DIVISION ONE
PENYBONT .................... 2 BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL .................. 2
IT’S seemingly becoming a case of 2018 being the year of the draw at Penybont, writes Tony Poole.
A third successive stalemate for the Bridgend super club – they had previously shared the spoils with Goytre (Mon) and Taffs Well – was brought about by a late Briton Ferry Llansawel strike that made it three on the trot in the New Year.
It was also the second stalemate that these two teams have recorded this season, as back in Sep- tember it ended 3-3 at Old Road.
The first sighting of goal fell to Steve Davey of Briton Ferry, but he shot into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Rhys Wilson.
Bont retaliated with Cornelly boy Tyler Roche having a shot deflected for a corner.
But it was Ferry who steamed in front from a 22nd-minute cross from Thomas De Silva.
The home defence failed to avert danger, and experienced campaigner Gareth Jones got the better of goalkeeper Wilson.
The best chance Bont had of squaring matters before half time came when Marcus Griffiths brought out the best in Ferry stopper Luke Probert.
Griffiths and Josef Hopkins both went close during the early second-half exchanges until two Bont goals in as many minutes turned the complexion of a decent encounter.
In the 67th minute, Hopkins wriggled free in the box and his eighth goal of the season brought him level with Griffiths.
And the cheers had hardly died down when Roche slotted home a second goal for the club from the edge of the box.
But back came Ferry to equalise in the 80th minute with Steve Hughes nodding in a Dan Kingdon free kick.
Close to time Bont had a good chance to take all three points from a dodgy Probert goal kick.
Substitute Elliott Affsi – a 78th minute substitute for Griffiths - latched on to the loose ball only to fire into the side-netting.
During time added on another substitute, Adam Carpenter, went close, while in the final move goalkeeper Wilson denied Steve Hughes and Ferry sailing into the sunset with the points.
This Saturday, Penybont are away to Cambrian & Clydach in the league.