Ton Pentre made 8 changes from the 14 that played against Pontypridd mid week, resting key players for the Welsh Cup tie against Port Talbot the following week. It was a high risk strategy that paid off when the Rhondda Bulldogs sponsored by Merlin Sports of Pontypridd won the game and bagged all the points. The score line flattered Ton and the Caerleon side did not deserve to lose by such a big margin.
Caerleon opened up the scoring in the 16th minute against the run of play. Ton had dominated the first 15 minutes and on their first attack Caerleon scored a disputed goal. The ball was played into the Ton area and it was half cleared, when Crutch Ton’s defender headed back goalward’s, Cearleon’s striker headed the ball over Ton keeper Ellacott, although in an offside position the referee deemed the ball had been headed back by a Ton player the goal would count.
This gave Caerleon a lift and they had more possession and attacked the home side, with Ton unable to get any momentum into their game. Then on the 36th minute Caerleon went down to 10 men.
Ton did not use the extra man to any effect as Caerleon were still battling and working to get people behind the ball. However the Ton equaliser came just before half time, when Ryan Jenkins scored from a retaken penalty. The half finished 1-1.
Whatever was said in the changing room at half time must have been what was required, as the Bulldogs started the brighter and used the extra man to good effect. The half was only 7 minutes old when Ton took the lead. What a goal it was, tremendous build up play through midfield created the chance for Jamie Bradford, Conaty ran at the Caerleon defence and slid a pass into the path of Bradford who chipped the ball into the net over the onrushing keeper.
On the hour Blatchford was replaced by Plant. And five minutes later new singing Nicky Jones replaced Orchard. Ton were now in total control and were bossing the game. With a number of chances being created, with Jenkins and Rees unable to convert them. The 3rd substitute was used with 15 minutes to go, Dwayne Mardenborough replaced Tony Rees up front.
With 10 minutes to go Ton lost concentration and allowed Caerleon to get back into the game. Caerleon had 4 good chances to equalise and squandered them all. If they had taken one of them it would have been a desperate end to the game for the home side. As we know football “is a funny old game”. When Ton against the run of play scored 2 goals in the dying minutes. Jenkins got onto the end of a keepers error when he spilled a shot from Conaty, Jenkins reacted quickest and slotted the ball home to bag a brace for the day. Then in stoppage time super sub Mardenborough chased down what looked like a lost cause to get to the ball before the keeper, Mardenborough took the ball passed him and slotted the ball home at the near post. Giving Ton a 4-1 win.
The risk had paid off, the Merlin sponsored side achieved the win and rested a number of their players for their Welsh Cup tie against Port Talbot.
The cup game is going to be tough for the Bulldogs with Port Talbot, a Welsh Premier side in fine form at the moment. If Ton can go there with a full squad and play at their very best, the Rhondda outfit may cause an upset, although all the good money is on the Welsh Premier outfit.
Match report by Gary Matuszczyk
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott; 2. Mark Crutch; 3. Kristian Orchard (64th Nicky Jones); 4. Paul Evans; 5. Gareth Picknell; 6. Lee Mathews; 7. Jamie Blatchford (60th Raith Plant); 8. Steve Conaty; 9. Ryan Jenkins (2); 10. Jamie Bradford (1); 11. Tony Rees (75th Mardenborough)
Subs: 12. Dwayne Mardenborough (1); 14. Raith Plant; 15. Nicky Jones
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