Photo Gallery Match Action

Welsh Football League
Reserve Division West
Pontardawe Town v West End
Date 19th September 2009
Venue - The Recreation Ground, Pontardawe

Pontardawe Town
Andrew Stokes (2)

West End

Weather - dry and overcast
Pitch - firm

Pontardawe welcomed a strong West End side to the Recreation Ground for their first Reserve Division West fixture of the 2009/2010 season on Saturday 19th September 2009.

Ponty started the better of the sides with West End taking a long time to try and understand the formation of the Ponty team. Ponty played with 5 in midfield, one being a holding midfield player. West End seemed unable to manage this formation with Pontardawe making several chances before Andrew Stokes got the opening goal on 11 minutes. Pontardawe were looking the stronger team for the majority of the first half hour but slowly, West End sorted themselves out and created a few chances themselves. Then with 10 minutes left of the first half, West End were awarded what looked like a very soft free kick, just outside the Ponty penalty area. Pony's wall failed to deal with the low stuck shot which passed Dean Morgan in the Ponty goal for West End's equalizer. Ponty tried to pick themselves up from this setback and created a couple of half chances before the half time break but the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Ponty again started the better of the teams during the early stages of the second half, creating a couple of chances against a physically strong West End side. Ponty then regained the lead when Andrew Stokes latched onto a ball out of the Ponty defence and from approximately 25 yards, wide on the right volleyed the ball home for a truly spectacular goal. The goal was so good that the match referee commented on his post match report to the Ponty Football Committee "Hell of a goal". Andy Gray would surely repeat those famous words should he see Stokesy's goal... "take a bow son, take a bow....". A contender not only for "Goal of the Month" but probably "Goal of the Season" even this early into the new season. West End were stunned by the goal but fought back, creating a couple of half chances. Ponty could have extended their lead but for some poorly taken chances. Ponty did get the ball into the back of the net again during the second half but Craig Springs spectacular overhead volley was ruled offside.

Ponty deservedly took the 3 points on offer and now visit Garden Village on the 26th September.

The "Man of the Match" award could only go to one person - Andrew Stokes for his contributions during the game. "Minge of the Match" went to Craig Spring.

View all of the match action and goals here. A DVD of the whole game is available - let us know if you would like to purchase a copy of the DVD for £5

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