Cwm pay heavy penalty as they flirt with danger zone
CWMAMMAN’S excellent form under the lights came to a halt as they lost 2-1 at home to Ton Pentre in Ardal League South West.
The match was eventually decided by a controversial 80th-minute penalty and the three points moved Ton Pentre closer to safety – and Cwm nearer the bottom three.
Both sides struggled for fluidity throughout as the tension created nervousness and absences added to a lack of rhythm.
The first half was a quiet affair with Ton Pentre’s main opportunity seeing Cwm keeper Kai Rees produce a superb save. Cwm’s Mikey Morgan fired over from the edge of the box and Scott Jewell saw a header cleared off the line.
A power failure just before the restart delayed the second half by 10 minutes.
Defences continued to be on top, with Nathan Davies and Grant Rees having strong games at the heart of the Cwm rearguard.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Cwm attacked on the flank, only for the visitors to break away and Leroy Thomas cross to the oncoming Jonathan Welsh to fire home.
Cwm responded quickly, with Ross Morgan and Geraint Rees prompting attacks and a Cwm corner was dropped by the Ton Pentre keeper. In the melee that followed, Ryan Hurlow stayed calm to put the ball in the corner of the net to equalise.
Cwm could sense their chance and a strong Hurlow run was foiled at the last second, while Jewell just failed to clear the goalkeeper with a lob from outside the box after a poor clearance.
The key moment then arrived when referee Ben Williams awarded a penalty when a Ton Pentre player went down with his back to a Cwm defender near the edge of the box. Cwm’s players protested strongly, but it was to no avail and Thomas calmly converted the spot-kick.
Ton Pentre defended resolutely for the final few minutes and will have been delighted to go away with a crucial three points.
On Saturday Cwm travel to near neighbours and league leaders Pontardawe Town (2.30pm).