Pontypridd FC crashed out of the South Wales FA Intermediate Cup following a heavy defeat in Barry against Holton Road of the Vale of Glamorgan League. The defeat means it is just the league left for Ponty this season.
Pontypridd travelled to the Colcot Sports Centre in Barry hoping to claim a place in the semi-finals of the competition, as well as making amends for a poor performance a week earlier that had seen the side crash out of the Greyhound Cup at Talbot Green. Again Pontypridd were left without a recognised goalkeeper and an outfield player was forced to step up and fill in between the sticks. Chris Salter came into the starting XI to make his full debut for the club after a positive debut in the defeat at Talbot Green. There were also returns to the side for Adam Davies and Liam Griffiths; skipper Ryan James was only fit enough to start on the bench following illness.
In blustery conditions, Pontypridd started the game well and went ahead inside the first two minutes. Gareth Kear’s corner was scrambled clear only as far as Chris Salter on the edge of the box and the centre back produced a masterful half volley finish to score his first goal for the club.
It was all Pontypridd in the opening minutes, pressing high and not allowing Holton Road any opportunity to build any attacking play. However, like at Talbot Green, when in a seemingly dominant position, Pontypridd allowed their hosts to take control with some sloppy play.
In the 9th minute a free kick from the left wing wasn’t dealt with and when the Ponty keeper came off his line and failed to get to the ball, it left a Holton Road attacker with a simple header to level the match. Worse was to come two minutes later when an inswinging corner from the same side found its way straight into the goal.
Completely dishevelled, Ponty looked vulnerable and disorganised every time Holton Road came forward. Salter had to make a goal-line clearance to stop a certain goal with Ponty’s number one stranded in no-man’s land, but the stopper did make a smart save from a direct free-kick soon after. Another goal for the hosts always looked likely but when it did arrive it was disappointing that again they didn’t have to work hard or produce anything special to get it.
A long goal-kick clearance deceived Salter and when Holton Road’s attacker ran in behind, again Ponty’s keeper charged off his line and was beaten with a lob. Initially it looked like Pontypridd had got away with this latest defensive mess when the effort rebounded off the bar, but the second ball was fired home when a retreating defence were unable to clear their lines.
Having left themselves with a mountain to climb, Pontypridd started to show a bit more. The best move of the half saw Adam Davies and Joe Vellam combine with Liam Griffiths to set-up a shooting chance for Geraint Lewis, but for all his hard work leading the line, the striker’s form in front of goal has deserted him this season and his effort couldn’t beat the Holton Road keeper. Vellam flashed a shot over from the edge of the box and was just inches away from connecting with a driven cross from Gareth Kear on the stroke of half-time.
HALF-TIME | Holton Road 3-1 Pontypridd
After some strong words during the interval Pontypridd started the second-half as they did the first: on the front foot. Daniel Perry broke up a Holton Road attack with a powerful tackle and sent Joe Vellam scuttling down the left. The midfielder’s run made 50 yards for Pontypridd and he dug out a good cross into the danger zone, but Liam Griffiths could only poke his effort straight into the arms of the opposition stopper.
There was further frustration as a couple more opportunities came and went. Lewis Roberts’ pace allowed him to beat the Holton Road keeper to an Adam Davies pass, but the forward couldn’t direct his effort on target; Ceri Williams’ produced a trademark free kick strike and was unlucky to see it thunder off the post. On top of this both Hywel Patterson and Kieron Cook were victims of hefty challenges from the hosts that seemed to go lightly punished. So many ‘what if’ moments for Pontypridd on a day when little seemed to go right, without those misfortunes excusing the first half display.
Holton Road sealed the victory inside the final ten minutes; a counter attack finding Pontypridd at sixes and sevens at the back and Daniel Perry left with an own goal against his name after an unfortunate ricochet. An appropriate full stop on what proved to be a chastening afternoon for the Pontypridd players.
FULL-TIME | Holton Road 4-1 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Tom Slater, Daniel Perry (c), Hywel Patterson (Dan Outing 76), Chris Salter (Connor Bickford 69), G. Kear (R. James 53), A. Davies, Kieron Cook, Joe Vellam, Huw Ward (Ceri Williams 64), Liam Griffiths (Lewis Roberts 58), Geraint Lewis
Goal: C. Salter (2)
Booked: G. Lewis, K. Cook
Man of the Match: C. Salter
Referee: Andrew Pryor
