Pontypridd let slip a two-goal lead as the shares were spoiled in the local derby with Cilfynydd AFC. Adam Davies and Liam Griffiths goals put Ponty in a strong position, but two goals in the final quarter meant it was one point instead of three, despite a much improved performance from the Pontypridd players.
With first choice goalkeeper Piotr Tolak still nursing a shoulder injury, skipper Ryan James stepped up and took his place among the posts, proving a very able deputy. That meant Gareth Kear took Ryan James’ place in the back three. Adam Davies joined Joe Vellam on the flanks and Kieron Cook returned from his recent knock to replace Ceri Williams in the starting XI.
A sloppy start to the game from Pontypridd meant they were lucky not to be a goal behind inside the first five minutes. Ryan James darted off his line though to save from close range and the follow up with fire over when it looked easier to score. In response, Hywel Patterson and Kieron Cook both forced saves from set-plays.
Cilfynydd – who came into the match having won 2 of their opening 3 games – had the ball in the net in the 17th minute, but illegally as referee Steve Waters adjudged their forward to have received the ball in an offside position.
In keeping with a local derby, with several personal rivalries on both sides, there were plenty of full-blooded challenges. The nature of 50/50s meant there was some give and take from the official, but Joe Vellam was on the end of a pretty rugged challenge from behind, Huw Ward was possibly lucky to escape a yellow for a lunge, and there was a minor flashpoint around the midway point of the first half when the captains confronted each other over a bit of niggle in the penalty box. In the end, referee Steve Waters was satisfied to let the incident pass with a word or two.
The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute and came as the result of a slight tactical adjustment from Ponty manager Paul Dennis. Joe Vellam and Adam Davies switched flanks around the half hour and from the left Joe Vellam crossed, after Geraint Lewis’ tenacity had won the ball back high up the field, and Adam Davies tapped in at the back post.
Pontypridd held on to their lead going into half-time, but only after a superb save by Ryan James from a deflected shot when Cilfynydd picked up the second ball from a cleared corner.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd FC 1-0 Cilfynydd AFC
The start of the second half continued in the same vein as the first. Plenty of effort on both sides but a shortage of clear opportunities. Cilfynydd registered the first effort, but it was a strike from distance high and wide. The first telling moment of quality saw Pontypridd double their lead in the 57th minute. Adam Davies played the ball out of defence and the industrious Joe Vellam chased a lost cause, claiming the ball and digging out a superb cross to find Liam Griffiths at the back post. Griffiths rose above his marker to power a header down and inside the post.
Ponty were dealt a blow soon after when Gareth Kear was forced off with injury. He was replaced by Calvin Mugadza – on home debut – but it forced a tactical change to a back four. Cilfynydd took advantage of a bit of disorganisation at the back to get themselves back in the game in the 68th minute, their number 11 firing home a close range half volley. They could have been level minutes later, but the same forward couldn’t connect with a cross from the left.
Now it was about Pontypridd’s players digging in and to a man they were excellent in terms of desire, doing the basics properly and fighting for every loose ball. A third goal would have sealed the win and Ceri Williams replaced an exhausted Griffiths for the final 12 minutes in search of that. Williams was involved in Ponty’s best moment to finish the game, working with Mugadza to press high and force a poor goalkeeping clearance straight to Huw Ward. It wasn’t an easy chance for the midfielder and he dragged his effort from 20 yards wide.
A couple of minutes later Cilfynydd struck their equaliser. An innocuous ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by either Dan Perry or Adam Davies and Ryan James was forced to save a goalbound effort. From the resulting corner, failure to clear and an unfortunate ricochet saw Cilfynydd scramble the ball over the line with three minutes of regulation time to play.
Ponty pressed for a winner and Geraint Lewis forced two saves from the Cilfynydd keeper with long range strikes, but the luck of the bounce wasn’t there at the end.
FULL TIME | Pontypridd FC 2-2 Cilfynydd AFC
Pontypridd FC: R. James (c), Daniel Perry, Hywel Patterson, Gareth Kear (Calvin Mugadza 59), Adam Davies, Joe Vellam, Kieron Cook, Huw Ward, Huw Morgan, Liam Griffiths (Ceri Williams 78), Geraint Lewis.
Goals: A. Davies (36), L. Griffiths (57)
Man of the Match: Ryan James
Referee: Steve Waters
