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A tremendous second half fight back saw Ton Pentre snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. Ely went into half time with a 2-0 lead. Whatever was said at half time in the Merlin sponsored home sides dressing room did the trick.
The game was played in very difficult conditions, the field was very heavy and the game started with a torrential downpour followed by hail. However, the home side settled quickly and took the game to Ely. And it was Ton who had the ball in the net early on, when a ball from Alyn Jones was flicked into the Ely net by Dwayne Mardenborough, however Mardenborough was offside.
In the 21st minute the visitors made a quick break and they played their way into the Ton area, the move was only stopped when an Ely player was brought down by a Ton defender, the referee awarded a penalty. Elyís Graham Cummings took the spot kick, he struck the ball low to his right, the ball went in off the post, giving Ely a 1-0 lead. Marty Ellacott had no chance in the Ton goal.
This goal gave the visitors a lift, a minute later Ellacott was called into action when Elyís Matthew Trottman forced Ellacott to pull of a wonderful save. Then in the 26th minute Ely went 2-0 up. Ely were awarded a free kick 22 yards out to left of the Ton goal. Trottman took the kick and he struck a powerful shot to the right of Ellacott, the ball was in the net before the Ton keeper could move.
The Ely side were now brimming with confidence and were dominat for the rest of the half and in fairness they did not try and defend the lead, they played a high defensive line and tried to get another goal. However, the Rhondda Bulldogs kept the game to 2-0 at half time. Elyís open play was possibly their down fall in the second half!
At half time Ton made two changes when Phil Clarke and Gareth Picknell replaced Rob Blatchford and Phil Allen, from the start of the half, Ton took the game to Ely and pressed them back into their half, Alyn Jones was unlucky when his shot hit the crossbar and went over, this was followed by a good effort by Dale Price.
The last throw of the dice took place in the 65th minute when Ton made their 3rd substitution Raith Plant replaced the hard working Dwayne Mardenborough. The change had an immediate effect on the game and started an 8 minute purple patch for the GUS properties sponsored outfit.
Plant was involved straightaway he took the ball in behind the Ely defence on the right and slipped the ball to Jones, he beat 3 players and squared the ball to Price who hit an unstoppable shot to score Tonís opener. This gave the home side a lifeline and within 2 minutes Jones again hit the crossbar.
Plant was again involved in the 71st minute when he took the ball into the Ely penalty area and was brought down, the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Tonís top scorer Alyn Jones stepped up and converted the spot kick to make the game all square at 2-2. This was Jonesí 11th goal of the season, the same number as he scored last season to win the top goal scorer.
Within 2 minutes Ton took the lead, when a wonderful strike from Phil Clarke proved to be the winning goal, he cut into the penalty area on the corner a hit a curling strike around the Hart in the Ely goal. The Ton players surrounded Clarke and the relief could be felt around Ynys Park.
It could have been better a few minutes later when Plant side footed the ball towards the goal, it looked like a 4th for Ton, however Hart in the Ely goal made a great save diving low to his left.
Ely did not give in and they pushed forward to try and get the equaliser, from a corner Ellacott made a desperate save at his front post to maintain the 3-2 lead.
When the final whistle blew there was a big cheer of relief around the ground, Ton got the 3 points and stay in 4th place. The Rhondda Bulldogs are going to have to play a lot better in future games to get the points, other sides are not going to let slip 2 goal leads.
There has been a few changes to the Ton Fixture list over the next few weeks:
Saturday 9th December, Newport YMCA Away, 2:00pm
Saturday 16th December, Neath Ath Away, 2:00pm
Tuesday 19th December, Afan Lido Home, 7:30pm.
Match report by Gary Matuszczyk
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott; 2. Mark Crutch; 3. Phil Allen (Gareth Picknell); 4. Scott Hayward; 5. Jamie Michaels; 6. Lee Mathews; 7. Ryan Shugar; 8. Rob Blatchford (Phil Clarke); 9. Dwayne Mardenborough (Raith Plant); 10. Dale Price (1); 11. Alyn Jones (1)
Subs: 12. Raith Plant; 14. Gareth Picknell; 15. Phil Clarke (1)
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