Huw Ward’s brace helped Pontypridd to a comeback win in the Greyhound Cup against local rivals Cilfynydd AFC. Calvin Mugadza had given Ponty the lead early in the second half before two quick goals saw Cilfynydd lead 2-1. However, Ward’s match-winning double strike settled a topsy turvy tie.
After a 2-2 draw at the Maritime in the league last weekend, the second part of this double header took place at Cilfynydd’s home at Upper Boat Playing Fields. There was one change to the Pontypridd starting XI in terms of personnel with Connor Bickford coming into the side to make his debut in place of Liam Griffiths. The twist though was with first choice goalkeeper Piotr Tolak still injured Bickford played in goal, allowing captain Ryan James to re-take his place in the back line. Like the skipper the week before, Bickford did a fine job deputising between the sticks.
Early exchanges indicated this would be another close match and neither side was able to set down any clear pattern of play in the final third. Huw Morgan was the first to get a sight of goal, but his drive from outside the box was off target; Kieron Cook was centimeters from a wonder goal when a speculative 35 yard looping half volley came close to dropping under the crossbar. Beyond this, there was little action in the penalty box at either end save the occasional cross or set-play.
The most telling moment of the half was a blow for Pontypridd when Geraint Lewis pulled up after firing a cross come shot across goal. A foot injury sustained from an earlier challenge meant he could no longer continue and was replaced by Calvin Mugadza in the 17th minute.
The best chance of the first half fell to Hywel Patterson. A loose ball from a Gareth Kear corner gave Patterson a shooting chance a few yards out, but the centre half got under his effort and fire over the crossbar. Despite a lot of work rate on both sides that was about it as far as first half opportunities went and it was of no surprise to anyone in attendance a scrappy opening 45 minutes ended with no goals.
HALF TIME | Cilfynydd 0-0 Pontypridd
A tactical adjustment during the break saw Hywel Patterson moved from centre back to centre forward for the second-half and Patterson immediately used his height to great effect, troubling Cilfynydd captain Liam Barter with his physicality and presence. It was unsurprising that Patterson was involved in the goal that broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half. Huw Ward picked up a loose ball from a Patterson flick, found Calvin Mugadza who showed fine composure to flick the ball past his marker then fire home off the inside of the post. It was the forward’s first goal for the club since signing during the summer.
All of a sudden Patterson was at the centre of everything for Pontypridd. A minute later he had a shooting chance of his own but fired at the Cilfynydd keeper; then his strength allowed him to advance past a defensive challenge, but his squared pass into the centre couldn’t find a Pontypridd player.
Part of the story of the season for Pontypridd this season has been a failure to take chances and kill games when on top and that came back to haunt them here. From a position of total control, Pontypridd found themselves behind within the space of a few minutes.
Just past the hour, Cilfynydd’s first meaningful attack of the half saw them scramble home an equaliser in a manner similar to both goals they scored in the league clash a week before. There was more than one opportunity for Pontypridd to clear from danger, none were taken and a mess of a goal was conceded at the back post. Three minutes later it got even worse. Adam Davies over-committed on the Ponty right, allowing a Cilfynydd attacker to charge into the box and find a team-mate inside the six yard box and he duly finished from close range.
Given the set-backs of recent weeks heads may have dropped, but there was an instant response from Pontypridd and again fate put Patterson at the heart of it all. Within a minute of the restart, Patterson found himself through on goal but elected to pass instead of shooting. Unfortunately, the attempt to present Calvin Mugadza with a tap in was overplayed and although Mugadza recovered the ball to get a shot on goal, the best opportunity was gone and the subsequent effort from a tight angle fired into the side netting. Shortly after, Patterson was given a second bite at the cherry, this time he did shoot but fired over.
Ceri Williams was introduced for Adam Davies as Pontypridd sought some extra impetus in the final third but it looked like the game was drifting away from the visitors when a huge slice of fortune got them back on level terms.
A clearance over the top from Ryan James looked innocuous, but Huw Ward gambled and when Cilfynydd failed to clear the ball the young forward found himself in range of goal. His early strike was on target but tame, yet somehow slipped through the Cilfynydd goalkeeper and rolled into the back of the net. Five minutes later a similar ball over the top from Gareth Kear was again rewarded by Huw Ward’s run in behind. This time there was no element of luck as Ward finished emphatically beyond the advancing stopper.
Patterson dropped back into defence as Pontypridd looked to protect their restored lead and although Cilfynydd pressed, Pontypridd held firm with all eleven players on the pitch demonstrating tremendous desire and determination to see out the game. There were one or two awkward moments, but that Bickford in the Pontypridd goal only had one routine save to make in the final ten minutes said everything about the discipline from Pontypridd in the final stages.
The reward at the final whistle was a place in the next round alongside, beyond any doubt, the most satisfying result in the club’s short history so far. It wasn’t a perfect win by any stretch of the imagination and earned through more hardship than was arguably necessary, but at the very least the players exorcised a few demons by winning through adversity.
FULL TIME | Cilfynydd 2-3 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Connor Bickford, Ryan James (c), Daniel Perry, Hywel Patterson, Gareth Kear, Adam Davies (Ceri Williams 66), Kieron Cook, Huw Morgan, Joe Vellam, Huw Ward, Geraint Lewis (Calvin Mugadza 17)
Goals: C. Mugadza (51), H. Ward (73, 78)
Man of the Match: Hywel Patterson
Referee: Tom Bell
