CLUN PAY THE PENALTY AS THE DRAGONS ROAR
BAGLAN DRAGONS 3 PONTYCLUN FC 2
Pontyclun travelled westwards along the M4 on Tuesday to take on Baglan Dragons in a vital top of the table South Wales Alliance League fixture.
The home team got proceedings underway on a nice, bright spring evening kicking towards the Cardiff end of the ground. Pontyclun though wasted no time in taking the game to their opponents and as early as the opening minute had a good chance to open the scoring. Good interplay between Joel Woodington and Craig Williams saw the latter player advance to the by-line on the right before getting in a shot which was gathered by the Baglan keeper.
Despite Pontyclun having the better of the early exchanges it was Baglan who took the lead in the 7th minute with their first real attack of the game. The home team advanced down the left before a cross into the area found a home forward in space on the right hand edge of the area and his low diagonal shot evaded James Billington and nestled in the corner of the net.
Three minutes later worse was to follow for Pontyclun as the home team doubled their lead. The home team were awarded a corner. As the ball was played in Pontyclun keeper James Billington looked to be impeded as he came to try and gather the ball. While most of the players stood motionless waiting for the whistle for a foul which never came, the ball bounced in the Pontyclun six yard area before being put into the net by a grateful Baglan player.
Reeling from this reverse Pontyclun managed to pull a goal back in the 13th minute. Good work down the right by Jamie Williams resulted in him squaring the ball back into the area where Joel Woodington was on hand to turn the ball into the net from 12 yards.
Five minutes later Pontyclun had a good chance to draw level. The ball was played up to Joel Woodington on the edge of the Baglan area. The Pontyclun centre-forward managed to turn before sending in a low shot which went just wide of the far upright with the home goalkeeper looking on helplessly.
The next twenty minutes saw play flow from end to end as Pontyclun’s passing game and Baglan’s more direct style caused problems for the two defences and both goalkeepers needed to be alert on occasion to rescue their sides.
In the 43rd minute Pontyclun had another good chance to draw level. Full-back Sam Morgan advanced down the right before sending the ball to Craig Williams whose cross-cum shot from the right rolled agonisingly across the face of the goal as no Pontyclun player was on hand to turn the ball into the net. Although Jamie Williams had another half-chance to reduce the deficit a minute later the Baglan goal survived and the half-time whistle sounded with the home team leading by 2 goals to 1.
Pontyclun got proceedings underway after the break and in the opening seconds of the half they were awarded a potential lifeline when the advancing Craig Williams was bundled over in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The normally reliable Shaun Moss stepped up to take the kick but his well-struck effort to the left was well palmed away by the young Baglan keeper.
The second period followed the same pattern as the first with play flowing from end to end in what was a very good advert for the South Wales Alliance League. It was the home team though who came closest to adding to their score when on the hour mark James Billington had to be alert to push away a Baglan effort from the edge of the area.
Six minutes later things went from bad to worse for Pontyclun when they went 3-1 behind. A long ball forward looked to be comfortably dealt with by Sam Morgan as he held off the challenge of a Baglan forward. However, his weak header back to James Billington was pounced on by the Baglan player. As he advanced into the area the player was hauled down by the Pontyclun full-back and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The home team took full advantage of this opportunity and sent the ball into the net giving James Billington no chance.
With play still continuing to flow from end to end it Pontyclun were awarded a lifeline in the 76th minute when midfielder Aled Davies reduced the deficit when his low shot from the edge off the area evaded everyone before nestling in the far corner of the net.
As the shadows began to lengthen the home team fell further and further back in order to protect their lead. However, despite Pontyclun taking advantage of the chance to pin their opponents back in their own half for the majority of the remaining minutes they were couldn’t capitalise on this possession. Although chances fell to Tom Haley and James Gronow in the closing minutes they were unable to take advantage of them and the final whistle sounded with Baglan winners by three goals to two.