OLE OLE OLE OLI OLI!

PONTYCLUN 5 CANTON LIBERAL 1

Cardiff based Canton Liberal paid their first visit to Ivor Park on Saturday for a South Wales Alliance League Premier Division match.

Pontyclun got proceedings underway kicking towards the Cowbridge End on a bright, crisp early winter’s day. After a relatively quiet opening the first real opportunity fell to Canton Liberal in the 7th minute when Pontyclun’s James Billington was forced to go down low at his near post to block a firm low shot from the visitors.

Three minutes later Pontyclun had their first chance of the game. The ball was played low across the area to Harry Flint eight yards from goal but the visiting keeper was able to block his effort.

After another relatively quiet and even phase of play it was Pontyclun who took the lead in the 17th minute. Oli James on the left played a good low through ball to Craig Williams whose low shot from the edge of the area sailed past the advancing Canton Liberal custodian into the net.

Four minutes later the visitors had a good chance to draw level when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Pontyclun area. However, despite managing to curl his effort around the wall the Liberal’s player could only watch as the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.

In the 28th minute Canton had another good opportunity to draw level. The ball was played dangerously into the Pontyclun area but thankfully for the home team James Billington was able to get to the ball just before the visiting Liberal’s player.

The visitors were made to rue these missed opportunities as Pontyclun doubled their lead in the 37th minute. The ball was crossed in from the right to the far edge of the Canton area. Harry Flint rose to meet it and headed the ball back across the area where Oli James was on hand to steer the ball into the back of the net with a clever back header from six yards.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors shortly afterwards as they were reduced to ten men when Chris Quick received his marching orders for an off the ball incident with Oli James.

Right on the stroke of half time Canton’s misery increased when Pontyclun went 3-0 in front. After a spell of head tennis in the visiting area Craig Williams headed the ball across the goal to Harry Flint who headed the ball back in the direction which it came towards the left hand post where once again Oli James was on hand to guide the ball into the net from close range.

This proved to be the last significant incident of the half and the interval arrived with Pontyclun leading comfortably by three goals to nil.

As the temperature began to plummet the visitors got the second period underway. Despite being reduced to ten men they wasted little time in taking the game to Pontyclun and in the 48th minute they were rewarded for their endeavours when they reduced the arrears from a strike by young Gani Abdi from the left hand edge of the Pontyclun area which flew into the net past the helpless James Billington.

Two minutes later the same player had another good chance to further reduce the deficit when he turned on the edge of the Pontyclun area before getting in a shot which was only just held by James Billington.

At this stage of the game it was the visitors who were very much on top totally belying the fact that they were a man short. Nevertheless Pontyclun dug in and worked their way back into proceedings and in the 67th minute it was the Clun who went further in front when the Canton Liberal keeper spilled a firm shot from Jamie Williams straight into the path of Oli James who wasted no time in firing the ball into the net from close range for his hat-trick.

With the visitors now increasingly demoralised and tiring it came as no real surprise when Pontyclun extended their lead in the 77th minute. Substitute Tom Haley was bundled over in the Canton area and referee Peter Small had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Shaun Moss stepped up to take the kick and the visiting keeper did well to get down low to his left to push away the effort. However, he only succeeded in sending the ball straight back in the path of the advancing Shaun Moss who this time made no mistake in sending the ball into the net from close range.

Three minutes from time Pontyclun had a chance to make it six. Good work by Jamie Williams down the right saw him advance into the area and send in a shot which flew just over the bar. This proved to be the last real incident in the game and the referee’s whistle sounded with Pontyclun worthy winners by 5 goals to 1.