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Cambrian & Clydach 1 - 1 Ton Pentre
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 16th August 2008
Ton Pentre kicked off the 2008/09 season with the Rhondda Valley derby match against Cambrian & Clydach Vale at their opponents King George V ground for a game that was played in terrible conditions for the month of August.
Heavy rain throughout the day made playing football incredibly difficult for both teams, but to their credit the two Rhondda clubs produced a good display of football in what was an entertaining encounter.
The Rhondda Bulldogs began the match in good form and it looked like Ton had taken an early lead when Alyn Jones fired high into the net only to see his goal ruled out by Referee Dean John for an infringement of the laws of the game.
With 16 minutes played Ton were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead when the Referee bravely awarded a penalty for pushing in the Cambrian box. Club Captain, Mark Crutch, elected to take the spot kick. Due to the conditions the Referee had to measure where the penalty spot should have been. Crutch hit a poor penalty that Jarred Howells saved with reasonable ease.
Towards the end of the first half Cambrian had begun to create themselves a few chances but Ton goalkeeper Keiron Blackburn was vigilant and denied the home team with a series of saves.
On the cusp of half time Adam Lewis almost gave the Bulldogs a lead with a strike from 25 yards. The Cambrian keeper did exceptionally well to push the ball around the post for a corner.
A good ball into the box from that corner was met by Richard Stevens who glanced his header painstakingly wide.
Ton Pentre got the goal they deserved during the 63rd minute of play. Deep inside the Cambrian half Lloyd Toghill sent a long throw into the box where it was headed on to the far side of the penalty area. The loose ball was picked up by Adam Lewis who fired the ball in under the bar.
Ton held the lead for 18 minutes until Phil Clarke lost possession for the Bulldogs on the left. This allowed Cambrian to attack and out number Ton. It took them three attempts to score following the best efforts of the Ton defence and Blackburn in goals.
The Rhondda Bulldogs did their best to regain the lead but were unable to breach the Cambrian defence for the win.
Although a draw away to Cambrian is a good result for any club in Welsh League Division One, Ton Pentre will feel disappointed with only getting a point from a match they could have won had they converted their chances.
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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