Hood denies Bont
JONATHAN Hood broke the heart of his former club last Friday in scoring a wonder goal for Barry Town United in a 2-1 win over Penybont at a wet Kymco Stadium, writes Tony Poole.
The season may only be a few weeks old, but his amazing strike from well outside the box is already a massive favourite for JD Cymru Premier goal-ofthe-season status.
In what’s turning out to be a golden summer for multi-talented Hood, who earlier in the month hit 135 for Maesteg in 250-run stand with Andrew King, his 65th-minute goal with the score standing on 1-1 has gone viral on Twitter.
The curl that he implanted on the ball took it past helpless Rhys Wilson in the home goal, and earned Barry an opening-day three-point return.
The only downside on the night for Hood, who had been substituted, was being sent off from the touchline during time added on for over-vigorous protestations regarding colleague Jordan Cotterill receiving a red card from Conwy referee Iwan Griffith.
But barring the Hood howitzer, Penybont would have been the deserved recipients of a point.
Despite continual rain and the game representing a first televised football match in Bridgend, a 500-strong crowd nevertheless turned up.
They saw a lively contest end goalless at half-time and once the second period got underway, the Bridgend super club took a 49th-minute lead.
Barry defender Evan Press, who was yellow-carded during the first half, again pressed too hard, and brought down Curtis Hutson in the box on the end of defence-splitting Nathan Wood pass.
And Kane Owen had the honour of registering the opening Bont goal in the top-flight, sending goalkeeper George Ratcliffe the wrong way.
But the lead only lasted a mere five minutes with a defensive mix-up leading to Kayne McLaggon driving the ball into an unprotected net.
And, in the 65th minute, Hood came back to haunt his former club with a goal worthy of winning any football match.
Though Bont strove hard to find an equaliser during final knockings, it simply wasn’t to be.
But given this form, it holds out genuine hope that Rhys Griffiths’s side can impact in the top tier this winter.
That statement will now be put to the test on Friday night when Penybont have another home league fixture, this time against Cardiff Met (7.45pm).