Pencoed Athletic 0 4 Pontyclun FC
21st Jan 2017 - 14.00
Velindre Road
South Wales Alliance League

CLUN PUT PEN TO THE SWORD

PENCOED ATHLETIC 0 PONTYCLUN FC 4

Pontyclun made the short journey down the A473 to take on local rivals Pencoed Athletic in a South Wales Alliance League Premier Division fixture.

Pontyclun got proceedings underway kicking towards the school end of the ground on what was a glorious, but cold, sunny winter’s day. After a quiet opening Pontyclun were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute. Craig Williams picked up the ball on the left just inside the Pencoed area. As the Pontyclun player powered towards goal he was unceremoniously hauled down by a Pencoed defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Shaun Moss stepped up to take the kick and made no mistake sending the ball firmly into the net down the centre of the goal.

Despite taking the lead so early on Clun were unable to build on it as chances were very much at a premium for either side. Indeed they had to wait until the 28th minute for their next real chance on goal when a snap shot by Jamie Williams from 18 yards was pushed away to safety by the Pencoed keeper.

The rather dour spectacle continued and the home team had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first real opportunity of the game. The ball was played forward into the Pontyclun area between the Pontyclun defenders and keeper James Billington. A Pencoed forward took advantage of the indecision in the Pontyclun back line and nipped in to take control of the ball but he could only send his angled shot into the side netting.

Right on the stroke of half-time another opportunity fell to the home team but James Billington got down well to safely gather a long range effort. This proved to the last real action of the half and the interval arrived with Pontyclun leading by a goal to nil.

After another quiet period of play Pontyclun doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Shaun Moss won the ball in midfield and advanced towards goal after good interplay with Oli James. The former player fed the ball into the path of Jamie Williams inside the area and the Pontyclun player calmly slotted the ball into the net.

Three minutes later Pontyclun extended their lead still further when they were awarded their second penalty of the game when Jamie Williams was brought down inside the Pencoed area. Shaun Moss again stepped up to take the kick and once again made no mistake from the spot, this time sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with his low effort into the left hand corner of the net.

With Pontyclun now in total control of proceedings they might have extended their lead still further in the 70th minute. Oli James broke down the left before sending in a searching cross into the Pencoed area towards Jamie Williams whose firm header flew just over the bar.

As the minutes ticked by chances continued to be very few and far between. However, right on the stroke of full-time Pontyclun made it 4-0 when substitute Chris Bullock powerfully headed another good cross from Oli James into the net. This proved to be the final action of the game and the referee’s whistle sounded with Pontyclun comfortable 4-0 winners, a result which put them four points clear at the top of the table.