Penybont took a step closer to securing a place in the end of season European play-offs, as Rhys Griffiths’ side maintained their good run of form with a 1-0 win over Barry Town last night.
Kane Owen’s second-half penalty was enough for Penybont to extend their unbeaten run to four matches following the restart and moves them back above Barry in fourth place.
The club are competing in what is only their second season in the JD Cymru Premier and have never qualified for Europe.
“It was a big game tonight and I’m happy with the result. I’m really happy with the performance, I thought it was superb,” said Griffiths post-match.
Owen made no mistake from the penalty spot, thumping the ball into the bottom-right corner, sending Michael Lewis the wrong way.
Curtis McDonald was dispossessed by Kostya Georgievsky inside his own area and brought down the winger.
McDonald was let off the hook after referee Rob Jenkins changed his mind on his original decision, opting to caution the Barry Town defender after initially showing him the red card.
⚽️ @PenybontFC_ 1-0 Y Barri
Curtis McDonald yn derbyn cerdyn coch cyn i’r dyfarnwr, Robert Jenkins newid ei benderfyniad.
Sgoriodd Kane Owen o’r smotyn i sicrhau’r triphwynt i Ben-y-bont wrth i dîm Rhys Griffiths ddringo i’r bedwerydd safle. pic.twitter.com/eRTKlBqhi9
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) March 16, 2021
Since returning to action following the league’s resumption, Penybont have won three of their last four whilst keeping four successive clean sheets.
Penybont’s unbeaten sequence leaves them five points clear of seventh-placed Caernarfon. Four points from their remaining three games should be enough to secure a place in secure survival and a place in the Europa Conference League play-offs.
“The spirit [we have] is massive and it contributes hugely, but also it’s the work-ethic – even when we win, we’re running hard with and without the ball and that’s really important. The players have bought into it amazingly and they’ve been brilliant,” added Griffiths.
Penybont FC 1 Kane Owen 73′(p)
Barry Town United 0
Penybont FC 33 Ashley Morris, 3 Kane Owen, 5 Daniel Jefferies, 6 Mael Davies, 7 Kostya Georgievsky, 8 Lewis Harling, 9 Benjamin Ahmun (14 Samuel Snaith 66′), 10 Nathan Wood (16 Billy Borge 86′), 12 Oliver Dalton, 22 Connor Davies (4 Ashley Evans 79′), 34 Ismail Yakubu
Subs not used: 40 Sam Goodwin (gk), 19 Lewis Clutton, 24 Ioan Emanuel, 35 Rhys Stevens
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Kane 27′ Georgievsky 70′ Morris 89′ M.Davies 90’+3′
Barry Town United 1 Michael Lewis, 4 Luke Cooper, 5 Callum Sainty (22 Rhys Kavanagh 80′), 9 Nat Jarvis, 10 Jordan Cotterill (12 Luke Cummings 62′), 11 David Cotterill, 15 Theo Wharton, 16 Curtis McDonald, 27 Michael George, 32 Jamie Bird (14 Curtis Hutson 61′), 33 Evan Press
Subs not used: 19 Lee David Idzi (gk), 31 Edward King (gk), 18 Rhys Abbruzzese
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: J.Cotterill 47′ Sainty 49′ McDonald 73′
Referee: Rob Jenkins
ROUND UP
Adam Roscrow scored his first goal in The New Saints colours after coming off the bench in their comprehensive 5-0 win over Cefn Druids.
Saints surged into a 3-0 goal lead in the opening half hour as Dean Ebbe (2) and Jon Routledge left the league’s bottom-side with a mountain to climb in the second-half. Adrian Cieslewicz added a fourth from the penalty spot before the former Cardiff Met and AFC Wimbledon striker wrapped up a comfortable win for the title challengers.
Connah’s Quay managed to maintain their three-point lead at the top after hard-fought win at third-placed Bala Town.
Early goals at Maes Tegid saw Raul Correia put the hosts ahead in the first minute but George Horan quickly restored parity. The Nomads got the go-ahead goal midway through the second-half via a Callum Morris penalty. Craig Curran extended Connah’s Quay’s advantage with four minutes remaining before Bala’s Jonny Spittle received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow.
JD Cymru Premier results:
Bala Town 1-3 Connah’s Quay, Penybont 1-0 Barry Town; The New Saints 5-0 Cefn Druids.
Featured image courtesy of Lewis Mitchell/Penybont FC
