rhys Attley’s view at goal making the Barry player striking his chance wide.

Barry Town should have been coasting to victory by the 60-minute mark when Nash had a golden opportunity, which he should have scored from, as the player was one on one with Howe. The Ton goalkeeper pulled off an incredible save at point blank and then scrambled along the ground to smother the ball. This save definitely had influence on the game’s final score.

Following this the Ton manager, Kevin Richards, replaced Dwayne Mardenborough. The substitution proved an excellent decision as Richards tightened the midfield and changed the game.

Ton’s equaliser came in the 65th minute when a superb run up the right and into the box saw Price neatly pass to Thomas who slammed the ball into the net.

The Rhondda Bulldogs kept pressing for the winner to maintain their points advantage at the top of the league and in the 85th minute it appeared to come from nowhere. As Ashley Griffiths looked to clear the ball away from Hughes’ feet he accidentally lobbed his own goalkeeper.

The referee conjured up three minutes of injury time to give the match a nervy finish and deep into the added time Barry won a corner. The visitors piled into the Ton box but the ball was hit wide and Barry’s last chance had gone.

Barry Town will be justified to feel they deserved something from this match while Ton may feel that this was a lucky escape from the jaws of defeat.

Ton Pentre Match Facts:

Line Up:

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

Substitutes

12. 12. Lyndon WILLIAMS on for Scott Young, 50 mins; 14. Bradley YOUNG; 15. Kevin RICHARDS on for Dwayne Mardenborough, 60 mins

Goals: Carl Thomas, 65 mins; Ashley Griffiths, Own Goal 85 mins

Bookings: Alyn Jones, 50 mins

Match report by Rob Dowling