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Pontardawe Town confirmed their Welsh League Division One status with this 0-0 draw with Ton Pentre at Ynys Park as a point was enough to move them clear of the teams in the drop zone.
Ton Pentre made several changes to the team that faced UWIC a week earlier as Alyn Jones was re-instated and Dwayne Mardenborough was provided with a rare place in the starting line-up. However, the Rhondda Bulldogs were dealt a blow when Ryan Shugars twisted his ankle in the warm-up, which meant that Paul Evans was thrust into the starting eleven just minutes before kick off.
The Rhondda Bulldogs started quite well with Jones and Mardenborough making nuisances of themselves up front. In midfield Jamie Bradford and Dale Price were dictating possession and distributing well but Ton were unable to find that end product.
A good chance fell to Kristian Orchard in the first half of play when he met the ball from a cross deep inside the Pontardawe box. He did well to direct his header towards goal but it brushed past Mark Snell’s right hand post.
Ton Pentre had more injury worries during the interval when key central defender Mark Crutch was unable to start the second half due to a foot injury. Steve Conaty was his replacement and took up a position on the right.
Two minutes into the second half the ball was hit out of play when Ton goalkeeper and captain Marty Ellacott needed to receive treatment to his arm for a mystery injury, as the Ton favourite had not been challenged.
After a short delay the Ton goalkeeper was able to continue and Pontardawe felt that this was their best chance for a goal as they attempted to put pressure on Ellacott by putting him under a few crosses from the wings. However, their play lacked any venom.
The best opportunity for a goal in the match fell to Ton during the second half, when from a corner, Snell dropped the ball in his 6-yard box. The ball appeared to be waiting for a Ton player to tap it in but somehow a Pontardawe defender scooped the ball away under extreme pressure.
Pontardawe Town will be pleased with this point as it keeps them safe from relegation while Ton Pentre may well feel disappointed that they did not create enough chances.
Ton Pentre: 1. Marty Ellacott (Captain); 2. Mark Crutch; 3. Phil Clarke; 4. Scott Hayward; 5. Gareth Picknell; 6. Dwayne Mardenborough; 7. Paul Evans; 8. Jamie Bradford; 9. Kristian Orchard; 10. Dale Price; 11. Alyn Jones
Subs: 12. Steve Conaty (Crutch, 45); 14. Ryan Shugars (Unused – injured before kick-off); 15. Jamie Michaels (Clarke, 60)
Goals: None
Cautions: Michales 76
Red Cards: None
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