Abstract: A filament-wound plastic pressure vessel and technique for fabricating such vessel are disclosed. The pressure vessel includes a monolithic plastic liner having a cylindrical side wall portion and domed end portions. A multiplicity of resin-impregnated reinforcing filaments are wound about at least the cylindrical side wall portion of the liner in a predetermined winding pattern. A non-axial access opening to the interior of the tank is cut through the liner and through the filaments, resulting in discontinuous filament ends at the periphery of the opening. A reinforcement is provided for the filament ends to redistribute stress transmission paths around the opening. The reinforcement includes at least one randomly oriented fibrous mat pad sandwiched between a pair of woven cloth pads having a basket weave configuration.