Pontardawe Town AFC Information Page

RHYL 7 - PONTARDAWE TOWN 0
(Leah 16, 44 & 76, Connolly 32 & 60, Turner 52, Kirk 70)
WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR - JANUARY 30, 2010

THE opposition may not have been the strongest but Rhyl still produced a performance of true class at Belle Vue today to coast into the Welsh Cup quarter-finals.
Leading the way was midfield magician John Leah, who netted a magnificent hat-trick in the week a deal was reached to keep him at Rhyl for the rest of the season.
Pontardawe showed plenty of spirit and almost took a shock lead in the first minute when a Dale Otten corner from the left was fed to Mark Nappieralla just outside the area, but his fierce shot cleared the bar by inches.
Soon after Rhyl's Phil Doran broke down the left and sent in a low cross which Rob Turner was just unable to convert.
The Welsh League Division One side caused further concern when Carl Owen broke to the byeline and Andrew Stokes came so close to finishing off his centre with keeper Paul Pritchard struggling to reach the ball.
But the home nerves were settled in the 16th minute when Leah broke into the box and from the left-hand side scored with a sublime strike into the far corner.
Two minutes later Tyrone Kirk left three Pont defenders for dead but his left-foot strike was straight down keeper Ben Hopkins' throat. Another mazy run from Doran resulted in a shot which Hopkins dealt with comfortably.
Rhyl then had another scare when Stokes stole a march on George Horan and was in on goal, but Pritchard saved with his legs.
Home striker Matthew Williams had to come off in the 28th minute with a dead leg and was replaced by Mark Connolly.
And within four minutes of coming on for what was expected to be his last appearance for the Lilies, Connolly headed home his 20th goal of the season following a fantastic run and cross down the left by confirmed departee Greg Stones.
Doran was denied by the keeper before a delicate Connolly chip was tipped on to the bar by a back-pedalling Hopkins.
On 44 minutes, however, a lovely pass by Doran found Leah who turned and scored with another rasper from 20 yards.
HALF-TIME: 3-0.
Seven minutes after the break it was 4-0 when Martyn Naylor's quickly-taken free-kick was headed in by a stooping Turner, who made it three goals in four starts.
On the hour, Connolly added a fifth when his firm shot from just outside the area could only be parried into the net by Hopkins.
Rhyl were converting almost every chance that came their way - a marked contrast to their form in some league matches this term.
In the 70th minute Stones' cracking ball from the left put Turner in on goal and the striker unselfishly squared for Kirk to find an empty net.
And six minutes later Stones was again the pass provider for Leah who thumped in his hat-trick goal from an acute angle.
Pont applied some late pressure and perhaps deserved a goal for their efforts, but Rhyl held firm and comfortably took their place in the last eight.

RHYL: Pritchard, Naylor, Stones, Horan, Dowling, Leah (T Williams 80), Owen (Heenan 64), Doran, Turner, M Williams (Connolly 28), Kirk. Unused subs: Hunt, Strong.

MATCH FACTS
GOALS - Rhyl 7 Pontardawe 0
ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 17 Pontardawe 9
ON TARGET - Rhyl 15 Pontardawe 4
CORNERS - Rhyl 6 Pontardawe 3
YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 0 Pontardawe 2
RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Pontardawe 0
ATTENDANCE - 376
LO MAN OF THE MATCH
John Leah (Rhyl)
A goalscoring midfielder's masterclass.

