CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

PENYDARREN BGC 2  PONTYCLUN   3

Pontyclun travelled to Merthyr Tydfil to take on second placed Penydarren BGC in a vital top of the table fixture in the South Wales Alliance League Premier Division.

The home team got proceedings underway on a glorious spring day kicking towards the Gurnos end of the ground. After a tense opening in which both teams cancelled each other out it was Pontyclun who took the lead in the 7th minute. The Penydarren goalkeeper when trying to clear the ball only succeeded in looping the ball up into the air. Jamie Williams was on hand to pounce on this error and crossed the ball back across the Penydarren six yard area. Despite there being no Pontyclun player near him a Penydarren player panicked and turned the ball into his own net at the far post.

The game then reverted to type as both sides cancelled each other out and much of the play was confined to midfield. In the 23rd minute though Penydarren drew level when a shot from the edge of the penalty area deceived James Billington and found its way into the net.

After Pontyclun had weathered an onslaught of Penydarren pressure they went ahead once again in the 31st minute. James Gronow floated a corner into the Penydarren area. The ball found its way to Kieran Lawrence who steadied himself before firing the ball into the far corner of the net.

This proved to be the last significant action of the half and the interval arrived with Pontyclun leading by 2 goals to 1.

Pontyclun got the second half underway and in the opening minute came close to extending their lead when the Penydarren keeper was forced into making a good save when he tipped an effort from Joel Woodington over the bar. From the ensuing corner Joel Woodington once again came close to extending his side’s lead when his back header just crept wide of the far post.

After another tense period of play it was Pontyclun who went further in front in the 69th minute. After a Penydarren attack was broken up in the Pontyclun area the ball was cleared to Tom Tweedy. The Pontyclun forward advanced with the ball down the left wing before playing the ball to Jamie Williams in space. The Pontyclun player drew the Penydarren goalkeeper before firing the ball low into the net much to the delight of the large Pontyclun travelling support.

Straight from the restart the home team sought to test James Billington but the firm long range effort flew just over the bar. Penydarren now threw everything into trying to reduce the arrears knowing that only a victory would keep their title hopes alive. However, the resolute Pontyclun defence rose to the occasion magnificently.

Right at the end of the ninety minutes Penydarren were awarded a penalty for handball in the area. The Penydarren goalkeeper made no mistake with his kick sending James Billington the wrong way to make the score 3-2. This proved to be the last significant action of the game and the final whistle sounded with Pontyclun deserving winners by three goals to two – a result which confirmed them as League Champions.