Garden Village 2 - 4 Ton Pentre
After Extra Time
Nathanial Car Sales League Cup Round Two
Saturday 15th November 2008
The Rhondda Bulldogs of Ton Pentre needed extra-time in the Nathanials Car Sales League Cup to overcome the challenge of Welsh League Division Two team Garden Village as they booked their place in the third round to se t up a mouth-watering clash with Division One rivals Goytre United.
Garden Village knocked Ton Pentre out of this competition in the first round last season and the West Wales club believed that another upset was on the cards in this season's tournament when they took an early lead.
The home team were looking useful when going forward with an exquisite display of attacking football and despite creating several clear cut chances they scored from a scruffy mistake by the Ton defence.
As the ball was sent over the top of the defensive line and into the penalty area Shane Brewer attempted to head the ball away to safety, however, he instead nodded the ball directly to an unmarked Craig Burgess in the box. Burgess took his surprise opportunity well and despite Keiron Blackburn’s best efforts the ball hit the back of the Ton net.
Garden Village were playing exceptionally well and before the referee blew for half time they could have found themselves in a comfortable lead as Sam Brown finished a lovely move through the middle of the pitch by sending his strike just over the cross bar; and Ashley Richards produced a wonderful solo passage of play to get into the box but was denied by Blackburn’s fine save when he dived to his left to beat the ball away.
Kevin Richards motivated the Ton team in the dressing rooms at half time and the Rhondda Bulldogs made a storming start to the second half to take complete control of this League Cup tie.
The home team eventually buckled under the pressure having survived several scares as the Bulldogs won a corner. Brewer sent an unexpected low cross into the box where Ryan Morgan crouched down to direct the ball at goal with a header. His attempt was parried away by Dale Hulland, but only as far Andrew Pearson on the edge of the six-yard box. Pearson sneaked the ball into the net at the far post as both the keeper and a defender fruitlessly scrambled to block the shot.
Both teams had chances to win the match in the regulation 90 minutes but with neither team converting these chances the match was forced into extra-time.
In the first period of extra-time the Bulldogs were in the ascendancy and their second goal of the match came as the result of a free kick out wide on the right. The ball was sent long into the box and Ton defender Mark Crutch headed the ball over Hulland to give the Bulldogs the lead.
Early in the second period of extra-time the Ton defence was guilty of not clearing their lines quick enough and this provided Garden Village’s Derrick Jenkins with a chance to score, but the player was unable to make the Bulldogs pay for their poor defending.
Lloyd Toghill gave Ton a bit of breathing space after receiving the ball from Pearson as his strike gave the Rhondda outfit a 3-1 lead.
However, this breathing space was short lived when Garden Village were awarded a penalty following a push in the box. Brown scored from the spot to rekindle Garden Village’s belief.
Moments later though the action had reached the Garden Village box and just as Steve Edwards had struck the ball he was caught late by a defender and the referee awarded the Bulldogs a penalty. Pearson secured progression into the third round of the cup by scoring from the spot kick.
Ton Pentre will now face Goytre United in round three of the Nathanial Car Sales League Cup on Saturday 6th December 2008 at Ynys Park.
The Bulldogs are next in action on Saturday 22nd November when they travel to bottom of the league club Newport YMCA. Kick off for this match is at 2.00pm.
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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