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Ton Pentre were forced to play this Welsh League Division One match with Taffs Well without a recognised goalkeeper due to unavailability of Leighton James. Therefore, Bulldogs manager Andrew Hughes was forced to play himself between the posts and although he conceded four goals, none of them can be put down as goalkeeping errors.
Both teams looked dangerous when on the attack and Taffs Well were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty in the sixth minute when their striker was grounded by an outstretched leg of a Bulldogs defender who failed to connect with the ball.
Ton took the lead four minutes later when Lloyd Toghill sent a long throw to the near post where Tom Davies headed on for Chris Jones to direct the ball into the net past Taffs Well goalkeeper Jon Howe.
The home team responded well to going a goal behind and equalised less than a minute later when Liam Williams was allowed a free header from a Taffs Well corner.
After Wayne Antionazzi had an excellent chance to regain the lead for Ton, but sent his strike over the bar, Taffs Well soon found themselves in the lead when the ball was crossed into the Ton box from the left wing. It appeared as though Bulldogs defender Tom Davies got the last touch on the ball, in an attempt to stop an opponent from getting to it, and sent it past Hughes in goals.
Just before the break Hughes pulled off a wonderful diving save to tip the ball around the post for a corner. Once again the Bulldogs failed to effectively deal with the corner and Jamal Roberts scored from just inside the box.
On the hour it got worse for Ton when Roberts netted his second from a rebound after Hughes had done well to save an initial shot.
At this point Ton looked completely out of this match but the Bulldogs were able to muster a late comeback when they scored from a free kick after Antionazzi was fouled on the edge of the box. Fraser Williams hit the free kick low and hard through the crowded area and the ball beat Howe at his right post.
With 81 minutes played Antionazzi finished off a lovely move when he was set free in the box by Toghill to make it 4-3.
Ton were finishing the game strongly and nearly drew level in injury time when Toghill hit a 25 yard shot that made Howe scramble before pulling off a good save by tipping the ball away from the goalmouth.
Taffs Well will be pleased that they avenged their defeat to the Bulldogs earlier in the month while Ton Pentre will be encouraged by the amount of chances they created.
Ton Pentre: 1. Andrew Hughes, 2. Matthew Hearne, 3. Fraser Williams, 4. Adam Lewis, 5. Tom Davies, 6. Leon Young, 7. Wayne Antionazzi, 8. Liam Hutchinson (45mins), 9. Chris Jones (70mins), 10. Lloyd Toghill, 11. Alyn Jones.
Substitutes: 12. Calvin Mclaggon (70mins), 14. Martyn Phillips (45mins), 15. Matthew O’Keefe.
Goals: C.Jones 10; Williams 75; Antionazzi 81
Bookings: None
Referee: Mike Bullock (Nelson)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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