	Rhyl FC v Pontardawe Town FC FAW Welsh Cup Round 4 Saturday 30th January, 2010 / Kick Off at 2:30pm at The Bell Vue Stadium, Rhyl
Stokesy Auditioning For Dancing On Ice at The New Saints's Ground (Friday) Mel Williams With A Smile On His Face After Agreeing To Join the Committee !!! Welcome to Rhyl's BellVue Stadium C'mon The Lads !!
Treble shows Leah’s worth to Rhyl (Daily Post) HAT-TRICK hero John Leah proved just how important he is to the Lilywhites after leading a seven-goal massacre of underdogs Pontardawe in Saturday's Welsh Cup fourth round tie at Belle Vue. It was feared Leah would be one of the key players leaving Rhyl as a result of the club’s current cash crisis until it was revealed last week a financial deal had been agreed to keep him on board until the end of the season. And how delighted the players, management and fans must be at that news. Leah is proving to be a real gem for the champions, his ability to turn games with lethal shooting having brought him six goals in eight games. All three of the ex-TNS midfielder’s strikes against Pontardawe were absolute pearlers. “John’s been doing it for us all season, but in recent games he’s been adding the goalscoring touch which we all knew he had,” said Rhyl player-manager Greg Strong after Saturday’s win booked a plum quarter-final tie at Prestatyn Town. Strong was delighted with the all-round display against opponents who certainly did not make the long trip north to lie down. “We were excellent. I was thrilled to bits with the football we played; the attitude and commitment were spot on and I couldn’t have asked for any more,” added Strong. “It was great to see the goals going in. We’ve been creating lots of chances all season and I’ve been saying for a while that someone is going to get a hiding soon.” Welsh League Division One outfit Pont were quick out of the blocks and inside the first minute midfielder Mark Nappieralla went very close with a 20-yard screamer after Dale Otten fed a corner into his path. There were a couple more anxious moments for the favourites before on 16 minutes Leah rammed a lovely shot into the far corner after playing a slick one-two with the outstanding Greg Stones. Pont should have equalised when Andrew Stokes latched on to a long ball from Dan McGrath and raced beyond defender George Horan, but the striker’s shot was kept out by keeper Paul Pritchard’s legs. Mark Connolly, on what was due to be his farewell appearance for the champions, replaced the injured Matthew Williams on 28 minutes and was soon on the scoresheet. Stones made a brilliant break down the left and from the byeline crossed for Connolly to head in his 20th goal of the season. Connolly’s chip was tipped on to the bar by Pont keeper Ben Hopkins before the hosts made it 3-0 a minute before half time. Rob Turner laid the ball back to Gareth Owen and he found Phil Doran whose precision pass picked out Leah. The midfield maestro was allowed the space on the edge of the box to curl home a beauty. Seven minutes into the second half Martyn Naylor’s quickly taken free-kick was headed in by Turner and on the hour Connolly’s fierce drive from 18 yards could only be parried into the net by Hopkins. Rhyl were ruthless in the finishing department and on 70 minutes Stones released Turner who raced clear into the box and squared unselfishly for Tyrone Kirk to find an empty net. Goal number seven saw Stones involved again as his ball found Leah in space in the box. Although forced a little wide, Leah was allowed to turn and lash home his third and Rhyl’s seventh from an acute angle. To their credit the visitors never stopped trying and went close on a couple of occasions to a deserved consolation goal.
RHYL 7 - PONTARDAWE TOWN 0 (Leah 16, 44 & 76, Connolly 32 & 60, Turner 52, Kirk 70) WELSH CUP ROUND FOUR - JANUARY 30, 2010 THE opposition may not have been the strongest but Rhyl still produced a performance of true class at Belle Vue today to coast into the Welsh Cup quarter-finals. Leading the way was midfield magician John Leah, who netted a magnificent hat-trick in the week a deal was reached to keep him at Rhyl for the rest of the season. Pontardawe showed plenty of spirit and almost took a shock lead in the first minute when a Dale Otten corner from the left was fed to Mark Nappieralla just outside the area, but his fierce shot cleared the bar by inches. Soon after Rhyl's Phil Doran broke down the left and sent in a low cross which Rob Turner was just unable to convert. The Welsh League Division One side caused further concern when Carl Owen broke to the byeline and Andrew Stokes came so close to finishing off his centre with keeper Paul Pritchard struggling to reach the ball. But the home nerves were settled in the 16th minute when Leah broke into the box and from the left-hand side scored with a sublime strike into the far corner. Two minutes later Tyrone Kirk left three Pont defenders for dead but his left-foot strike was straight down keeper Ben Hopkins' throat. Another mazy run from Doran resulted in a shot which Hopkins dealt with comfortably. Rhyl then had another scare when Stokes stole a march on George Horan and was in on goal, but Pritchard saved with his legs. Home striker Matthew Williams had to come off in the 28th minute with a dead leg and was replaced by Mark Connolly. And within four minutes of coming on for what was expected to be his last appearance for the Lilies, Connolly headed home his 20th goal of the season following a fantastic run and cross down the left by confirmed departee Greg Stones. Doran was denied by the keeper before a delicate Connolly chip was tipped on to the bar by a back-pedalling Hopkins. On 44 minutes, however, a lovely pass by Doran found Leah who turned and scored with another rasper from 20 yards. HALF-TIME: 3-0. Seven minutes after the break it was 4-0 when Martyn Naylor's quickly-taken free-kick was headed in by a stooping Turner, who made it three goals in four starts. On the hour, Connolly added a fifth when his firm shot from just outside the area could only be parried into the net by Hopkins. Rhyl were converting almost every chance that came their way - a marked contrast to their form in some league matches this term. In the 70th minute Stones' cracking ball from the left put Turner in on goal and the striker unselfishly squared for Kirk to find an empty net. And six minutes later Stones was again the pass provider for Leah who thumped in his hat-trick goal from an acute angle. Pont applied some late pressure and perhaps deserved a goal for their efforts, but Rhyl held firm and comfortably took their place in the last eight. RHYL: Pritchard, Naylor, Stones, Horan, Dowling, Leah (T Williams 80), Owen (Heenan 64), Doran, Turner, M Williams (Connolly 28), Kirk. Unused subs: Hunt, Strong. MATCH FACTS GOALS - Rhyl 7 Pontardawe 0 ATTEMPTS - Rhyl 17 Pontardawe 9 ON TARGET - Rhyl 15 Pontardawe 4 CORNERS - Rhyl 6 Pontardawe 3 YELLOW CARDS - Rhyl 0 Pontardawe 2 RED CARDS - Rhyl 0 Pontardawe 0 ATTENDANCE - 376 LO MAN OF THE MATCH John Leah (Rhyl) A goalscoring midfielder's masterclass.

Treble shows Leah’s worth to Rhyl (Daily Post)