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Ton Pentre moved into the third round of the FAW Cup after a convincing win against Llangeinor with super sub, Kristian Orchard, getting a hat trick. The visitors arrived at Ynys Park confident of getting a result having beaten the Bulldogs two weeks earlier in the League Cup. However, the GUS Properties sponsored Rhondda side had put on a sparkling performance and ran out comfortable winners 6-0.
This result went someway to avenge the defeat by Llangeinor and has given the Rhondda Bulldogs a home draw against Welsh Premier side Rhyl. A game manager Kevin Richards and his players are looking forward to.
 Ton controlled the game throughout and deserved to get through with ease. However, the scoreline was harsh on the hard working Llangeiner side who did not give in.
The opening encounters were a little scrappy as Ton dominanted. And they were pressing forward from the outset trying to unsettle the Llangeinor defence and rhythm. It took 12 minutes for Ton to create their first clear opening, a break down the right saw Raith Plant square the ball to Rob Blatchord, who hit the ball goalwards, unfortunately Llangeinors Burgess was able to clear off the line. The visitors were working hard and were unable to put any pressure on the Merlin Sports sponsored team. On the half hour Llangeinor’s Phillip’s tried a speculative long shot which went wide of Ellacott’s goal.
A couple of minutes later a terrific drive by Rees was saved by Jodi Harris in the Llangeinor goal. The home side kept the pressure on the visitors, however the home sides luck was about to turn when the Bulldogs lost their striker Plant in the 43rd with an injury, he was replaced by Dwayne Mardenborough. His introduction eventually helped to turn the domination into to goals. With two minutes to go, Ton’s Rees put Blatchford in on goal, his shot had no power and fell into the hand of Morris in the Llangeinor goal. The breakthrough finally came in he 1st minute of stoppage time when Mardenborough put a delightfully weighted ball to Rees who with the help of a deflection scored the opening goal.
This gave the Ton side added confidence and the remainder of the half was Tons’ and they went into the break 1-0 up.
The second half was one way traffic. With Blatchford and Price going close within 5 minutes of the restart. on the hour Blatchford doubled the lead. Manager Richards made his second substitution a couple of minutes later, he withdrew the hard working Rees and sent on Kristian Orchard. It took Orchard only 10 minutes to get on the score sheet, with a wonderful header at the back post from a measured cross from Ryan Shugar. Orchard was leaning backwards as he headed in from 8 yards, it was wonderful finish from a sublime cross. Then 5 minutes later the Mardenborough scored from 12 yards, he side footed the ball past a despairing Morris making it 4-0. this took the game out of the reach of the hard working Llangeinor.
 In stoppage time Orchard picked up 2 more goals, the first from a deflected shot from which looped over Morris into the far side of the goal. Then a few minutes later Orchard got his hat trick, when he headed his 3rd and Ton’s 6th goal.
This was the first time this season that Ton Pentre wore their red kit, having worn blue awaiting the supply of the new strip supplied and sponsored by Merlin Sports of Pontypridd and technical sponsors Legea. Hopefully the new kit will be a lucky omen for Ton this season and the later rounds of the Welsh Cup!
Kevin Richards is looking forward to the challenge that Rhyl presents and believes that he has the players who are capable of causing an upset.
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott; 2. Scott Hayward; 3. Mark Crutch; 4. Dale Price; 5. Gareth Picknell; 6. Jamie Bradford; 7. Ryan Shugar; 8. Steve Conaty; 9. Raith Plant [Mardenborough]; 10. Rib Blatchford (1); 11. Tony Rees (1) [Orchard] Subs: 12. Mathew Doherty; 14. Kristian Orchard (3); 15. Dwayne Mardenborough (1)
Goals in brackets.
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