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TON PENTRE 1 - 3 CINDERFORD TOWN
Friendly Fixture
Saturday 28th July 2007
Ton Pentre began their preparation for the new season at Ynys Park against British Gas Business Football League outfit, Cinderford Town. The visitors from Gloucestershire were sharper than the Rhondda Bulldogs, having already played several pre-season friendly matches.
This sharpness was evident in the opening exchanges between the two teams when after just three minutes of play Tim Haddock easily broke through the Ton Pentre defence to shoot across goal and into the inside of the far post.
Cinderford doubled their lead ten minutes later when Jimmy Cox breached the Bulldogs defence a little too easily to put the ball past the helpless Marty Ellacott in the Ton Pentre goals.
It took Ton Pentre 20 minutes before creating anything worthwhile in front of goal when after an initial shot the Cinderford goalkeeper made a fine save but parried the ball into the path of Andrew Mainwaring. His point blank shot unluckily for Ton hit the Cinderford keeper who was still on the ground following his initial save. A goal here could very well have seen Ton Pentre get themselves back in the match.
The Rhondda Bulldogs were made to pay for that missed effort when rusty defending allowed Cinderford a clear chance on goal for Richard Kear to make the score 3-0 at half time.
Ton manager Kevin Richards made several changes at half time to give his large squad a run out. One of the players brought onto the field of play was Steven Conaty who put in an impressive and dedicated display.
Within the first five minutes of the second half Conaty broke free into the opponents box but just as the busy midfielder was about to take a shot a defender managed to get a block in and clear his lines.
Cinderford created several more opportunities to score but were denied by either the post, crossbar or Ellacott.
In the 66th minute Conaty again found himself clear of the Cinderford defence but while running diagonally into the box at full pace he was unable to get any accuracy on his shot and sent it wide of the far post.
Ton Pentre did find the back of the net however, but when they did it was a little too late for any real chance of a comeback. The goal was scored in the 82nd minute when Andrew Mainwaring was questionably ruled onside by the referees assistant to square a pass to Jonathan Kift who cleanly finished to make it 3-1.
Despite the result Kevin Richards will be happy that Ton Pentre received a very useful workout against Cinderford Town while also providing him with an opportunity to take a look at the Rhondda Bulldogs potential new signings for the forthcoming Welsh League campaign.
Up next for Ton Pentre is an away friendly against Welsh League Division Two side Barry Town at the Llanrumney Playing Fields in Cardiff on Tuesday 31st July 2007. This match kicks off at 6.00pm.
The Rhondda Bulldogs then travel to face Ely Rangers on Thursday 2nd August with this game kicking off at 6.30pm.
On Saturday 4th August Merthyr Tydfil visit Ynys Park for what should be a very interesting encounter at 2.30pm.
Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
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