Welsh Cup Round Three
08/11/03: Ton Pentre 4 - 1 Neath

THE RHONDDA BULLDOGS eased themselves into the last sixteen of the Welsh Cup with four first half goals against Welsh League rivals Neath. The result, however, was soured by what looked like a serious injury to striker Alyn Jones.

Neath fell to their knees after nine minutes when Ton Pentre took the lead through the inspirational Dean Morris. Having been played through on goal by Alyn Jones, Morris took the ball forward deep into the area with abundance of space. He clinically slotted the ball low to the left of Wyn Walters in goals.

Ton outclassed Neath once again two minutes later when they went 2-0 up. Carl Thomas pounced to strike from 20 yards out and saw his effort spilled by Walters. Jones found himself in the right place at the right time to make sure the ball crossed the line from his position in the five-yard box.

Neath's best chance came in the 20th minute when Paul Carpenter sent a perilous ball into the Ton box. Under pressure Nathan Prygodzicz defended well by heading the ball over the bar, Neath were unable to threaten from the resulting corner.

Neath were back on the offensive straight away and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Ton goal area after John Howe handled outside the box when jumping to collect a cross. The decision was somewhat unfair as the Bulldog's keeper was pushed out of the box by a Neath player. From the kick Howe comfortably went to ground to save the swinging ball into the box at his near post.

As half time approached the Rhondda Bulldogs struck twice more to put the cup-tie beyond their visitors.

Thomas created the first chance for Andrew Hughes to score when he threaded the ball through a lopsided Neath defence to the club captain. Hughes finished well as Ton's lead increased.

The Neath defence was slow off the mark once again moments later when Hughes played Kerry Harding through for the winger to smack the ball low and hard into the net for a half-time lead of 4-0.

Ton's advantage could have been increased during the 56th minute when Harding's weaving on the left saw him create space to cross into the box. Thomas connected with a diving header but was unable to direct it into the net.

Adam James came close to grabbing a goal back with his well struck free kick after 75 minutes when Morris had handled on the outskirts of the Ton area. James bent the ball wide of the right hand post.

A good save from Walters two minutes later denied Thomas a goal after Hughes used his skill to take a defender on and cut the ball back into the strikers path.

The action then progressed to the other end of the field when Howe was the victor of a one-on-one with a Neath striker as he timed his dive to the player's feet well to collect the ball.

In the 83rd minute Jones was through on goal and took a shot at Walters. However, under the challenge of Billy Timothy, Jones fell to the ground in agony. The player spent five minutes on the ground receiving treatment before being brought off on a stretcher to await the arrival of the ambulance.

With the game underway again Ashley Stevenson came off the bench to score Neath's consolation goal with his first touch by connecting with a cross to head the ball past Howe.

The Rhondda Bulldogs, sponsored by Gus Windows, can now look forward to continuing their Welsh Cup run having progressed to the fourth round.

Ton are involved in League Cup Round Two action on Saturday November 15 at Stebonheath Park to play against Llanelli. Please note that the kick-off for the match is at 1.45pm.

· The Ton Pentre Clubhouse is currently undergoing a makeover and the committee are requesting that anyone who has any Ton Pentre FC memorabilia, such as photographs for example, and wish to donate them to contact the Club on 01443 432813.

Ton Pentre: John Howe; Tom Billings; Ian Shepherd (Lee Tapper, 51mins); Jason Roberts; Nathan Prygodzicz (Lee Michaels, 65mins); Andrew Hughes; Shaun Fackeral; Dean Morris; Carl Thomas (Richard Haig, 78mins); Alyn Jones; Kerry Harding.

Match Report by Robert Dowling.