WELSH CUP WOE!
PONTYCLUN 1 CAERLEON FC 2
Welsh League Division III side Caerleon were the visitors to a bright and sunny Ivor Park on Saturday for a Welsh Cup Second Qualifying Round tie.
Pontyclun kicked-off kicking towards the Cowbridge end. After an even opening the first real opprotunity of the match fell to Pontyclun in the fifth minute. The ball was played into the Caerleon area from the left. After a Caerleon defender missed his clearance the ball fell to Tom Tweedy ten yards out. However, the visiting defence rushed towards the Pontyclun player to block the ball and managed to divert it behind for a corner.
Three minutes later it was the visitors turn to go on the attack. The ball was played into the Pontyclun area and Andrew Ringsell in the home goal did well to palm the ball away to safety.
As the minutes ticked by it was the visitors who were enjoying the greater share of possession forcing several corners in quick succession. On the quarter of an hour mark the visitors came closest yet to taking the lead when a snap-shot on the turn on the right hand side of the penalty area was pushed away to safety by Andrew Ringsell.
A minute later however, the visitors did manage to take the lead. A Caerleon attack down the left wing resulted in the ball being played low across the Pontyclun area. When the Pontyclun defence failed to clear the danger Chris Pearce was on hand to turn the ball into the net from 12 yards.
Three minutes later Pontyclun came close to securing an equaliser when the ball was crossed into the visitor’s area. Kieran Lawrence rose above the Caerleon defenders but his clever back header went just the wrong side of the post.
Pontyclun continued to take the game to their opponents and in the 22nd minute Jamie Williams went on a powerful run down the centre of the field holding off the attentions of two Caerleon defenders. However, as he entered the Caerleon area an unfortunate stumble by the home player allowed one of the two Caerleon players to put the ball behind for a corner.
Pontyclun were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 27th minute. Harry Flint played a low ball in to Jamie Williams 15 yards from goal. The Pontyclun player held off the challenge of a defender before firing low into the corner of the net.
The remaining portion of the half followed a similar pattern to the game so far with play flowing from end to end but neither side being able to capitalise on the half chances which came their way and the half time whistle sounded with the teams level at a goal apiece
HALF TIME; PONTYCLUN 1 CAERLEON 1
When play resumed it was Pontyclun who had the first real opportunity in the 49th minute. Chris Darlington broke away on the left and his high looping cross cum shot only narrowly went over the Caerleon crossbar.
With play still even Pontyclun might have taken the lead in the 57th minute. Once again a Chris Darlington cross into the area found its way to Tom Tweedy but the home forwards shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the ensuing kick the ball was played across the Caerleon six yard area where Kieran Lawrence came tantalisingly close to turning the ball into the net.
The game then entered a relatively quiet period with chances being very much at a premium for either side. In the 75th minute though it was Pontyclun who came close to taking the lead when after a sweeping move which encompassed the length of the field Chris Darlington fed Tom Tweedy whose effort was turned behind for a corner.
In the 74th minute it was the visitors who spurned a golden chance to take the lead. The ball was played through the centre of the Pontyclun defence and as the home players appealed for offside the ball found its way to a Caerleon player on the edge of the area but he could only scoop his shot wide of the left hand post.
In the 84th minute the visitors were reduced to ten men when Mark Bunn received his second yellow card after failing to retreat at a free kick. With Pontyclun now having a man advantage they tried to make their superiority tell and in the 86th minute came tantalisingly close to going in front when Aled Davies’ free-kick into the area found the head of the onrushing Lewis Miller. However, the Pontyclun centre back could only send his effort just wide of the post. This proved to be final real significant incident of the half and when the final whistle sounded with the teams locked at a goal apiece, extra time was needed.
The first period of extra time proved to be rather uneventful. Pontyclun enjoyed most of the possession but were unable to make their numerical supremacy pay. Right on the stroke of half time though it was the ten men of Caerlaon who took the lead when Oli James pulled down Caerleon’s Mark Millichip in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The same player took the kick and his low effort evaded the dive of Andrew Ringsell before nestling in the left hand corner of the net.
Spurred on by this reverse it was Pontyclun who took the game to their opponents in the opening period of the half. In the 111th minute it took a superb last ditch tackle by a Caerleon defender to deny Jamie Williams a clear shot on goal. A minute later Caerleon might have made the game safe. A well worked move into the Pontyclun area saw a visiting player get in a shot which Andrew Ringsell could only palm away across his area. As the ball rolled invitingly towards a Caerleon forward with the goal at his mercy, a score looked certain, however, Oli James somehow got back to avert the danger and the chance passed.
Despite having only ten men as the remaining minutes ticked by it was Caerleon who were finishing the stronger of the two teams. Two minutes from time both teams were reduced to ten men when Oli James received his second yellow card of the match for deliberate hand ball. This proved to be the last significant incident of the game and the final whistle sounded with Caerleon victors by 2 goals to 1.