Bont ease to a pre-season win
PENYBONT .................... 3 LLANELLI TOWN .......... 0
PENYBONT showed decent form during a final pre-season workout against Llanelli Town at The Kymco Stadium, writes Tony Poole.
While form in warmup matches is taken with a pinch of salt, the Reds breezed into the Bridgend super club on the back of a 3-1 midweek win over First-Division Port Talbot Town.
Goals from Jordan Follows, Richie Lewis and Liam Samuel countered a strike for the Steelmen from Luke Bowen.
But they found Bont harder nuts to crack, and the writing was on the wall once they changed ends trailing 2-0.
Marcus Griffiths has already shown consistent form during a run of Bont practice matches, and his 10th-minute goal gave them the lead against the Division Two side from Carmarthenshire.
Soon after, a quality goal from Joey Hopkins made the half-time pep talk from new Bont chief Rhys Griffiths that much easier.
Though Llanelli gave it their best shot, Bont remained steadfast at the back and got a further goal from substitute Davey Lavers.
The Bont line-up read: Rhys Wilson, Mattie Jones, Kane Owen, Ioan Emanuel, Sean Barney-Williams, Duane Saunders, Kieran Howard, Cullen Kinsella, Joey Hopkins, Owain Warlow, Marcus Griffiths.
Substitutes (all used) were: Aaron Jones, Billy Borge, Ellis Bellamy, Kyran Gardner, Davey Lavers, Conor Goldsworthy, Harrison Collins.
In midweek, Bont came from a goal down to draw Talbot & District League.
Clear goals have been set and they have already overcome the disappointment of being denied use of the Lock’s Lane ground.
The club feel that as the Porthcawl Town Athletic organisation is a charity, it should encourage and manage sport for all.
It has resulted in them having to operate out of the Rest Bay ground, but it is believed long term they would like to groundshare with Cornelly United at Meadow Street.
Already, with numerous sponsors on board, kit along with training bags have been issued to players while an end of season tour to Benidorm has been booked.
The unity in the FC 1-1 with another Division Two club, Briton Ferry Llansawel.
A penalty sent Ferry into a 25th-minute lead and it remained that way until star man Cullen Kinsella struck in the 70th minute.
Intelligent play from Kinsella opened up the Ferry defence for Marcus Griffiths to side-foot in a stylish leveller.
All in all, new manager Rhys Griffiths and his as- Porthcawl camp is highlighted by a fund-raising event on August 20 for 18-month Ellie Roberts, the daughter of player Hywel.
Players, managers and supporters have organised a 5k fun run in support of young Ellie, who has amelloblastoma (a type of brain cancer).
Money has already been raised and there are some fantastic prizes on offer in a raffle.
The club is based in the Ancient Brit public house in Newton and the landlords reward man-of-thematch performances with some of their fine ales.
All in all, these are exciting times for the club and the management feel now is their time as memories and landmarks are ticked off. sistant Martyn Giles can take a lot of comfort out of Bont summer form.
However, the acid test is on Saturday at Ton Pentre in a Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Division One opener.
And Penybont are also in Nathaniel Cars League Cup action tonight (Wednesday), travelling to Ystrad Mynach to take on second-division Aberbargoed Buds.