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The spectators at Glenhafod Park Stadium witnessed a tremendous match between two of the Welsh League’s top teams with seven goals scored and plenty of attractive football.
Goytre United ended up the victors of this match after an 89th minute goal to switch places with Ton Pentre in the league by moving into third place.
Ton Pentre opened up the afternoon’s goal scoring with a sublime move in the second minute when Andy Mainwaring gained possession on the right wing deep in the Goytre half. Mainwaring passed down the line to Jamie Bradford and then took up a position in the box for the return pass. Once received he struck a powerful ball at Chris Curtis in the home goals who was unable to get anywhere near it due to the pace of the strike.
Less than three minutes later Goytre levelled with a deflected goal that somehow sneaked past Marty Ellacott in the Ton goals.
Incredibly the Rhondda Bulldogs found the back of the net under a minute later from the boot of Kristian Orchard. The Ton player was out wide on the left when he unleashed a shot that looped and dipped over Curtis for a wonder goal.
Ton could only hold the lead for 13 minutes when Goytre equalised from a speculative shot through a crowded Ton box. It looked as though Ellacott had pulled off another fine save but the ball slipped under his body and rolled over the goal line to make it 2-2.
Goytre began to control the game and looked devastating when going forward and as the half-hour mark approached they deservedly took the lead for the first time in the match. Poor defending allowed a Goytre United player to score from an acute angle deep inside the Ton box.
Ton Pentre managed to hold out until half-time without conceding another goal despite several scares.
Ton were a reformed team in the second half and made it 3-3 when Paul Evans thumped in the equaliser with cracking header from a free kick out on the wing.
The Rhondda Bulldogs had the upper hand in the second half despite looking susceptible to conceding when Goytre counter-attacked.
Ton failed to convert their pressure and control into a goal and were punished in the 89th minute when a Ton attack broke down on the edge of the Goytre box. The home team quickly got the ball into Ton’s half of the pitch to score a stunning goal that secured the win and third place in the league table.
It’s another tough match for Ton on Wednesday 18th April at 7.30pm when title favourites Neath Athletic come to Ynys Park. Then on Saturday 21st April at 2.30pm the Bulldogs travel to Welsh Cup finalists Afan Lido.
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott (Captain); 2. Jamie Bradford; 3. Kristian Orchard; 4. Paul Evans; 5. Mark Crutch; 6. Gareth Picknell; 7. Dale Price; 8. Lee Matthews; 9. Andy Mainwaring; 10. Jamie Michaels; 11. Ryan Jenkins
Subs: 12. Dwayne Mardenborough (Michaels, 78); 14. Steve Conaty (Jenkins, 56); 15. Alyn Jones (Bradford, 76)
Goals: Mainwaring, 2; Orchard, 6; Evans, 48
Cautions: Matthews, 63; Conaty, 82
Red Cards: None
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