Bont pay the price for missed chances
ABERBARGOED BUDS . 1 PENYBONT .................... 1
(Aberbargoed won 4-3 on pens) PENYBONT are probably still wondering how they managed to bow out of the Nathaniel Cars Cup against Aberbargoed Buds at Ystrad Mynach, writes Tony Poole.
But exit they did, as manger Rhys Griffiths chose to rotate the squad.
Those not involved in the league opener at Ton Pentre got a chance to stake claims for regular first-team selection.
And though the Bridgend super club dominated this first round tie from start to finish, goalscoring again proved a bugbear.
Bont wasted a hatful of chances to take the lead, and paid the price when Buds got a controversial goal in the approach to half time.
It appeared as if Elliot Williams used a hand to turn the ball past Aaron Jones in the Bont goal, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.
Into the second half and Ioan Emanuel continued to impress in a Bont side that rattled the woodwork on three occasions.
Manager Griffiths then made changes – introducing big guns in Kieran Howard, Cullen Kinsella and Marcus Griffiths in the 65th minute – and the move soon reaped dividends.
Hot-shot Griffiths got his third and the team’s third goal of the season, and it then seemed a case of Bont going on to make cup progress.
But it finished 1-1 after both 90 minutes and extra time, taking proceedings into a penalty shootout.
The three Bont substitutes – Griffiths, Howard and Kinsella – all converted their spot-kicks.
But with Buds bursting to life and knocking in four penalties, they will now host Port Talbot Town tonight in the round of 32 clubs.
Penybont: Aaron Jones, Ioan Emanuel Jnr, Kyran Gardner, Billy Borge (Kieran Howard 65), Tom Atyeo, James Parry (captain), Adam Carpenter, Ellis Bellamy (Cullen Kinsella 65), Davey Lavers (Marcus Griffiths 65), Connor Goldsworthy, Joe Hopkins.
Substitutes not used: Rhys Wilson, Shaun Barney-Williams.