LAST GASP STRIKE SECURES THE POINTS

PONTYCLUN 2 PONTLOTTYN 1

With the Ivor Park pitch having passed a late pitch inspection Pontlottyn AFC were the visitors to a bright, but cold, Ivor Park for a top of the table South Wales Alliance League fixture.

The visitors in their all blue strip got proceedings underway kicking towards the village end of the ground. As early as the third minute the pattern was set for the rest of the match when Pontyclun had a glorious chance to open the scoring. A low ball by Oli James put his fellow striker Tom Haley through on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, the visiting custodian spread himself well to divert the ball behind for a corner.

Three minutes later another good opportunity fell to Pontyclun. Oli James fed Jamie Williams on the left just inside the opposition half. The Pontyclun front man advanced with the ball, holding off several challenges into the Pontlottyn area but could only send his low shot straight into the hands of the Pontlottyn goalkeeper.

With Pontyclun dominating possession the visitors had to wait until the 17th minute for their first real opportunity of the game. With the ball bobbling around the edge of the Pontyclun area and with the home team spurning several chances to clear their lines the ball eventually found its way to a Pontlottyn forward whose snap shot flew wide of the right hand post.

Four minutes later Pontyclun had another golden chance to open the scoring. Good interplay between Oli James and Tom Haley put the latter player in the clear on the right hand side of the Pontlottyn area but his firm shot flew just over the bar. Pontyclun continued to keep up the pressure and in the 25th minute a well struck long range effort by Shaun Moss went just wide of the post.

Pontyclun continued to press and both Tom Tweedy and Jamie Williams both went close with efforts before in the 33rd minute the Pontlottyn goal had another narrow escape. Tom Tweedy advanced towards goal and seeing the Pontlottyn keeper advancing off his line sent in a clever lob which went just over the crossbar.

As the half progressed Pontyclun continued to create chance after chance but were unable to capitalise on them. They were made to pay for this in the 42nd minute when the visitors took the lead with what was their only second real attack of the half. The ball was played into the Pontyclun area. With the Pontyclun defence missing several opportunities to clear the ball upfield the ball found its way to Pontlottyn’s Mark Powell 15 yards from goal and his snap shot flew into the net to give his team the lead.

Right on the stroke of half time Pontyclun might have drawn level. The tireless Oli James advanced into the visitors’ area. As he shaped to shoot he looked to be taken out by a Pontlottyn player but the referee waved away the furious protests of the Pontyclun players. This proved to be the last real action of the half and the half time whistle sounded with Pontlottyn leading by a goal to nil.

Pontyclun got proceedings underway in the second half and began in the same fashion as they ended the first. In the 48th minute. The ball found its way to Tom Tweedy on the left hand side of the six yard area but his shot just went wide of the far post. Five minutes later the Pontlottyn goal had another close shave when from a free-kick five yards in from the by-line the ball was played into the area. Jordan Lawrence rose unopposed to meet it but his header flew just over the bar.

With all their incessant pressure Pontyclun were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 56th minute when they drew level. Oli James was played in down the left wing. The Pontyclun forward outwitted a Pontlottyn defender and advanced to the by-line before putting in a superb cross which was met by a flying Tom Haley whose pinpoint header flew into the net much to the delight of the large crowd.

Six minutes later the visitors had a rare opportunity on goal. Slack play by Harry Flint and Matthew Trigg resulted in the latter player bringing down a Pontlottyn forward on the right hand edge of the Clun box. The kick was subsequently played into the Pontyclun area and as the leather pinged around the 18 yard box it came to a visiting player 12 yards out on the left. The player steadied himself before putting in a diagonal shot which hit the inside of the right hand post before rebounding back into the arms of a grateful James Billington in the Pontyclun goal.

Stung by this narrow escape Pontyclun continued to take the game to their opponents. In the 69th minute a firm header from substitute Joel Woodington from a corner on the right was blocked by the Pontlottyn keeper and one of his defenders was on hand to clear the danger. A minute later another good chance fell to the same player but his low shot on the turn lacked power and was easily gathered down low by the Pontlottyn custodian.

With Clun really now turning up the pressure on their opponents they felt they might have had a penalty in the 70th minute when Jamie Williams appeared to be brought down in the Pontlottyn area. However, the referee had other ideas and booked the Pontyclun player for diving.

Three minutes later the visitor’s goal had yet another narrow escape. The ball came to substitute Craig Williams in the Pontlottyn area. The Pontyclun player brought the ball under control before swivelling and putting in a shot on the turn which hit the bar before rebounding to safety.

Although the visitors started to come a little more back into the game in the 81st minute their goal had yet another narrow escape. The ball was played into their area. Oli James got in a superb header which looked to have goal written all over it but the Pontlottyn goalkeeper dived to his left and somehow managed to palm the ball out to the onrushing Joel Woodington but the Clun substitute was unable to connect and the chance went begging.

With the 90 minutes drawing to a close the visitors missed a chance to take the lead. A long diagonal ball split the Pontyclun defence and found a visiting forward on the right. As the player advanced on goal James Billington did well to come out from his goal and smother the effort.

As the match entered injury time it was the visitors who had a couple of half-chances to take the lead. However, in the 95th minute it was Pontyclun who were finally rewarded for all their endeavours. Kieran Lawrence won the ball deep in his own half on the left and after a couple of passes were exchanged by Pontyclun players the ball eventually found its way to Jamie Williams on the left. The Pontyclun player advanced on goal before calmly lofting the ball from the edge of the area over the dive of the Pontlottyn keeper and into the net setting off wild celebrations from both players and supporters alike.

This goal naturally knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and the remaining minutes were largely spent with Pontyclun playing ‘keep ball, deep in the Pontlottyn half until the final whistle sounded to give the Clun a well deserved victory by two goals to one.