NATHANIEL CARS
PENYBONT .................... 5 RISCA UNITED .............. 1
FOUR-GOAL Josef Hopkins took the plaudits, as Penybont came from a goal down to card a landslide victory over bottom club Risca United at The Kymco Stadium, writes Tony Poole.
It’s the second time this season for a Bont man to knock in four goals with top scorer Marcus Griffiths achieving the feat during a 6-1 home win over Monmouth Town back in September.
But while Griffiths entered the season as a proven hitman, Hopkins is proving a real find with this latest haul moving him on to the 13-goal mark for the campaign – six behind Griffiths.
The game, however, got off to a static start and it took 25 minutes for anything worthwhile to unfold.
And it came in the form of a goal for the Cuckoos from Sebastian Haggett, but they only led for three minutes.
Hopkins got on the end of a Kyran Gardner cross to square matters while soon after both Owain Warlow and Hopkins went close to nudging the Bridgend super club in front.
But in the 41st minute, Warlow silenced the chirpy Cuckoos with a cross that Hopkins turned in.
Bont changed ends 2-1 up and there was plenty of huff and puff ahead of the 72nd minute when the scoreline was disturbed.
This time Hopkins became provider in assisting a 19th goal of the season for Marcus Griffiths.
Ten minutes later Hopkins fired over the cross bar ahead of a driving Bont finish that yielded two more goals from Hopkins.
In the 84th minute, Hopkins cottoned on to a beefy Kane Owen ball to score with ease.
And four minutes later a dart thrown into the box fell for Hopkins, who celebrated a fourth goal of a productive day.
Of note was Rhys Jordan – son of Bont coach Nigel – making a senior debut having the day before taken a second-team bow.
Bont now have a run of two away league games – Goytre (Gwent) on Saturday, and Port Talbot Town seven days later.