Pontypridd FC earned their first home win at the Maritime with an emphatic win over Carn Rovers in the South Wales FA Intermediate Cup. The goals were spread around with six different scorers, including a memorable length of the pitch strike from Pontypridd keeper Piotr Tolak.
Having collected four points from their opening two league games, there was a real sense among the squad that some momentum was being built following a very tough pre-season. However, visitors Carn Rovers brought with them a worry of the unknown, as an unfamiliar opponent from the Bridgend & District League.
There were two changes to the starting line-up from Wednesday’s win at Nelson; Huw Morgan and Adam Davies coming in for Gareth Kear and Liam Griffiths. There was also a first match-day squad appearance for Tom Slater following his recent signing from Ynysybwl AFC.
In a cagey opening to the game both sides seemed to struggle with conditions. Rain meant the ball was fizzing off the moist surface of the Maritime’s 3G pitch. Although Carn Rovers enjoyed more of the possession and territorial position, the direct approach from Ponty always looked threatening through the pace of Lewis Taylor, Geraint Lewis and Huw Ward.
There were few chances though and it wasn’t until the 12th minute that a meaningful strike on goal arrived and resulted in Pontypridd’s first goal. Huw Ward got ahead of his marker to dart into the box, holding the defender off enough to provoke a challenge the referee deemed illegal. Ward himself stepped to convert the penalty into the top corner.
Ponty’s second goal arrived from an unlikely source and in peculiar circumstances. In the 21st minute a routine and innocuous looking clearance from Ponty keeper Piotr Tolak boomed upfield and was chased down by Ward. Carn’s goalkeeper advanced into no-man’s land due to Ward’s presence but was deceived by the bounce of the ball and had to watch in agony as it looped over his head and dropped into the net. Tolak was typically casual in his celebration of a memorable goal.
Ryan James’ free kick from halfway sailed into the goal
A third arrived within minutes; another bizarre goal. Skipper Ryan James played a free kick from the half-way line into the box, it missed everybody and found its way into the corner of the net. On the balance of play it was a little harsh on Carn, but some luck was the least the Ponty players deserved having suffered a little from the bounce of the ball themselves in previous games.
The first real scare for Ponty came around the half-hour. A long throw from the right found a Carn attacker at the back post, he couldn’t direct his header on target though. Ponty then extended their lead a few minutes later. Lewis Taylor showed fantastic desire to win the ball back on the edge of the Carn Rovers area, laid the ball off to Geraint Lewis who swept home from 20 yards.
Despite the scoreline Carn Rovers continued to play on equal terms. They got a goal back in the 38th minute when Tolak and Dan Perry failed to clear a ball over the top, allowing a Carn attacker to head home from six yards. Tolak was soon called upon to make two saves as Carn rallied and threatened a comeback.
On the stroke of half-time though Ponty restored their four goal advantage, Lewis Taylor profiting from good build-up, involving man of the match Joe Vellam, to sidefoot home from outside the penalty area.
HALF-TIME: Ponty 5-1 Carn Rovers
The only real negative of the first half was a knock to Kieron Cook. The midfielder has had a terrible time with achilles injuries in the past two seasons so it was a concern to all when he went down later in the first-half. The second-half started with Ceri Williams replacing Cook as a precaution.
A confident Ponty started well, Hywel Patterson twice having headed opportunities from set-plays. But with nothing to lose Carn Rovers began to play with a bit more abandon and had threatened several times before some unconvincing Ponty defending allowed them to score a second goal ten minutes into the second-half.
Ceri Williams (right) celebrates his goal with Dan Perry
If there were any jitters, they were soon extinguished. A poor clearance from Carn’s keeper went straight to Ceri Williams on halfway. With the keeper stranded, Williams had the time to pick his spot and drill the ball into the net with aplomb from nearly 50 yards.
With the tie effectively over, the final hour saw changes from Ponty with Artur Cegielka, Fifolu Akinyemi and debutant Tom Slater given valuable minutes. An end to end final quarter saw chances at both ends and both sides might feel they could have had more goals, but generally Ponty’s backline of Ryan James, Dan Perry and Hywel Patterson defended well and in a no-nonsense manner.
FULL-TIME: Ponty 6-2 Carn Rovers
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak, Ryan James [c], Dan Perry, Hywel Patterson (Artur Cegielka 80), Adam Davies, Joe Vellam, Kieron Cook (Ceri Williams 46), Huw Morgan, Huw Ward (Fifolu Akinyemi 74), Lewis Taylor (Tom Slater 61), Geraint Lewis.
Goals: H. Ward (12 pen), P. Tolak (21), R. James (23), G. Lewis (35), L. Taylor (45), C. Williams (60)
Man of the Match: Joe Vellam
