An experimental Pontypridd side crashed out of the Bernard Martin Cup with a home loss to Caerphilly Athletic 2nds, despite a spirited comeback in the final half-hour. However, 4-0 down after 56 minutes left Pontypridd with too great a mountain to climb despite the second-half performance certainly yielded enough chances to have made it possible.
With Pontypridd still in four competitions, Paul Dennis and Ryan Wheeler used the match as an opportunity to give full debuts to a number of players that joined during the summer but have had to wait patiently for their chance. Connor Bickford made his first appearance in an outfield position after making his club debut in goal last weekend; there were first competitive starts for Artur Cegielka, Fifolu Akinyemi, Calvin Mugadza and Tom Slater. With Piotr Tolak still injured, skipper Ryan James switched from central defence to deputize in goal as he did a fortnight ago.
An even start to the game saw little in the way of chances with most of the action involving the battle in midfield. It wasn’t until the 13th minute that the first effort on goal arrived and it saw the visitors have a shot deflected wide for a conrner. The next chance also came to the visitors, the first clear opportunity worked down their left flank and ending with a shot across goal.
Pontypridd’s best outlet seemed to be down the right with Artur Cegielka and Tom Slater busy out wide before the latter was forced to withdraw with injury in the 24th minute, replaced by Huw Ward. Fifolu Akinyemi was booked for diving in on a Caerphilly attacker; from the resulting free-kick, Ryan James was grateful to see the ball bounce off the post. From the immediate break, Cegielka showed great determination to find an excellent low cross into the six yard box but there was no team-mate lurking to convert.
The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute, courtesy of a move down the left that neither Akinyemi or Daniel Perry could snuff out and Ryan James was blameless as Caerphilly’s attacker fired home from close range. Unfortunately, the skipper had to hold his hands up a minute later when a tame effort from the edge of the box slipped through him and into the net to double Caerphilly’s lead.
Cegielka finally registered Pontypridd’s first effort on goal with a drive that forced a save out of the goalkeeper, but there was a further blow when Ceri Williams was also substituted because of injury. To make matters worse, Caerphilly added a third goal – another Ryan James should have done better with – and it left Pontypridd with a second half mountain to climb.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 0-3 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
Two changes at half-time saw Huw Morgan and Joe Vellam replace Akinyemi and Connor Bickford ; a reflection of tactical changes rather than their individual performances. A renewed urgency saw Pontypridd out to salvage something from the game, but it was a little against the tide when Caerphilly added their fourth to effectively kill the tie. A superb long-range free-kick beat James and found the top corner.
A final substitution saw Dan Outing replace Liam Griffiths and Hywel Patterson pushed up front. With nothing to lose Pontypridd threw caution to the wind and produced a scintillating final half hour that threatened to bring about a sensational comeback.
Calvin Mugadza got the ball rolling in the 68th minute with a good finish from outside the box. There was a penalty appeal turned away by official Wayne Morgan, Huw Ward fired wide before Joe Vellam and Mugadza forced excellent saves from the opposition stopper. Huw Ward then produced a fantastic piece of wing play and his cross was superbly finished by Joe Vellam, leaving Pontypridd with 15 minutes to drag the deficit back further.
Gareth Kear and Kieron Cook came closest with dead ball strikes, Hywel Patterson and Daniel Perry between them almost forced home a late long throw. Despite a lot of huff and puff, Pontypridd couldn’t grab that third goal that would have set-up a grandstand finish and Caerphilly Athletic held on for what was, on balance, a deserved win.
Despite a disappointing result it was a positive finish to the game and some consolation can be taken from winning the second-half. Additionally, giving several squad members minutes on the pitch their dedication and commitment in training and on matchdays deserved will hopefully serve the club well over the course of the season.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 2-4 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
Pontypridd FC: Ryan James (c), Daniel Perry, Hywel Patterson, Fifolu Akinyemi (Joe Vellam 46), Artur Cegielka, Ceri Williams (Gareth Kear 37), Kieron Cook, Connor Bickford (Huw Morgan 46), Tom Slater (Huw Ward 24), Calvin Mugadza, Liam Griffiths (Dan Outing 58)
Goals: Calvin Mugadza (68), Joe Vellam (74)
Man of the Match: Kieron Cook
Referee: Wayne Morgan
