Tasty Ham rolls over an insipid Penybont
NATHANIEL CARS WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CWMBRAN CELTIC ...... 3 PENYBONT .................... 0
THIS has to go down as the most insipid performance of the season from Penybont, who never seriously troubled cock-ahoop Cwmbran Celtic, writes Tony Poole.
Though there was more resting on the game for Celtic, as points were still required to allay relegation worries, the Bridgend super club never got off the bus.
They paraded new signing Liam Walsh, who had previously signed for Bont last summer before feeling the grass was greener at Welsh Premiership strugglers Carmarthen Town.
As a contest the game lasted 10 minutes – the time it took for Lewis Isles to shoot Celtic into a lead they never surrendered.
Soon after Isles tested Rhys Wilson in the Bont goal while a beefy Christopher Ham shot made him save low down.
One of the rare Bont shots on target came in the approach to half-time when a Kieran Howard header from a Kane Owen corner was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Lewis Watkins.
Celtic led 1-0 at the turnaround, and nearly doubled the lead on the restart when an effort from Isles travelled across the face of goal and collided with the far post only to stay out.
Another shot from Isles again brought out the best in Wilson ahead of a sliced Ham shot on 65 minutes making it 2-0.
Bont made a belated response – top scorer Marcus Griffiths heading wide – but there was more meat left on the Ham bone.
With just two minutes remaining, Ioan Emanuel brought down charging Josh Bull in the box, and a penalty was awarded.
And Ham sandwiched the ball between goalkeeper Wilson and a post to complete a tasty home win.
A sixth league defeat of the season left Bont still clinging on to second spot, but all hopes of winning league honours have gone.
Tonight (Wednesday) Penybont are due to travel to Ton Pentre leaving them with just two more games – Haverfordwest County home on April 14, and seven days later away to Afan Lido.