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LLANGEINOR pulled off a major upset in the first round of the Shamrock Travel League Cup when they overcame a two-goal deficit to dump Ton Pentre out of the competition.
Llangeinor were playing South Wales Amateur League football last season and won promotion to the MacWhirter Welsh League Division Three after being crowned champions and this win against Ton Pentre is probably the best result in the clubs history.
At half time the Division Three outfit looked out of the tie after the Rhondda Bulldogs scored two goals in the last ten minutes of the first half. However, Llangeinor battled hard and they turned the match around with three goals in 7 minutes during the second half.
As expected Ton Pentre stamped their authority on this match from kick off and started to create chances early on. A well worked free kick between Dale Price and Ryan Shugar found its way to Alyn Jones who had space to launch a shot towards goal. Llangeinor’s Jodie Harris was alert and pulled off a fine save to deny the Ton striker goalscoring glory.
Moments later Rob Blatchford, who was making his first start of the season, attempted to lob Harris after seeing an opportunity to do so, but his 30 yard effort dropped wide of the right goal post.
With 35 minutes played Llangeinor ventured into the Ton Pentre penalty area and following some desperate Bulldogs defending Ton managed to counter-attack. As Blatchford burst into the Llangeinor box the ball appeared to get stuck under his feet allowing a defender to catch up with him and dispossess him, however, the referee’s assistant waved his flag and signalled for a penalty judging that the challenge was not fair. It was a harsh decision but Alyn Jones scored well from the penalty spot.
Ton added a second two minutes later when Steve Conaty was released by Price in the centre of the field. Conaty blasted a shot from the edge of the penalty area that gave Harris no chance of saving despite his best efforts.
The half time lead could have been bigger but Jones and Blatchford were unable to convert late chances.
Ton Pentre replaced Steve Conaty with Jamie Bradford after ten minutes of the second half and as a result the centre of midfield lacked bite and soon after Llangeinor found their way back into the match.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute for what appeared to be climbing by a Ton Pentre defender. Marty Ellacott saved the penalty by pushing it on to the crossbar but a Llangeinor player following up headed into an unguarded net with the Ton goalkeeper still on the ground.
Following this Kristian Orchard was substituted for Jamie Hallet as the Ton manager looked to use some of his squad players.
Ton almost increased their lead soon after when Jones received the ball on the left and heard a call from Bradford who was steaming through the middle of the pitch. Jones picked him out with a perfect pass and Bradford hit the post.
In the 62nd minute Llangeinor equalised when they broke free of the Ton defence. Ellacott denied the first attempt with a great save but was unable to stop the player following up from scoring as the Bulldogs were punished for poor defending.
Llangeinor’s winner came three minutes later when Hallet conceded a clumsy free kick just inside the Ton half. The ball was sent into the box where a Llangeinor player headed into the net for an excellently worked goal.
In reply to this Ton introduced an extra forward into attack as they went in search for an equaliser with Shugar making way for Raith Plant.
In injury time the ball was played into Plant in the Llangeinor penalty area and as the forward looked to turn his marker he was pulled down to the ground but the referee waved away Ton Pentre’s penalty appeals. As a result an incensed Kevin Richards was shown a red card by the match referee for his protests.
At the final whistle the home team were overjoyed having claimed a huge scalp but for Ton Pentre this was an embarrassment being knocked out of the cup in the first round by lower league opposition.
The Rhondda Bulldogs, sponsored by Merlin Sports and Gus Properties, will look to avenge this defeat when they face Merthyr Saints from Welsh League Division Two in the First Round of the FAW Welsh Cup at Ynys Park on Saturday 16th September 2006. Kick off is at 2.30pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott 2. Mark Crutch 3. Kristian Orchard 4. Scott Hayward 5. Gareth Picknell 6. Lee Matthews 7. Ryan Shugar 8. Steve Conaty 9. Rob Blatchford 10. Dale Price (Captain) 11. Alyn Jones Subs: 12. Raith Plant (Shugar, 68); 14. Jamie Hallet (Orchard, 59); 15. Jamie Bradford (Conaty, 54).
Ton Goals: Jones (pen) 36; Conaty 38.
Yellow Card: Price 84
Red Card: Kevin Richards (Manager) 90+1
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