Pontypridd crashed to a third consecutive defeat on Saturday; heavily beaten by Llantwit Fardre reserves in a league match following cup exits in the two previous matches. A poor start to the game left Ponty with too much to do and despite a second-half fightback, profligacy in front of goal and generosity at the back meant another weekend in which the team had nothing to take home.
After the Holton Road horror-show a fortnight ago there were six changes to the starting line-up. Piotr Tolak returned in goal after two-month absence with injury; Dan Outing, Artur Cegielka, Ceri Williams, Huw Morgan and Lewis Roberts came in for Daniel Perry, Adam Davies, Huw Ward, Liam Griffiths and Chris Salter.
If the re-shape of the side was intended to have a positive impact it didn’t show on the field because Pontypridd were behind inside the first two minutes. A cross from the right wing found the Ponty defence dozing and Llantwit’s number 9 was left with all the time and space he needed to take a touch, look up and plant his shot beyond Tolak.
Pontypridd’s response was good. Lewis Roberts’ pace was making hay down the right. He crossed for Ceri Williams to lay up Geraint Lewis but the out of form forward’s mishit shot flew over. Roberts had a chance of his own soon after, his snap shot beating the Llantwit number one but rebounding off the post.
Although not really hitting top gear or playing with any real fluency, Pontypridd continued to have promising half chances. Ceri Williams had a free kick from 25 yards, perfect range for the dead-ball specialist he couldn’t keep his effort down. Joe Vellam also tried his luck from distance, but his drive was also off target.
At the other end Ponty were living dangerously. Piotr Tolak running off his line to kick clear had caused a few moments of uncertainty before a poor clearance could have been punished by an opportunistic effort from halfway with the Ponty stopper stranded in no-man’s land. The second Llantwit goal in the 21st minute had a touch of calamity about it too.
Llantwit found a cross from the right again without much resistance, Tolak’s attempt to punch the ball clear ricocheted off Hywel Patterson and into the net. Nothing the defender could do about it but it just about summed up the way it’s going for Ponty at the moment.
It was proving one of those days to forget for a rusty-looking Tolak and he almost fumbled a routine catch into his own net a short time after; the ball fortunately hitting the outside of the post before being scrambled away.
Having got over this wobbly period, Pontypridd started to show more positive signs in their play. Geraint Lewis and Lewis Roberts both had opportunities to reduce the deficit before half-time; the former denied by the post, the latter by a brave defensive block. Dan Outing tried his luck from halfway and did at least register Ponty’s first on-target effort of the match.
HALF-TIME | Llantwit Fardre 2nds 2-0 Pontypridd
After a familiar half-time rollicking, Pontypridd started the second-half well. Ceri Williams found some space on the inside to shoot but it was straight at the keeper, before Huw Morgan set-up a chance for Geraint Lewis but the striker scuffed wide.
Pontypridd finally got themselves back in the game seven minutes into the second-half, Lewis picked out fellow forward Lewis Roberts from the left and the young striker prodded home from close range to register his first ever goal for Pontypridd.
The work done to get back into the game was undone soon after. Overplaying in midfield allowed Llantwit to turnover possession and their dangerous number nine was sent through with one ball over the top. The forward ran through to fire past Tolak. Again the Ponty stopper will feel he could have done better.
Pontypridd continued to fight and try to find a way back into the game. Both Kieron Cook and Geraint Lewis forced decent saves from the home custodian, Liam Griffiths wasn’t too far away with a snap shot that had the beating of the keeper and Ryan James headed over a Huw Ward corner.
The game was put beyond doubt ten minutes from the end when a free kick from the left wing flew over everyone and past Tolak into the top corner. Ryan James had a goal disallowed for a push late on, but it would have been no more than a consolation in the end; by that time the game was well out of reach with too little time to claw it back.
FULL-TIME | Llantwit Fardre 2nds 4-1 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak (GK), Hywel Patterson (Chris Salter 53), Dan Outing, Artur Cegielka (Ryan James 53), Gareth Kear, Kieron Cook (c), Huw Morgan (Huw Ward 63), Joe Vellam, Ceri Williams (Liam Griffiths 69), Lewis Roberts, Geraint Lewis.
Sub not used: Ryan Wheeler
Goal: L. Roberts (52)
Man of the Match: Dan Outing
Referee: Steve Waters
