Hood returns to haunt his old club
PORT TALBOT TOWN .. 1 PENYBONT .................... 1
JONNY Hood returned to haunt his former club during this often stormy clash at Victoria Road, writes Tony Poole.
The former Caerau and Penybont star, who scored all four goals during a 4-2 midweek win for Port Talbot Town over Risca Utd, struck with a sizzling free kick after just 10 minutes.
Bont levelled in the 26th minute when Marcus Griffiths and Kostya Georgievsky, a recent recruit from Aberystwyth Town, were on the same wavelength just outside the penalty area.
And when the ball was planted in the box, Owain Warlow got only a second goal for the club.
But other than that near misses prevailed along with a 75th-minute dust up that saw Billy Borge and Steel substitute Oliver Bowen being sent off by referee Gavin Townsend (Tredegar).
The bout of fisticuffs was triggered by an alleged stamp from Bowen on Bont goalkeeper Rhys Wilson.
During the first half, Borge and Josef Hopkins went close for the Bridgend super club with Hood and Remi Whitlock just missing the target for the Steelmen.
Either side of half time, Bont clipped the woodwork with Marcus Griffiths hitting a post just before the break.
And in the 54th minute, Cullen Kinsella rattled the cross bar of the goal guarded by ex-Bryntirion goalkeeper Rory McCreesh.
After both sides were reduced to 10 men, it was Port Talbot who created the better chances during final knockings.
In the 78th minute, Hood failed to hit the target from close in, and then Wilson pulled off a fine save to deny Patrick Fineral from a quickly taken free kick.
And during time added on, Lewis Holmes missed a great chance with a header to secure Port Talbot all three points.
This Saturday, Penybont will be bidding for a double at home to Cambrian & Clydach, having back in November won the reverse match, 3-1, in the Rhondda Valley.