Pontypridd FC’s season maiden season finished on a disappointing note with back to back losses as a last-minute goal gave Caerphilly Athletic 2nds a victory that meant they secured the TERV League division one title with a game to spare.
On the day the result was harsh on Pontypridd, having matched the champions for the full 90 minutes, but in a season where Ponty have found themselves often on the wrong end of the fine margins that can separate success and failure, it was ultimately Caerphilly’s day. Tom Starr’s quickly taken free-kick in the final minute settled a very even contest and from a Pontypridd perspective the performance was at least a significant improvement on the 4-1 loss suffered away to Caerphilly a few weeks ago.
Having lost narrowly to Caerphilly’s only title contender, Cilfynydd, ten days ago, Pontypridd went into the game hoping to finish the season on a high and at the very least stalling Caerphilly’s inevitable title triumph for a few days. It was a largely familiar line-up, Adam Davies return to the starting line-up the only notable change.
As they often do at the Maritime, Pontypridd started well and probably shaded the early exchanges in terms of possession and territory but Caerphilly’s fast-paced counter-attacking threat was evident, especially through James Harvey on the right. This ability to break quickly produced the first chance of the game in the 7th minute but the opportunity was fired over.
It proved to be the catalyst for Caerphilly’s most dominant spell in the match, with Pontypridd’s efforts to overplay at times from the back creating self-imposed problems. Eventually the spell paid dividends for Caerphilly as they took the lead through James Harvey in the 24th minute. A crossfield pass over the Ponty backline found the wispy winger and after getting the better of Gareth Kear, he fired past Tolak from a tight angle.
Pontypridd fought back though. Kieron Cook’s range of passing finding the runs of Vellam and Roberts out wide and Josh Husband’s energy in midfield providing injections of forward momentum. The breakthrough came on the half hour when Lewis Roberts was felled in the penalty area as he prepared to shoot. Kieron Cook stepped to smash home his sixth goal of the season from the spot.
With the momentum Ponty enjoyed a good spell and a drive from midfield by Cook set-up a good chance for Roberts to give Ponty the lead but the forward’s first touch let him down and the chance went begging. You have to score when you’re on top though and that profligacy came back to haunt Pontypridd as Harvey added his second in similar fashion to the first on the stroke of half-time.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 1-2 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
The second half pattern followed the first and any neutral watching without any knowledge of the sides would not have suspected this was a fixture between a team in mid-table and one playing for the league title. Joe Vellam and Liam Griffiths combined with some good play before Vellam set-off on one of his trademark runs, denied an equaliser at close range. Vellam then turned creator for Husband, the midfielder denied a goal by the out-stretched foot of the Caerphilly keeper.
The game remained in the balance and there was a sense that the next goal might dictate how the final stages would pan out. A double substitution by Ryan Wheeler saw Huw Ward and Ceri Williams introduced and it proved inspired as Ward ran on to Vellam’s perfectly weighted pass and finished superbly through the legs of the Caerphilly number one.
All-square with 15 minutes to play, it was there for both sides to win. Ceri Williams almost produced a spectacular goal, but his half volley curled just wide and Hywel Patterson headed a corner wide at the far post. At the other end, Caerphilly’s Tom Starr almost punished a Tolak mistake before the decisive moment arrived in the final minute of regulation time.
Starr’s quickly taken free kick from the edge of the penalty area caught Tolak off guard and despite the Ponty keeper’s efforts to keep the ball out, he couldn’t quite stop the ball from crossing the line. A disappointing goal to lose a game and finish the season on, but all credit to the Caerphilly forward’s quick thinking.
There was no time for Pontypridd to mount a rally and when the full-time whistle sounded Caerphilly’s players were able to celebrate their deserved title success.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 2-3 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
A season of ups and downs for Pontypridd and a 6th placed finish that is below the start of season expectations but if the team can produce the level of performance we’ve seen in the last four games, next season should bring better rewards.
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak (GK), Adam Davies, Daniel Perry (c), Dan Outing, Gareth Kear, Hywel Patterson, Kieron Cook, Josh Husband, Joe Vellam, Lewis Roberts (Huw Ward 66), Liam Griffiths (Ceri Williams 69)
Subs not used: Huw Morgan, George Archer, Fifolu Akinyemi
Goals: K. Cook (30 pen), H. Ward (74)
Man of the match: Josh Husband
Referee: Steve Waters
