Bont out of drop zone

PENYBONT displayed true grit in gaining a vital goal-less draw last Saturday against the unbeaten J

D Cymru Premiership leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads at Bryntirion Park.

Following a disappointing display the week before during a 3-0 loss at previous table-toppers

Barry Town United, manager Rhys Griffiths called for more passion and aggression against the polished Nomads.

With that in mind, he resumed duties in the starting line-up; included bustling Billy Borge in midfield along with wide man Kostya Georgievsky.

And it produced a battling performance, up there with the best seen this season, to take a classy and well supported Connah’s Quay by surprise.

Though Bont had their moments during a 3-1 defeat during the reverse fixture on Deeside back in September, they significantly upped the ante in this pre-Christmas rematch.

A 200-strong crowd at Bryntirion Park witnessed a cagey start with the home side rattling the woodwork of the goal patrolled by top brass goalkeeper Lewis Brass.

But the Bridgend side were grateful to their captain and goalkeeper Rhys Wilson, who pulled off a top drawer save on 20 minutes to deny Callum Morris.

He did likewise in the run up to the break, and in many ways the half-time whistle came at the right time for Bont.

Little changed on the resumption, but significantly Connah’s Quay were unable to breakdown a plucky defence determined to keep a clean sheet.

Michael Wilde did find the side-netting in the 67th minute, but close to time he saw red for a hand ball offence close to the byline.

Many felt the ball was out of play before he handled but during time added on, the 10 men clipped the cross bar via Callum Roberts.

“This was a much improved Penybont performance from the Barry defeat, and a great point against a class side,” said player-manager Rhys Griffiths.

And with defending champions The New Saints pulling off a record away win, triumphing 12-0 at relegation threatened Airbus UK Broughton, it enabled Bont to climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

There were also defeats for bottom club Carmarthen Town and fellow strugglers Aberystwyth Town to make it an even better Bont weekend.

However, there’s now a break in league fixtures, as Penybont on Saturday welcome Porthmadog to Bryntirion Park in the second round of the J D Welsh Cup (2.30pm).

The side from Y Traeth currently lie next to bottom of J D Cymru North having won just three and drawn three of 16 league starts this term.