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A sloppy second half performance saw Ton Pentre throw away their half time lead at Caldicot Town as they left Jubilee Way with a disappointing defeat.
With a strong wind behind them the Rhondda Bulldogs took a 13th minute lead when Gavin Rodgers spotted Jordan Branch’s run into space up the right deep inside the Caldicot half of the pitch. The former Turberville Arms defender sent a super through ball forward for Branch to take into the box where he applied a cool finish to beat James Smallcombe.
Despite creating the chances needed to increase their lead, the Bulldogs went into the half time interval with the 1-0 lead.
Chris Jones should have doubled Ton’s lead within the first 25 seconds of the second half when the striker was sent one-on-one with Smallcombe. Jones scuffed his shot when inside the box allowing Smallcombe to gather the ball with ease, the Caldicot keeper then launched the ball down field.
Within 12 seconds of Ton’s missed chance Caldicot made the Bulldogs pay when they equalised following some careless defending by both the midfielders and defenders.
Seven minutes later Ton were lucky not to concede again when Jason Thorn was allowed to take the ball forward and he witnessed his shot from the edge of the box hit the post and side netting.
Caldicot were beginning to look more and more confident and Ton were made to pay for further lacklustre defending when a cross from the left was directed into the back of the net off Gareth Cullimore’s boot. Richard Jeffries was left helpless in the Ton goals as the shot went between his legs.
As the hour mark was approaching Ton felt that they had endured all of Caldicot’s pressure as Alyn Jones ran onto a through ball to wonderfully slot in his first goal of the season.
However, Caldicot were sensing a huge scalp and looked to capitalise on Ton’s poor organisation when defending.
Jeffries was forced into making a couple of excellent 71st minute saves when in a crowded box he had to come some distance off his line to make two goal saving blocks.
Unfortunately these superb saves were in vain as Caldicot did manage to take the lead when a ball in from the left was headed into the goal at the far post in the 77th minute.
This goal turned out to be the winner leaving Ton to undertake a post-mortem on their sloppy second half performance.
It’s Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup Round Two action for the Rhondda Bulldogs next as West End visit Ynys Park on Saturday 7th November 2009 at 1.30pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Jordan Branch; 3. Phil Clarke; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Ryan Morgan (Captain); 6. Gavin Rodgers; 7. Andrew Hughes; 8. Leon Young; 9. Sam Baker; 10. Chris Jones; 11. Alyn Jones
Substitutes: 12. Jamie Thomas; 14. Caio Iwan (for 9 on 83mins); 15. Wayne Savage (for 10 on 69mins); 16. Dominic Broad; 17. Leighton James
Goals: Branch 13; A.Jones 59
Booking: Clarke 87
Referee: Gareth Heggarty (Cefn Hengoed)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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