Griffiths on target as Bont extend their lead at the top of the table
A 15TH goal of the season from top scorer Marcus Griffiths enabled Penybont to down Cwmbran Celtic and extend their lead at the top, writes Tony Poole.
In a topsy-turvy clash under the Kymco Stadium floodlights before the cold weather set in, the tabletopping Bridgend super club were twice a goal in front only to get pegged back by never-say-die Monmouthshire opponents.
Bont were without player-manager Rhys Griffiths, who three days earlier picked up a calf injury during the goal-less draw with Goytre United.
This resulted in Adam Carpenter nailing a place on the bench along with bustling Billy Borge.
And the first piece of real action in the 10th minute led to Bont getting the game’s opening goal.
Kostya Georgievsky and Marcus Griffiths were the instigators and it paved the way for Cullen Kinsella to score a sixth goal of the campaign.
Ten minutes later goalkeeper Rhys Wilson thanked Cwmbran attacker Lloyd Kinsella for warming his hands on a bitterly cold night.
But in the 25th minute, Wilson was picking the ball out of the net following a corner from ex-Bryntirion Athletic star Simon Prangley.
He planted the flag-kick on the head of Luke Jones, and the unmarked Cwmbran captain nodded the ball wide of goalkeeper Wilson.
However, they were on terms for just 13 minutes, as Kieran Howard reinstated a Bont advantage on the end of a teasing cross from Tyler Roche.
This was to prove the final piece of action on the night for Roche, who was injured and had to be replaced.
Bont led 2-1 at the break and at the start of the second half Borge and Carpenter both entered the fray from the Bont bench.
They replaced Roche and Owain Warlow – and it wasn’t long before they witnessed a second Cwmbran equaliser.
Carpenter undercooked a back pass, and that was like a red rag to a bull for charging Josh Bull who duly beat Wilson.
But once more Cwmbran joy in getting back to level-pegging proved short-lived.
Just ahead of the hour mark, Marcus Griffiths found acres of space in the Cwmbran penalty area.
And that was an open invitation for him to knock in what turned out to be the match-winning goal.
Ben Symons replaced Timothy Georgievsky in the 75th minute and although Bont hunted for further goals to put the game to bed, they also had an eye on winding down the clock.
And it proved a case of mission accomplished with Cwmbran failing to produce any genuine hustle and bustle.