|
TON PENTRE 1 - 3 MERTHYR TYDFIL
Friendly Fixture
Saturday 4th August 2007
The Rhondda Bulldogs struggled in their encounter with a Merthyr Tydfil team managed by former Ton Pentre striker Garry Shephard. The Martyrs were dominant, well organised and looked the sharper team at Ynys Park.
This sharpness saw them take an early two goal lead within the first ten minutes of the match. Their first saw them score when Stephen Hall, deputising for the unavailable Marty Ellacott, was indecisively caught off his goal line by Craig Steins.
Merthyr’s second was the result of good team work when they easily dismantled the Ton Pentre defence for an easy score with player/manager Garry Shephard netting the goal.
It could and probably should have got worse for Ton Pentre when in the 21st minute Merthyr were unlucky not to score. Hall made a superb initial save for Ton with a brave block but was unable to keep the ball in his hands. The Martyrs had several opportunities to hit the back of the net but each strike was denied by a Bulldogs player on the line in the right place at the right time. Merthyr eventually hit the ball high over the bar.
As the half progressed Ton were able to create a few goalscoring opportunities but were misfiring with their shots. In the 29th minute Jamie Michaels was released on the left but unfortunately he struck his effort wide of the left hand post.
Merthyr started the second half like the first when after just four minutes of the re-start they forced Hall into making a double point blank save.
Moments later Ton’s visitors did find the back of the net again when the Merthyr attackers linked well with Mike Jones giving Hall no chance of making a save.
Ton Pentre did get on the scoresheet but had to wait until the 74th minute to do so. Andy Mainwaring was bearing down on goal when a Merthyr defender clipped his legs for a cynical foul to deny the Ton forward an opportunity to score. From the resulting free kick outside the box, Jamie Michaels curled in a fantastic shot leaving the Merthyr goalkeeper to dive in vain.
The goal was to be nothing more than a consolation as Merthyr remained strong enough to curtail any ideas of a Ton Pentre comeback.
The Bulldogs play their final pre-season friendly on Tuesday 7th August 2007 away to Pontyclun of Welsh Football League Division Two. The kick off for this match is 6.30pm.
Ton Pentre’s season starts with a tricky opener against Newport YMCA on Saturday 11th August at Ynys Park. This game kicks off at 2.30pm. Following this the Bulldogs are away to hotly tipped Ento Aberaman Athletic on Wednesday 15th August at 6.30pm.
Match report by Ton Pentre AFC Press
|
