GARDEN VILLAGE  5 - 0 PONTYCLUN

Welsh Football League Division 2
Saturday November 11th, 2006

Garden Village made a few changes to the team that went down to Briton Ferry last weekend and it paid off as they put five past struggling Pontyclun at Stafford Common.

The hosts were without the suspended Ashley Richards but in came striker Ashley Stevenson, son of former Swansea City and Wales defender Nigel, who had recently returned from America. He appeared for Briton Ferry last term and also had a spell at Neath. There was also a start for defender-come-midfielder Chris Morgan who had spent some time away from the first-team set-up.

Pontyclun, meanwhile, had Wayne Morgan out through suspension while former Swansea youngster Craig Williams was out injured but the side from Ivor Park were looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.

Village had the perfect start by taking a third minute lead, a corner was only half cleared by the 'Clun defence and as the ball was returned to the box Jamie Mansell was allowed to head home from close-range.

The lead was doubled on the quarter-hour mark as a long clearence downfield found Stevenson, he was left unchallenged by the visiting defence and easily slotted the ball past Rhys Davies.

Cameron Hopkins scored his first Village goal at the start of the second-half, running about 40-yards to make it 3-0, which all but ended any Pontyclun hopes of a comeback. The visitors did have chances to give themselves slight hope but suffered a further set-back when David Rimmer scored from the spot after Marc Lloyd was grounded by the 'keeper.

The best goal of the match, and goal of the season so far, was scoerd by the returning Chris Morgan just before the hour mark. Scott Evans has been fouled inside the Village half and after treatment play resumed with the free-kick taken by Morgan. But instead of picking out one of his team-mates, he spotted Rhys Davies well off his line and, aided by the strong wind, struck an audacious effort which found the top corner of the net.

Village played out the remaining half-hour knowing that all three points were in the bag and also did well to keep a first clean-sheet in the league this season.

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