Cwm stage another fightback to stay on leaders’ heels

CWMAMMAN UTD...............2 TON PENTRE........................1

CWMAMMAN United stayed in touch with the Welsh League division one leaders with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Ton Pentre.

Once again a scrappy first-half performance was followed by an excellent turnaround which saw Cwm come back from a goal down at the interval.

Cwm started well, with Colin Harris poking a shot past the post, while Ashley Curtis was thwarted by a fine point-blank save.

Ton Pentre started to play with some confidence and Cwm keeper Chris Curtis pulled off a superb onehanded save. But the pressure told as Ton Pentre went ahead thanks to a drive from the edge of the box.

Cwm were now under the cosh, with captain Gareth Howarth and Declan John needing to be at their best at the back. Just before half-time Ton hit the post, but Cwm made it through to the interval without conceding a second.

An injury forced Cwm into a re- shuffle and they started the second half with a different formation. This seemed to trigger a sense of rhythm into their play and they started to dominate the contest.

Ryan Hurlow just missed a cross from Chris Allen, while a Harris freekick was tipped over by the keeper.

The equaliser came when some panic in the Ton Pentre defence allowed Hurlow a simple tap-in.

The pressure continued and a deflection across the Ton Pentre box saw Harris twist and turn before calmly putting the ball away to give Cwm the advantage.

Ton Pentre rallied and forced Curtis into a couple of excellent saves.

Hurlow was then put through, but as he rounded the keeper he went down but the referee ignored appeals for a penalty and gave him a yellow card for simulation.

A fine shot from Ashley Curtis hit the bar with a few minutes to go, but Cwm held on to stay fifth in the table.

Welsh League leaders Penybont visit Grenig Park on Saturday (1.30pm) in a last-16 Welsh League Cup tie.