Penybont edged out local rivals Llantwit Major at the KYMCO Stadium to return to the top of the table of Division One as they maintained their unbeaten record.
Marcus Griffiths scored the only goal of the game in the final fifteen minutes to secure victory for Rhys Griffiths’ side.
In what was Penybont’s final home game of the year, the artificial surface ensured the game would be played, following a number of Welsh League fixtures being cancelled this afternoon.
The Bridgend based side are now two points clear of Afan Lido with three games in hand and can now ensure on Wednesday that they are top at Christmas, with a win over Pontypridd Town.
A wet and windy afternoon at the KYMCO stadium saw both teams trying to play football in the terrible conditions. Penybont who began the day in second, started off as the better side with early chances from both Kostya Georgievsky and Luke Borrelli looking to cause trouble for the defence of Llantwit Major.
The first real chance in the first half came from a mistake at the back which gave Luke Borrelli a chance at scoring but was denied by a good save from Jack Lansdown that resulted in a corner.
They continued to pile the pressure on the defence of Llantwit Major and were looking to break the deadlock early on. However just could not find an opening.
Later in the first half Llantwit Major fired their first shot just after the half-hour mark when Darren Robinson’s shot was pushed to the side and the follow-up shot was also saved. The best chance of the game came just before half-time when Luke Borrelli’s shot was deflected on to the crossbar.
An entertaining first half with both sides having chances with Penybont edging it, but were just unable to provide the game with its first goal due to the finishing.
With little improvement in the weather, Llantwit Major started off the second half as the brighter side with a handful of chances coming in the opening moments of the second half.
However, despite all their efforts, a mistake by Llantwit Major’s defence in the 75th minute allowed substitute Marcus Griffiths to pounce on the loose ball and score an easy goal with head to put Rhys Griffiths’ side ahead with just a quarter of the game remaining.
The home side looked to add a second goal and put the game beyond doubt. Penybont had a chance through Luke Borrelli. The experienced forward broke through the defensive line but shot straight at the keeper for an easy save.
Despite pressure from Penybont as they chased a second, Major continued to press for an equaliser with a late chance coming from Lee Jones who forced a good save from Rhys Wilson in the Penybont goal.
Time ran out for Llantwit Major, with the final whistle bringing the game to a close in what was a closely-fought encounter between the two sides.
Penybont
Wilson, Carpenter, Owen, Howard, Rodon, Saddler, Georgievsky (M.Griffiths 55), Kinsella, Hutson (Borge 85) Borrelli, Warlow.
Goals scored:
Marcus Griffiths 75
Llantwit Major
Lansdown, Miller, Fletcher, Smith (K.Jones 48) Williams, Robinson, Butler, N.Jones, J.Jones (R.Jones 77), Rawlings (Stephenson 60), Cripps.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
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