A BUTE FROM OLI!

AFC BUTETOWN 0   PONTYCLUN  1

Pontyclun travelled to Cardiff Bay on a cold and damp winter’s afternoon to take on high-flying AFC Butetown in what was their first league game of 2016.

Butetown got proceedings underway kicking towards the Millennium Stadium end of the ground. After an uneventful opening the first opportunity fell to Pontyclun in the 6th minute. The ball was played into the Butetown area where it found Oli James unmarked 15 yards from goal. However, the Pontyclun midfielder could only tamely side-foot the ball into the hands of the Butetown keeper.

As the half progressed both sides sought to play football but little in the way of clear-cut chances were created by either side. In the 12th minute Butetown were awarded a free-kick on the right hand edge of the Pontyclun penalty area. The home player managed to bend his effort around the wall but Andrew Ringsell in the Pontyclun goal did well to dive to his left to push the ball to safety.

In the 17th minute the home team had another opportunity to open the scoring when a firm shot from the right hand edge of the Pontyclun area went flying past the far post with Andrew Ringsell looking on helplessly.  

A minute later Pontyclun themselves came close to taking the lead when a cross from the right found Alex Smith whose glancing header was scrambled to safety by the Butetown defence.

In the 25th minute Pontyclun again came close to taking the lead. A free-kick from just inside their half was played into the area towards Alex Smith, who in his attempt to put the ball into the net, collided with the home goalkeeper which resulted in the latter player requiring treatment before he could continue.

Three minutes later another good chance fell to Pontyclun. An excellent through ball by Oli James put Tom Tweedy through one on one with the Butetown keeper. However, the Pontyclun centre forward’s effort was comfortably gathered by the home custodian.

After having the better of the play at this point it came as no real surprise when Pontyclun opened the scoring in the 31st minute. A long through ball by Ethan Jones put Oli James through with only the Butetown goalkeeper to beat and the Pontyclun player made no mistake smashing the ball into the net from 15 yards.

In the 34th minute Pontyclun might have doubled their lead. A mazy run by Tom tweedy in the Butetown area eventually led him to cross the ball to the onrushing Craig Williams. However, the Pontyclun player’s high effort was easily gathered by the giant Butetown goalkeeper. This proved to be the last significant action of the half and the half-time whistle sounded with Pontyclun leading by a goal to nil.

Butetown began the second period strongly and in the opening minutes might have equalised when a sharp shot from the right hand edge of the Pontyclun area flew just over the Pontyclun bar. In the 52nd minute Pontyclun might have extended their lead when a snap shot from Ethan Jones on the right hand edge of the area flew just wide of the far post.

A minute later Pontyclun somehow contrived not to put the ball into the Butetown net when a cross ball into the Butetown area by Oli James eluded the Butetown defence and found Craig Williams at the far post unmarked just three yards from goal. However, the Pontyclun midfielder’s effort managed to hit both the post and the crossbar before going out of play.

The game then entered a relatively quiet period with chances being very much at a premium for either side. The next real opportunity of the match fell to Pontyclun in the 76th minute when Ethan Jones fired over the Butetown bar from close range. A minute later the home team might have drawn level as Pontyclun failed to prevent a home forward from advancing on goal. However, fortunately Andrew Ringsell was alert to the danger and managed to smother the effort.

As the minutes ticked by the Pontyclun defence held firm and managed to thwart any attempts by the home side to secure an equaliser. Right on full time there was a lengthy stoppage due to an injury to Pontyclun’s Ethan Jones. However, this did not affect the concentration of the Pontyclun players. Despite a melee in the Pontyclun goalmouth deep into stoppage time the Pontyclun defence held firm and the final whistle sounded with Pontyclun winners by a goal to nil.