BETTWS BLITZED!
BETTWS FC 0 PONTYCLUN 6
Pontyclun travelled the short distance to lowly Bettws for their final fixture of 2016 on Saturday.
Pontyclun got proceedings underway on a damp, dank mid-winter’s day. After a quiet opening the first opportunity of the game fell to Pontyclun in the 4th minute. The ball was played in from the right towards James Gronnow whose drilled shot just went wide of the left hand post. The next 10 minutes were a pretty sterile affair with little in the way of goal-scoring opportunities created by either side.
Fourteen minutes in though it was Pontyclun who opened the scoring. Good battling by Oli James in midfield saw him win possession before sending a well weighted diagonal ball to Jamie Williams on the right wing. As the Pontyclun forward advanced into the Bettws area he looked to have knocked the ball too far forward but as he sought to regain control of the ball he was upended by the advancing Bettws keeper and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Chris Bullock stepped up to take the kick and although the home keeper managed to get a hand to the ball he could not prevent it from nestling in the far left hand corner of the net.
Four minutes later the home team had a good chance to draw level when they were awarded a free-kick on the left hand edge of the Pontyclun area. However, they only succeeded in sending the effort into the wall before the ball eventually found its way into the hands of James Billington. The Pontyclun custodian wasted no time in finding James Gronnow on the left and the Pontyclun player advanced goalwards before putting a low ball into the Bettws area where the onrushing Chris Bullock sent a shot just wide of the right hand post.
As the half ticked by Pontyclun began to enjoy more and more of the possession and really took control of proceedings. On the half hour mark they were awarded another penalty. Jamie Williams advanced into the Bettws area and got in a shot which was spilled by the home goalkeeper. The ball rebounded to Oli James three yards out who tried a clever back-heel before being pulled down by a Bettws defender and once again the referee pointed to the spot. Chris Bullock stepped up to take the kick and made no mistake sending the ball into the same corner as his first effort.
By now Pontyclun were in firm control of proceedings and both Shaun Moss and Chris Bullock both came close to extending their lead. In the 37th minute Pontyclun were rewarded for all their pressure when Oli James fed the ball through to Chris Bullock who advanced into the Bettws area before getting in a shot which deflected off the home keeper before rolling over the line.
Pontyclun continued to press forward and right on the stroke of half-time they nearly made it 4-0. James Gronnow advanced down the left and sent a firm low cross into the area which was narrowly missed by several Pontyclun players. This proved to be the last action of the half and the referee’s whistle sounded with Pontyclun leading by three goals to nil.
The home team got proceedings underway in the second half but it didn’t take long for Pontyclun to reassert their supremacy as in the 47th minute they made it 4-0 when a crisp shot from Craig Williams on the edge of the Bettws area found its way into the corner of the net.
Although now totally outclassed by Pontyclun the home team did have a rare chance in the 55th minute. A long ball forward looked to have been dealt with by Lewis Miller but at the last moment a Bettws forward nipped in ahead of him but he could only send his effort high over the bar.
After dominating proceedings Pontyclun finally made it 5-0 on the hour mark. Good interplay by Oli James and James Gronnow saw the former player slide the ball into Chris Bullock on the edge of the area and the Pontyclun centre-forward calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper to register his fourth goal of the match.
Pontyclun continued to take control of affairs and Aled Davies and Jamie Williams both went close with efforts before substitute Tom Haley finally made it 6-0 to round off what had been an impressive display by ‘The Clun’.