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With Kevin Richards resigning as Ton Pentre Manager the day before this Welsh League Division One match, the Rhondda Bulldogs turned to Andrew Hughes to guide them through against Ely Rangers.
His foray into the world of football management couldn’t have started better as Ton Pentre left Station Road with all three points having bagged a convincing 4-0 win. However, this fine victory was marred six minutes from time when Ton midfielder Wayne Savage was sent off when Mike Pedler incorrectly believed he was cautioning the player for the second time in the match. He pleaded with the Referee in an attempt to point out his mistake but was ordered from the field of play. The Bulldogs will hope that this mistake will be rectified so that the player will not be forced to sit out a one match suspension.
New signing Sam Baker got this triumph underway in the tenth minute of the match when he prodded the ball into the net from a Jordan Branch corner kick. As the ball swung into the box an Ely Rangers defender unintentionally headed the ball from the penalty spot towards his goal. As the ball dropped to the ground Baker scored from just inside the six-yard box.
The former Port Talbot striker was involved in setting up Ton’s second goal 15 minutes later when he used his physical attributes to hold onto possession whilst under pressure from the Ely defence inside the 18-yard box. Having spotted Leon Young making a run towards the edge of the box from midfield he laid the ball off for his team mate to smash a shot into the back of the net.
Ely Rangers also created opportunities to score with some lovely build-up play that at times the Ton defence struggled to cope with. However, Ely were rueful and missed several opportunities to give themselves a life line before the Referee blew for half time.
A minute past the hour Ton gave themselves a comfortable lead after soaking up Ely’s early second half pressure. On this occasion Branch was provider when his cross into the box from the right wing saw the Ely defence fail to deal with it. As a result Chris Jones was allowed the space and time to strike through a populated box to notch up his second goal of the season.
Ton’s fourth goal was the result of a mixture of unconvincing defending and fortune as the ball was hit straight at Young who was harrying the Ely defenders. He couldn’t do anything about the ricochet but the ball kindly broke to allow Baker in on goal to score his second of the match making it four goals without reply in the 78th minute.
It could have got even better for Ton moments later were it not for a superb save by Ely goalkeeper Ian Davies when he rushed from his line to slide into Young’s feet to smother the ball.
On 84 minutes the Referee blew for a foul tackle against Wayne Savage. After going to his pocket for a yellow card Savage began to walk back to his position in midfield. As he did so, and to his disbelief, the Referee returned to his pocket and produced a red card.
Despite visibly appearing aggrieved by this decision the Rhondda Bulldogs reacted admirably and got on with the match. With just two minutes of regulation time remaining they should have scored a fifth when Baker had beaten the last man with his run onto a through ball, however, just as the striker had started to break away from his marker the Ely player pulled him back by his shirt resulting in the home team also being reduced to ten men.
Ton failed to score from the resulting free kick as Ryan Morgan’s shot deflected over the cross bar off the Ely wall.
Ton Pentre will feel very pleased with not only the win and a clean sheet but also their vibrant performance.
Ton’s next match is at Ynys Park on Saturday 17th October when Aberaman Athletic, the current league champions visit for a 2.30pm kick off.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Jordan Branch; 3. Phil Clarke; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Ryan Morgan (Captain); 6. Gavin Rodgers; 7. Wayne Savage; 8. Leon Young; 9. Chris Jones; 10. Sam Baker; 11. Alyn Jones
Substitutes: 12. Jamie Thomas (for 2 on 68mins); 14. Caio Iwan (for 9 on 68mins); 15. Rhys Owen (for 8 on 82mins); 16. Andrew Hughes; 17. Pascal P-Gi
Goals: Baker 10, 78; Young 25; C.Jones 61
Booked: Clarke 26; A.Jones 65; Young 73; Savage 84
Sent Off: Savage 84
Referee: Mike Pedler (Caerphilly)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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