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Ton Pentre edged themselves to a MacWhirter Welsh Football League Division One victory at Ynys Park against Barry Town. The Dragons were reduced to 10 men during the first half after goalkeeper Dan Bradley was sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
The red card was the result of a poor clearance on Bradley’s part during the 18th minute of play. The Barry goalkeeper, whilst attempting to clear the ball following a Ton attack, hit it straight at Bulldogs striker Chris Jones. As Jones shot at goal from outside the box Bradley dived on the ball and handled it in the process denying a strong possibility of a goal. Clark Campbell, the match referee, had no option but to send the player off.
Morgan Harris took over goalkeeping duties for Barry and the outfield player put in a heroic performance denying Ton on many occasions throughout the match.
Ton Pentre took the lead on 29 minutes when some lovely build-up play saw Andrew Hughes provide Alyn Jones with a defence splitting through ball. Jones looked to square the ball to Leon Young, who had made a run into the box from midfield. As the ball cut across the box Barry defender Jason Davies stuck his leg out to block the pass and inadvertently directed the ball into his own net.
Ton should have scored again four minutes later when a Chris Jones pass into Alyn Jones’ run from the right provided Ton’s vice captain with an opportunity to strike. His effort however, continued to rise from the moment it left his boot and the shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Alyn Jones came close again soon after when he linked up with Hughes. Jones hit a powerful shot at goal but Harris punched the ball away from underneath his cross bar.
At the start of the second half Alyn Jones was substituted due to an ankle injury and was replaced by Dan Morris. Immediately after his introduction Morris saw the ball brake for him as it dropped behind the Barry defence.
Morris brought the ball under control using his chest to knock it into his stride. He decided to strike low and hard but Harris pulled off a fine save to deny the striker of his first goal of the season by tipping it around the goalpost.
The Rhondda Bulldogs won several free kicks on the edge of Barry’s box during the early stages of the second half but the closest they came to scoring from one was in the 60th minute. Wayne Savage took a strike at goal with a powerful attempt that took a deflection off the wall before hitting the left post.
Ton spent the rest of the second half on the back foot as the ten men of Barry got a strong foothold in the match and began to pile on the pressure.
Their best effort came from a long throw on the right. As ball was hurled into the box, Nana Baah’s headed effort was tipped over the bar by Richard Jeffries.
The Rhondda Bulldogs managed to hold out for a victory that saw them climb to sixth in Division One.
Ton’s attentions now turn towards the FAW Welsh Cup Round One match at Porthcawl Town on Saturday, 12th September. The match kicks off at 2pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Jordan Branch; 3. Shane Brewer; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Ryan Morgan (Captain); 6. Gavin Rodgers; 7. Andrew Hughes; 8. Leon Young; 9. Chris Jones; 10. Wayne Savage; 11. Alyn Jones
Substitutes: 12. Dan Morris (for 11 on 51mins); 14. Phil Clarke; 15. P-Gi Pascal 17. Shay Everson (for 8 on 90mins)
Goal: Davies OG 29
Booked: Young 31; Savage 68
Referee: Clark Campbell (Blackwood)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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