Pontypridd failed to win in Caerphilly for the third time in three weeks, but they did come away from Abertridwr Park with a point earned from a solid if unspectacular performance in a game that had plenty of endeavour but lacked attacking spark from both sides.
After last week’s defeat to Caerphilly Athletic 2nds there weren’t too many changes to the side. Joe Vellam was fit to start after illness forced him off early last week, there was a return to the starting line-up for Josh Husband and a place in the matchday squad for Lewis Taylor after this return from university.
A scrappy opening quarter produced little in the way of attacking chances. Both sides looked evenly matched if a little blunt in attack. Tolak had to be sharp to save a one-one-one from Aber Valley, while Ponty’s most likely threat seemed from set-plays. Liam Griffiths might have scored a spectacular volley from 25 yards against his former club on another day, but he didn’t quite get the right connection on this occasion.
Piotr Tolak had to shoulder the blame for a poor start last week and despite that good early save his judgement got him into trouble when he charged out to meet a ball over the top, but caught in no-man’s land, he instead gave an opportunity to the advancing Aber Valley forward to try and long-range lob. Fortunately, the effort dropped wide of the far post. At the other end, Griffiths had a similar opportunity but pressure from a retreating defender prevented him from getting a clean contact.
As the first half wore on and Ponty started to gain a measure of control, there was plenty of joy from wide areas through the pace of Joe Vellam and Lewis Roberts, while the dead-ball delivery from Josh Husband provided some quality. Hywel Patterson forced a fine save from the Aber keeper with a glancing header before Daniel Perry and Liam Griffiths got in each other’s way when a simple headed chance from close range seemed on.
While there was little clear threat at the other end, there was almost a self-inflicted calamity before half-time. Daniel Perry headed back towards his goalkeeper believing he would be there to retrieve the ball, but Tolak had charged off his line and was forced to turn on his heels and scramble the ball off the line to spare his captain an undeserved own goal.
HALF-TIME | Aber Valley 2nds 0-0 Pontypridd
Early in the second-half Artur Cegielka almost scored a worldie, catching a 25-yard half volley as sweet as you can but his effort was just a fraction off target. There was a headed chance for Aber, but after that most of the good play came from Ponty with Aber Valley’s best moments limited to set pieces. Tolak did have to save a couple of direct free kick efforts but otherwise it was a quiet afternoon for the Ponty stopper.
While Ponty never really showed any fluency in the final third aside from a few moves here and there, occasional chances did present themselves. The best came to Joe Vellam on the hour mark but through on goal he scuffed his shot and the opportunity went begging. Lewis Taylor and Tom Slater were introduced in attack and although both produced some good touches, the penetration was lacking.
In the end Ponty resorted to pot shots from distance but didn’t work the home custodian often enough. Liam Griffiths did hit the outside of the post from a tight angle following a goalmouth scramble but that was as close as Ponty came to a goal in a game that had end of season mid-table affair written all over it.
FULL-TIME | Aber Valley 2nds 0-0 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak (GK), Artur Cegielka (Fifolu Akinyemi 76), Daniel Perry (c), Dan Outing, Gareth Kear, Hywel Patterson, Kieron Cook, Josh Husband (Huw Ward 69), Joe Vellam (Lewis Taylor 65), Lewis Roberts (Tom Slater 65), Liam Griffiths
Sub not used: Ryan Wheeler
Man of the Match: Joshua Husband
Referee: Simon White
