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Following a six week hiatus forced by the inclement weather, Ton Pentre finally found themselves back in action when Cardiff Corinthians visited Ynys Park hoping to complete a league double over the Rhondda club.
Cardiff Corries were bottom of the table when the teams last met at the end of September but the Radyr based outfit shocked the Bulldogs with a fine 3-0 win.
Corries came into this latest encounter full of confidence and were hoping to inflict a similar defeat on Ton following their excellent 4-2 midweek win over reigning Welsh League Division One champions Aberaman Athletic. However, the Bulldogs were eager to get back into action following the enforced break and appeared determined to pick up all the points on offer.
Ton were understandably rusty following kick off but the Bulldogs were soon in their stride and pressing their opponents.
The first notable attempt on goal saw Chris Jones and Alyn Jones link-up well on the left before playing the ball in field to Calvin Mclaggon. The former Dinas Powys striker did well to hold the ball up to then play Wayne Antionazzi into space inside the Corries box. The winger unleashed a shot but sent the ball over the bar.
Ton continued to push and when Liam Hutchinson played a splitting through ball for Chris Jones to run onto, the Bulldogs found themselves 1-0 up after the striker hit the back of the net with a clean well executed strike.
Richard Jeffries had to pull off a superb block to stop Corries from equalising as the match passed the hour mark. The Cardiff club somehow managed to sneak through the Ton defence where Matthew Walsh was presented with a splendid opportunity, but Jeffries was vigilant and made the save before Ryan Morgan cleared the ball to safety.
The Bulldogs were desperate to secure victory with a second goal but their opponents were remaining resolute enough to keep denying Ton. However, when Alyn Jones jinked his way into the box he looked set to score with a fantastic shot, but to Ton’s dismay the ball struck the post when the effort deserved to be a goal.
Ton were quick to create another chance soon after when Hutchinson’s corner was met in the box by Morgan. The Ton captain saw his headed shot cleared off the line as Corries continued to hold on.
Caio Iwan, who had replaced Mclaggon earlier in the match, helped Ton to secure victory in the last minute when his solo run saw him take on several defenders on his way into the box before rounding the goalkeeper. The angle was too tight for a shot so the former Bangor City player unselfishly squared the ball to Chris Jones who had an easy finish to grab his and Ton’s second goal of the match.
It was a great performance by the Bulldogs and a much needed victory ahead of the Rhondda derby match with Cambrian & Clydach at Ynys Park on Wednesday, 27th January. Kick off for this mouth-watering fixture is 7.15pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Matthew O’Keefe; 3. Adam Lewis; 4. Ryan Morgan (Captain); 5. Tom Davies; 6. Leon Young; 7. Wayne Antionazzi; 8. Liam Hutchinson; 9. Chris Jones; 10. Calvin Mclaggon; 11. Alyn Jones.
Substitutes: 12. Caio Iwan (for 10 on 61 mins); 14. Andrew Hughes (for 7 on 72 mins); 15. Leighton James.
Goals: C.Jones 32,89
Bookings: Antionazzi 20; Lewis 29; Young 51
Referee: Tim Drean (Swansea)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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