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Ton Pentre played out a tremendous match at Jenner Park against Barry Town but the Bulldogs will feel devastated after seeing all of their missed chances culminate in the home team auspiciously netting an injury time equaliser.
At times the conditions were extremely difficult with swirling wind and rain encompassing Barry Town’s Jenner Park fortress, but both sets of players seemed to ignore the elements and put on a wonderful show for all those that were present.
The Bulldogs started this MacWhirter Welsh League Division One clash well and when Wayne Antionazzi and Alyn Jones played a one-two with each other Ton Pentre found themselves 1-0 up. Having received the ball back from Alyn Jones out on the right, winger Antionazzi squared an excellent pass into the 6-yard box that Barry’s defence found impossible to deal with as the ball hit a defender’s leg to go into the net.
Alyn Jones was having a splendid game and after linking up with strike partner Chris Jones, the Bulldogs captain looked to place the ball in the top left-hand corner but his effort failed to dip and painstakingly cleared the cross bar.
Barry Town responded immediately by hitting Ton’s post before seeing the ball cleared off the line after the Dragons’ strike force appeared to have an eternity in the 18-yard box to pick their spot.
Ton Pentre looked menacing when on the attack and were giving the Barry defence a torrid time. Lloyd Toghill should have increased the Bulldogs lead when his amazing run into the box saw him brush off his challengers before rounding Dan Bradley in the home team goals. The midfielder looked to slot the ball into the net but he hit the outside of the left-hand post.
Leon Young was also presented with a superb chance to grab a goal when he too was allowed access into the 18-yard box before taking the ball past Bradley only to see his strike desperately blocked by a covering defender.
The Bulldogs were made to regret those missed chances when former Ton striker Ian Jones was able to get in front of his marker to receive the ball from the left wing deep inside the Bulldogs area. He deftly prodded the ball with his first touch to send it quickly past goalkeeper Leighton James.
Ton could and probably should have taken a lead into the half time interval when Toghill was in the thick of the action inside the Dragons box when his point blank shot was well saved by Bradley, who was called upon again when he also held on to Alyn Jones’ follow-up. The Bulldogs players looked at each other in disbelief as another goal scoring chance had gone by the wayside.
The action didn’t let up in the second half either as Barry had a goal ruled out for offside moments after Young held off a defender and looked likely to score for Ton, but sent his strike over the bar.
Nicky Jones was looking to give the home team the lead after he finished off a counterattack when a Ton move broke down with Martyn Phillips high up the pitch. Jones’ well hit strike was well saved by James who was having a wonderful match in the Bulldog’s number one shirt.
Barry were also being rueful with their chances in this cracking encounter as they thought they’d done enough for the lead when the ball was hurtling towards the back of the net as the hour loomed, but Tom Davies denied the seven times Welsh League champions with a clearance off the line.
As the action moved to the other end of the pitch some lacklustre Barry Town defending was capitalised upon by Chris Jones. With just one defender to beat the former Caerleon front man passed to the unmarked Alyn Jones who applied a well executed finish to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
Barry made a triple substitution as their chances were rapidly dwindling away in front of them and as the match moved into injury time Barry saw the ball plucked out of the air by James following a corner kick.
With the Referee checking his watch it appeared as though this was to be their last chance, but when Ton failed to sufficiently clear the ball up the field from danger Barry suddenly found themselves with a man over, an advantage that they used to perfection.
Ian Jones received the ball to feet at the left-hand corner of the 18-yard box where he had a clear sight at goal. From this position he hit a marvellous punt over James and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net for a dramatic equaliser before the Referee called time on the game.
Ton will be disappointed not to get the win that overall they probably deserved while Barry will release a huge sigh of relief after grasping a point from the jaws of defeat.
Weather permitting; the Bulldogs will be home to Bridgend Town on Saturday, 3rd April. Kick off for the Division One match is at 2.30pm.
Ton Pentre: 1. Leighton James, 2. Adam Lewis, 3. Fraser Williams, 4. Jamie Thomas, 5. Tom Davies, 6. Leon Young, 7. Wayne Antionazzi, 8. Martyn Phillips (74mins), 9. Chris Jones, 10. Lloyd Toghill, 11. Alyn Jones (Captain).
Substitutes: 12. Calvin Mclaggon (74mins), 14. Liam Hutchinson, 15. Matthew Hearne, 16. Andrew Hughes.
Goals: Own Goal 7; A.Jones 73
Bookings: James 59; Toghill 63; Young 81; Davies 90+1
Referee: Kris Hames (Aberdare)
Match report © Ton Pentre AFC Press
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