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The Rhondda Bulldogs left it late in their Welsh League Division One match with Pontardawe Town as they turned probable defeat into victory.
Two goals in the last ten minutes from Jordan Branch and substitute Shay Everson helped paper over the cracks of a poor Ton Pentre performance.
Despite having much of the ball the Bulldogs failed to turn possession into goal scoring chances while Pontardawe Town will be disappointed that they couldn’t hold onto their one goal lead to stop them from falling to their fourth consecutive defeat.
Pontardawe took a first half lead through a wonder shot that was struck from out wide on the right. Goalkeeper Richard Jeffries was left with absolutely no chance of getting near the ball as the shot tucked inside the right post.
Ton’s visitors should have increased their lead soon after when Daniel Thomas timed his run well so as not to be caught offside and despite Andrew Hughes’ best efforts to stop him the Pontardawe player had a free shot at goal. Richard Jeffries did well to smother his strike at close range providing time for the Ton defence to recover and clear the ball.
The second half was much the same as the first with Ton enjoying a lot of possession but failing to generate anything significant in front of goal until the final ten minutes.
Before Ton’s comeback the Bulldogs were lucky to still find themselves in the match as Pontardawe missed several clear cut chances.
One of these chances, and easily the best, fell to Andrew Lewis who had met the ball in the box following his run up Pontardawe’s left wing but the player missed an open goal as he sent his unchallenged shot over the crossbar.
Ton Manager Kevin Richards realised that something needed to change and decided to bring Phil Clarke and Shay Everson on in place of Shane Brewer and Daniel Morris. These substitutions would prove to be a masterstroke.
Clarke’s runs up the left wing immediately started causing Pontardawe problems and they appeared to provide Ton with an extra dimension when on the attack.
During the 79th minute of play Pontardawe received a fatal blow when defender Stuart Hoskins was shown his second yellow card of the match by Referee Phil Thomas for a foul on the edge of the box. As a result he was shown the red card and ordered from the field of play.
Ton used this one man advantage to turn the game completely around. The Bulldogs equalised two minutes after the sending off when Jordan Branch was played through behind the defence on the right. From an angle the winger released a powerful shot that whistled past Dean Morgan to pull Ton level.
With five minutes left on the clock the Rhondda Bulldogs completely turned the match around when Clarke provided Shay Everson with a fantastic pinpoint cross into the 18-yard box. The former Turberville Arms midfielder connected well with a header to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 win.
Ton visit Bettws on Saturday 29th August for a Welsh League Division One match that kicks off at 2.30pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Jordan Branch; 3. Gavin Rodgers; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Shane Brewer; 6. Andrew Hughes; 7. Dominic Broad; 8. Leon Young; 9. Chris Jones; 10. Daniel Morris; 11. Alyn Jones (Captain)
Substitutes: 12. Jamie Thomas (for 7 on 75mins); 14. P-Gi Pascal; 15. Shay Everson (for 10 on 58mins); 16. Phil Clarke (for 5 on 58mins) Goals: Branch 81; Everson 85 Booked: C. Jones 61; Hughes 72; Branch 81 Referee: Phil Thomas (Trealaw)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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