Pontypridd FC secured their first ever home league win with a handsome victory over Treforest 2nds. However, the scoreline didn’t accurately reflect the nature of the game. Pontypridd were fantastic in the first half, but were left hanging on in a lacklustre second-half, only for two late goals to give the scoreline some gloss and goal difference a boost.
With Piotr Tolak still injured, Geraint Lewis stepped in to deputise between the sticks to become the third outfield player in five weeks to do so. Not an ideal situation to have to rely on makeshift goalkeepers but, as with both Ryan James and Connor Bickford, Lewis deserves enormous praise for putting his hands up and delivered an assured performance that suggests when the legs don’t have it anymore, he definitely has a future as a shot stopper.
Other changes saw Joe Vellam and Huw Morgan restored in midfield, while Gareth Kear and Huw Ward also returned to the starting XI.
A game that took a while to get going turned Pontypridd’s way in the 14th minute with the first, inadvertent, effort on target breaking the deadlock. In swirling wind, Gareth Kear’s well-placed inswinging corner from the right evaded everybody in the box and settled in the far corner of the net.
With their tail up, Pontypridd looked to assert some dominance on the match. Huw Ward and Liam Griffiths worked together to press a mistake out of the visitors’ backline, Griffiths found Artur Cegielka advancing from deep but he couldn’t get enough purchase on his attempted shot and sliced for a throw-in. Gareth Kear’s set-plays were causing trouble with the wind in his favour. Dan Perry headed wide another inswinging corner and there were several other uncertain moments in the Treforest backline courtesy of Kear’s devilish dead balls.
At the other end, Treforest were looking to attack quickly with balls into the channels but it wasn’t until the half hour that they created a meaningful chance and Lewis was on hand to make an excellent close range block when a goal looked certain to be scored.
It was the first of several important saves from Lewis and a few minutes later he was rewarded when Pontypridd added a second goal. After a corner was partially cleared, Kieron Cook put the ball back in the mixer. Gareth Kear did well to stay onside and retrieve the ball, laying off to Artur Cegielka to fire home, via a slight deflection, from twenty yards. There could have been more goals before half-time, Joe Vellam and Huw Ward combining a couple of times on the right hand side, both occasions presenting shooting opportunities for Cegielka but he could not add to his goal tally.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 2-0 Treforest 2nds
After such a dominant first half performance, Pontypridd knew one more goal would probably seal the game but they started slowly and gradually Treforest began to work their way back into the contest. There was a penalty appeal turned away, after a coming together between Lewis and a Treforest attacker, before a bit of misfortune led to Treforest halving the deficit nine minutes into the second half. At first it looked like Daniel Perry had snuffed out an attack with a strong tackle, but a ricochet fell kindly for Treforest and their attacker advanced to fire past Lewis.
Having made a habit of throwing away good positions in games this season this was a big test for Pontypridd. It might have been easier had Liam Griffiths’ goalbound effort not been cleared off the line, but as it was Pontypridd did make it hard for themselves and enjoyed several reprieves. The first a powerful drive that bounced off the post with Lewis well-beaten, then Joe Vellam and Ryan James both had to be on hand in the six-yard box to block goalbound efforts in a later incident.
It seemed like the pattern would continue when Treforest were awarded a penalty with 18 minutes remaining. Harshly, Daniel Perry was adjudged to have fouled a Treforest player when it seemed like, if any offense occurred, it was the other way around. Perry was also booked for dissent at the decision. Fortunately, the penalty struck the post and bounced away from goal.
Changes were made to try and stem the tide, Lewis Roberts replaced Liam Griffiths to make his club debut and the mercurial Ceri Williams was introduced to find a much-needed spark.
Huw Morgan almost scored a spectacular maiden goal for the club from halfway and Ceri Williams looked to have sealed the game when he beat the Treforest goalkeeper to a long ball, but his header was cleared off the line. Williams was also unhappy with the nature of the keeper’s challenge, having seemingly taken a blow to the face, arguing a penalty should have been awarded. Referee Wayne Morgan was unmoved though.
However, Williams would have the last laugh when he fired home a trademark 30 yard free kick with a couple of minutes left to play. Kieron Cook added the final goal in injury time, converting from the penalty spot after Treforest’s shot stopper deliberately fouled Lewis Roberts, receiving a second yellow and his marching orders for the offense.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 4-1 Treforest 2nds
Pontypridd XI: Geraint Lewis, Ryan James (c), Daniel Perry, Hywel Patterson, Gareth Kear, Artur Cegielka, Kieron Cook, Huw Morgan (Connor Bickford 74), Joe Vellam, Huw Ward (Ceri Williams 78), Liam Griffiths (Lewis Roberts 63)
Goalscorers: G. Kear (14), A. Cegielka (34), C. Williams (88), K. Cook (90+2 pen)
Man of the Match: Geraint Lewis
Referee: Wayne Morgan
