DIVISION 1
PENYBONT .................... 0 AFAN LIDO .................... 3
JUST when you think Penybont are into something good, they turn in a nightmare performance like this against Afan Lido, writes Tony Poole.
Having clipped the wings of both the Kingfishers from Monmouth and Bluebirds in Haverfordwest, there was every reason to believe they could make it three straight wins at the expense of the Seasiders.
But that sentiment proved flawed, as a Chris Hartland hat-trick shattered any hopes of an upwardly mobile trend.
And the pity of it all was this hammer horror show unfolded in front of one of the best attendances in years.
Defensively, they were awful, getting bullied out of the game by the more robust Seasiders, who had only carded one win from their six opening league fixtures.
Six days before, a change in Lido management – Liam McCreesh replacing Mark Robinson – met with instant success.
For a third game on the trot, Bont conceded early but this time they weren’t good enough to make amends.
After Cullen Kinsella had a long-range shot saved by ex-Bont star Chris Curtis, the Seasiders won a 17th-minute penalty.
Hartland was brought down in the box and the ex-Port Talbot Town, Prestatyn and Carmarthen man converted the spot kick.
That was a definite setback for Bont, and five minutes later, things took an even more sinister twist.
Carlos Indjai broke and Hartland met his cross to divert the ball past Rhys Wilson in the home goal.
And the tin hat was placed on a dreadful Bont first-half showing when they went three goals down in the 44th minute.
Lido won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area that Hartland buried with a low drive past goalkeeper Wilson.
Any words that Bont chief Rhys Griffiths delivered at half time fell on deaf ears, as little changed on the resumption.
They did go at it hammer and tongs on the restart, but Lido simply allowed revival hopes to peter out.
A succession of yellow cards was all that Bont mustered and although they finished strongly, Lido were by far the better side.
It remains to be seen which Bont turns up for the J D Welsh Cup clash at home to AFC Porth this Saturday (2pm).
And if it’s a Lido display they’ll be hard pressed to beat Porth, who triumphed 3-2 at the ground in the Nathaniel Cars Cup semi-finals on February 26, 2014.