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Ton Pentre moved up to fourth place in MacWhiter Welsh League Division One with a 1-3 win over bottom club Caerleon. Chris Jones, Liam Hutchinson and Leon Young scored the goals at Cold Bath Road as the Bulldogs capped off a week which has seen the Rhondda outfit take seven points from three matches.
The Bulldogs gave a laboured performance in a match they were favourites to win comfortably and were lucky not to be behind at half time due to some lacklustre finishing from the home team.
When Luke Cueto set off on a run down Caerleon’s right wing, Ton Pentre were unable to stop him from sending a dangerous cross into the box. Cueto accurately found Jason Price in the penalty area but the powerful striker smashed the ball over the bar leaving him to begrudge his effort as he should have given Caerleon the lead.
Caerleon had another opportunity to hit the back of the net later in half when from an in-swinging corner kick Ton goalkeeper Richard Jeffries missed the ball when he attempted to collect it. As the ball curled it hit the far post before landing at the feet of a Caerleon player. The player wasn’t expecting the chance and as a result he hit the ball wide of the goal.
The Bulldogs were more creative in the second half and when Alyn Jones was fouled on the edge of the box Ton Pentre signalled their intentions from the resulting free kick. Liam Hutchinson hit a lovely strike that was goal bound, however, Scott James dived to tip the ball away for a fantastic save.
With Caerleon beginning to judder Wayne Antionazzi moved the ball up the right to attack the box from an angle. He decided to have a shot which was blocked by a Caerleon defender but fortunately the ball broke to Alyn Jones who picked out a pass to Chris Jones on his left. The former Caerleon striker made no mistake with his shot as he gave the Rhondda Bulldogs the lead.
Caerleon responded well to going a goal behind and drew level shortly after when Cueto crossed from the right for Price to score a great goal, making up for his first half miss.
Ton remained calm and re-established the lead from a free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box. Hutchinson made no mistake with this effort as he beat James with a strike that dipped low to the keepers left leaving him with no chance of making a save.
The home team thought they had equalised again a few minutes later from a corner but the goal was ruled out by the Referee for a push on Jeffries as he attempted to catch the ball.
Ton were unable to put the result beyond doubt until deep into injury time when they counter attacked from a Caerleon corner kick. With the goalkeeper having gone into the Ton box for the corner kick, Caerleon were left exposed. Leon Young was the player who finished the movement up the field with a shot into an unattended goal for Ton to win the match 1-3.
Up next for the Rhondda Bulldogs is a Friday night match when Ely Rangers visit Ynys Park for a 7.30pm kick off on 5th February 2010.
Ton Pentre: 1. Richard Jeffries; 2. Matthew O’Keefe; 3. Matthew Hearne; 4. Adam Lewis; 5. Tom Davies; 6. Leon Young; 7. Wayne Antionazzi; 8. Liam Hutchinson; 9. Chris Jones; 10. Caio Iwan; 11. Alyn Jones (Captain).
Substitutes: 12. Martyn Phillips (for 2 on 61 mins); 14. Geraint Parfitt; 15. Leighton James; 16. Andrew Hughes (for Iwan on 69 mins).
Goals: C Jones 55; Hutchinson 64; Young 90+3.
Bookings: Davies 70
Referee: Clark Campbell (Blackwood)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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