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With the rest of the Welsh League clubs in Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup action, Ton Pentre travelled to Glenhafod Park Stadium to play Goytre United in a Division One fixture as both teams had received a bye into the second round.
Although this match finished without a goal it didn’t seem to matter as this top class encounter was full of action, commitment and excitement. In particular Ton Pentre will feel remarkably content with their performance as they proved to their doubters that they can compete with the top clubs in this division.
The Rhondda Bulldogs dominated for large portions of this match, particularly in the second half, and even when they were on the back foot they defended stoutly in order to maintain their good start to the season.
When Adam Lewis was fouled deep inside the Goytre United half after just ten minutes, it provided Ton with an excellent chance of opening the goal scoring from a free kick. Wayne Savage guided a perfect ball to the far post which avoided all of the Goytre defenders. Unfortunately, it also bypassed three Ton players who were unable to get a connecting header to the ball having left their runs a split second too late. Any contact on the ball would have beaten goalkeeper Chris Curtis.
Resolute defending helped the Bulldogs keep Goytre United out as Gavin Rodgers was having his best game yet for Ton as time and time again he was blocking Richard Ryan’s advances towards goal. The defender was playing South Wales Amateur League football last season and he has adapted well to the higher standards of the Welsh League proved by his battles with Ryan, who is Division One’s most prolific striker.
The battling exchanges between the two teams continued in the second half but it was Ton who started to look the more likely to get something from the match.
A Long free kick forward from midfield saw the Goytre defence unable to control the ball and as a result it broke for Leon Young on the edge of D. The ball exploded off the midfielders boot and looked destined for the back of the net but Curtis was able to pull off a wonderful save that drew applause from both sets of fans as the goalkeeper kept the scores level.
Panic was beginning to set in throughout the home team as the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure to their hosts. As a result Curtis handled a back pass from his own defender which saw the Referee award an indirect free kick inside the 18-yard box.
As the Goytre wall lined up inside the 6-yard box Savage decided to try and place the ball in the top left hand corner of the goal rather than blasting his shot. This turned out to be the wrong decision as the ball floated over the cross bar releasing the pressure on Goytre.
Goytre nearly snatched victory deep inside injury time when a useful attack saw Jacob Daly managing to break through the Ton defence for an opportunity to shoot. Richard Jeffries narrowed the angle but Daly was able to send a shot past the Ton keeper which somehow bounced and curled around the left goalpost.
The Rhondda Bulldogs will be happy with the point they gained at Goytre which has seen the Ynys Park outfit climb to fourth in the table.
Cup News: Ton have been drawn away to Bridgend Town in the second round of the FAW Welsh Cup. This will be the first ever Welsh Cup match at the Brewery Field and will take place on Saturday 3rd October 2009. Meanwhile the second round of the League Cup will see the Bulldogs take on West End at Ynys Park on Saturday 7th November.
Next Match: Ton Pentre will face Dinas Powys at Ynys Park on Wednesday 23rd September at 7.30pm for a re-arranged Welsh League Division One fixture.
Ton Pentre; 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. ordan Branch; 3. Phil Clarke; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Gavin Rodgers; 6. Ryan Morgan (Captain); 7. Leon Young; 8. Andrew Hughes; 9. Wayne Savage; 10. Chris Jones; 11. Alyn Jones
Substitutes: 12. Dan Morris (for 10 on 82mins); 14. Dominic Broad; 15. Jamie Thomas; 16. P-Gi Pascal; 17. Rhys Owen
Goals: None
Bookings: Branch 20; Young 38
Referee: Hywel James (Cardiff)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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