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Ton Pentre 0 - 2 Barry Town
MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One
Saturday 4th October 2008
Prior to the Ton Pentre match, Barry Town had endured several months of uncertainty over their future with owner Stuart Lovering threatening to pull the club out of the Welsh Football League if no-one came forward to buy one of the most successful in clubs in Welsh domestic football history by the beginning of October.
Four days before the fixture at Ynys Park the match was in doubt as nobody had come forward to take the club off Lovering’s hands. However, at the last moment a local Barry business injected £2000 into the Dragons and the club confirmed that they would complete the season.
Their week of turmoil ended with a fine 2-0 win over Ton Pentre at a rain swept Ynys Park but not before Bulldogs defender Richard Stevens was sent off for foul and abusive language directed at a visiting supporter.
Ton Pentre started the match well and began to create chances within the first three minutes. Steve Edwards came close for the Rhondda Bulldogs when he received the ball from the left wing after cutting inside from the right. He connected well with the ball to volley a shot at Dan Bradley’s goal but the effort swung wide.
On the half hour mark Richard Stevens and an opponent were involved in a contentious challenge near the Barry dugout. Referee Darren Adie awarded a free kick in Ton’s favour but their bench were in disagreement. Assistant Referee Jim Drewett alerted Mr Adie to the comments and the Referee explained his decisions to the Barry management.
As the Referee was about to get the game re-started his Assistant was signalling him to come over to the sideline for a second time. On this occasion the Barry Town coach was sent from the dugout.
Just as Mr Adie was preparing to get the match underway Mr Drewett was waving his flag for a third time. Following their discussion the Referee produced a red card for Stevens after he responded to a comment from a Barry Town supporter with an expletive.
Ton Pentre re-organised with Ryan Morgan dropping back into defence and the team looked reasonably sturdy. However, Barry were to make the one man advantage count in the third minute of first half injury time. Former Bulldog Nicky Jones tucked inside the box to slot the ball into the goal for a well taken strike.
Barry increased their lead inside the first ten minutes of the second half when Ton conceded a free kick deep inside their half of the pitch. Jamie Bradford got on the end of the cross inside the box and glanced it past Keiron Blackburn.
Despite their best efforts the Bulldogs were unable to find a goal to pull themselves back into contention and Barry were denied a third goal in the last minute when Blackburn was forced into producing a great save.
This was Ton’s first league defeat of the season and the Bulldogs are in sixth position in the league with ten points from six matches.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a visit from Taffs Well who come to Ynys Park on 18th October 2008 at 2.30pm.
* Sadly Ton Pentre have been forced to cancel their ‘Evening With Mickey Thomas’ on Friday 10th October as the ex-Welsh international will be commentating for BBC Radio 5 on the Wales v England U21 European Championship Play-off match at Ninian Park on the same night. All ticket money will be refunded.
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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