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Carmarthen Town 2 - 1 Ton Pentre
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 9th August 2008
Ton Pentre travelled to Richmond Park for their penultimate pre-season friendly match against Welsh Premier League team Carmarthen Town.
Despite losing, the Rhondda Bulldogs will be pleased with their display as some of their build-up play was exquisite.
Although they started well Ton Pentre were forced to clear the ball off the goal line on two occasions in the first ten minutes. Following a headed shot from a Carmarthen player Andrew Hughes was forced to head the ball from under the cross bar in the 1st minute. Then on 9 minutes Captain Mark Crutch had to sweep the ball off the line following some confusion between defender Adam Lewis and goalkeeper Ryan Betteney which allowed the home team an effort on goal.
Carmarthen took the lead in the 32nd minute. It was a goal that was somewhat against the run of play. Midfielder Nicky Palmer slipped through the defence to go one-on-one with Betteney. The Ton keeper came charging off his line and despite making contact with the ball was enable to stop it from hitting the back of the net.
The Rhondda Bulldogs came close to scoring several times in the opening few minutes of the second half.
A corner ball sent into the Carmarthen box had pinpoint accuracy but Ton’s Ryan Morgan missed connection with the ball as it flashed in front of goal.
During the 57th minute of play a free kick from 20 yards out presented the Bulldogs with another chance. Richard Stevens blasted a low powerful strike towards Neil Thomas in goal but the shot whizzed wide of the left hand post.
A minute later Carmarthen increased their lead in fortunate circumstances. When a low free kick was sent into the Ton box from the left, the ball landed freely behind the Bulldogs defence and well beyond the Carmarthen attack line. However, the ball bounced onto Morgan’s outstretched leg which directed it inside the left hand post.
Ton pulled a goal back in the 71st minute through Chris Jones following some excellent build-up play which resulted in the striker receiving the ball over the top of the defence. As he ran onto the ball he did well to hold off the challenge of a Carmarthen defender and finished his shot exceptionally well striking from just inside the 18-yard box.
Within the final ten minutes Ton had another opportunity to draw level through Richard Jago who’d been played clean through on goal. With just Thomas to beat he put too much lift on the ball and struck it over the bar.
Ton Pentre play Pontyclun away in their final pre-season match on Tuesday 12th August at 6.30pm. The Bulldogs kick off their league campaign on Saturday 16th August in the Rhondda Derby match at Cambrian & Clydach Vale. Kick off for this match is 2.30pm.
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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