Cwmbran Celtic Ladies vs Penybont

Match Report

Matchday Programme

We deservedly rescued a point late in an entertaining game at the sunny Avondale Motor Park Arena with a goal by defender Cerys Pinchard in a hard-fought encounter against Penybont. The visitors took the lead in the 15^th minute when the ball was floated from the right into the 6-yard box. It took a deflection on the way and when Penybont’s Mikaela Hood  and Summer Bowen-Quirk both challenged, Summer to clear, Mikaeala to shoot. Summer won the challenge but unfortunately the ball sliced into the net past keeper Amie Preston-Roberts’ despairing dive. We responded by getting the ball into the net but the referee disallowed a goal which was preceded by a sickening clash between Lauren Boyd and keeper Molly Bird which required lengthy treatment for both girls. Next Fiona Anthony pivoted and ran in on goal. Her shot lacked venom but the keeper did not catch the ball cleanly and Fiona followed up and just managed to get her foot to the ball again but the ball skewed off Molly Bird’s outstretched leg for a corner. Cerys Shipley played a superb through ball to Fiona Anthony who skirted round the defender and honed in on goal but a Penybont defender sprinted across the face of the goal to clear the ball for a corner.

In the 2^nd half Lauren Boyd started a move by playing the ball across field to the right flank where Anthony cruised down the wing and floated a perfect cross for Lauren to head just wide across the goal. Then Fiona raced down the right and shot across the goal just wide of the post. Penybont perked up in the closing stages with the skilful Cerys Jones to the fore. She brought 3 great saves from Amie Preston-Roberts in quick succession and then turned provider to put Hood in but Amie’s speed off the line to confront Hood was enough to force the striker to prod her shot the wrong side of the upright. To end her cameo spell, Cerys Jones shot just wide although Amie looked to have the shot covered.

Jodie Challenger and Lauren Boyd both brought saves with rising shots but straight at the replacement keeper Jenna Hill. In time added on we forced a corner – a perfect inswinger which Fiona Anthony headed goalward where Cerys Pinchard sneaked unnoticed round the back of the pack to nod the ball into the net – a goal superbly captured by our photographer Steve Roberts in his Facebook photo report. Deep into time added on there was controversy in the Penybont goal. Hollie Channing’s free kick was pushed upwards on the line by keeper Hill. She then caught the ball which looked by then to be already over the line before being bundled into the net by the onrushing Alex Cridland. The referee ruled a foul and disallowed a goal. As was the case last year this tier two league is again proving to be very competitive. Of the 12 games played in the league so far the margin of victory has been by only 2 or less. One of the exceptions was our 4-0 win versus Llanelli.