Tongwynlais 1-0 Brackla: Charlie Spencer penalty sends the ‘Ton’ up
Tongwynlais were promoted to the South Wales Alliance League as they fought off the challenge of Brackla to win their play-off final 1-0 at the SDM Glass Stadium.
A 65th-minute penalty from Charlie Spencer was the difference in a closely contested match in Bridgend to earn the Cardiff & District League winners promotion.
Tong became the second Cardiff team to be promoted to the Alliance League after Fairwater won 3-0 against Church Village in the first final of the day.
Brackla started the match nervously as Will Melvin put pressure on their defence early on. They began shooting from distance with Rudi Butler testing out Rhys Tresfon.
The first meaningful chance saw Charlie Spencer find space and from a narrow angle, he forced Owain Lewis to block his low shot with his leg.
Tong pushed even further for the opening goal and with more hassling from Melvin, Tom Mahoney almost slid the ball into his own net from a tackle. From the resulting corner, Daniel Greaves’ header from the six-yard spot cannoned off of the crossbar.
Mahoney then scored up the other end as from distance, the midfielder drove a 30-yard strike at Tresfon which dipped at the final moment, forcing the keeper to punch clear.
Given the closeness of the match, the two sides began to get physical with one another with a few passionate tackles flying in from both sets of players.
Similar to Spencer’s shot at the near post, Will Llewellyn went close for Brackla with Tresfon this time having to block the shot.
In a crowded penalty box, James Fenton made an important goal-line clearance after Matthew North’s header towards goal.
A common theme in the first half was the number of crosses Tresfon had to claw away with Brackla trying to win the ball in the air.
In the second half, Tongwynlais should have pulled in front not long after the restart but Mason Mahon couldn’t direct his shot on target despite having time to do so.
A foul by Mahoney on Spencer in the box gave the Cardiff & District side the perfect chance to break the deadlock. Spencer who was upended stepped forward and drove home his penalty past Lewis.
Brackla began to lose their composure after falling behind as they conceded cheap free-kicks which almost gifted Tong more goals.
They almost got back level when Greaves made a last-ditch tackle to deny substitute Ben Knight but the touch almost went past Tresfon. Fenton then had to spare Tresfon’s blushes by blocking Knight’s other attempt after the goalkeeper had rushed out.
With five minutes left, a backward header put Lewis under some pressure and the goalkeeper opted to touch the ball over him than pick him up in what would have been a comedic own goal.
In the last act of the match, Llewellyn headed at goal from Rhys Alden’s free-kick but Tong stood firm to hold out and secure the victory.
Tongwynlais: Rhys Tresfon, James Fenton, Matthew Price, Sam Hopkins, Matthew Davies, Daniel Greaves, Will Price (C), Louis Fishlock (Chris Wilcox, 80), Will Melvin, Mason Mahon (Matt Older, 72), Charlie Spencer.
Substitutes: Chris Wilcox, Jamie Argyle, Josh Spencer, Abass Bentaleb, Matthew Older.
Goals: Charlie Spencer p 65’
Yellow Card: Louis Fishlock 12, Matt Older 85, Jamie Argyle 90+2’
Brackla: Owain Lewis, Gareth James, Matthew North, Tom Mahoney (C), Marco Jones, Enyo Catangui, Lewis Salter (Ben Knight, 58), Rudi Butler, Will Llewellyn, Ben Hopkins, Rhys Alden.
Substitutes: Jay Kong, James Morris, Aryan Jandaghi, Ben Knight, Brandon Evans.
Yellow Cards: Will Llewellyn 45, Tom Mahoney 64, Rudi Butler 67, Matthew North 90+1′
Red Card: Matthew North (After FT)
