Liam Griffiths scored twice and Aled Evans grabbed his first for the club as Pontypridd held off a second-half fightback from Nelson Cavaliers 2nds to win for the third game in a row.
Having dominated the first half and taking a three-goal lead into the break, an error-strewn second-half saw Ponty clinging on for a narrow win in similar circumstances to the same fixture last season. Having clinched the win though, it means Pontypridd now have 7 points from four league matches this season, five behind leaders Llantwit Fardre 2nds with a game in hand.
After last week’s Intermediate Cup win over Gadlys Rovers there were four changes to the starting XI: Artur Cegielka, Dan Outing, Josh Husband and Lewis Roberts returned; club captain Daniel Perry started on the bench alongside Piotr Tolak. With Gareth Kear and Tom Slater unavailable, Adam Davies and recent signing Lewys Morgan were among the subs.
Despite having the best of the ball, Nelson proved a tough nut to crack and the breakthough took half an hour to arrive. As Lewis Roberts tried to play in a colleague, a Nelson defender was judged to have committed handball. Liam Griffiths stepped up and slotted past the stationary Nelson keeper having given him the eyes. The forward’s first goal of the season.
The second arrived a short-time after. The industrious Bradley Harris again showcased his talent on the right and he delivered a fabulous cross that Griffiths headed home from close range to double his tally. Nelson had a sight of goal with a direct free-kick which produced a comfortable save from Watkins before Aled Evans scored his first Pontypridd goal.
Fine combination play between Griffiths and Roberts sent the latter flying down the right flank. Roberts crossed low and although Evans initially air-kicked, the ball ricocheted off his back leg and rolled over the line to give Ponty a commanding half-time lead.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 3-0 Nelson Cavaliers 2nds
Having been so dominant in the first-half, Ponty were given a surprise just after the re-start when Nelson pulled a goal back. Bradley Harris and Lewis Watkins were both caught out positionally, the former by a long ball and the latter but a well executed chip finish from Nelson’s Reece Bullock.
However, there always felt like there were more goals for Ponty to kill the game. Lewis Taylor had two good one-one-one opportunities, but such has been the forward’s form in front of goal this season he couldn’t take either.
There was a blow just past the hour when Watkins rolled his ankle. That meant Lewis Roberts had to deputise in goal and Lewys Morgan came on for his club debut. The former Llantwit Major youngster almost scored a goal with one of his first touches too. Racing onto a Griffiths flick he showed good movement to get away from his marker but dragged his shot wide.
Ponty always looked the most likely to score again and when the ball was retained and passed with patience, there were always opportunities but too much individualism, too much haste to go forward and poor decision-making contributed to a sloppy final half-hour.
When Dan Outing was penalised for handball and Nelson’s Bullock scored the penalty, what should have been a comfortable win became a nail-biting and nervous bid to hang on to three points. When Roberts dropped the ball in the final minute and it began to roll towards goal it looked like two points were about to be lost but the makeshift keeper did well to dive on the ball and after defending a few late dead-balls Ponty were relieved to hear the final whistle with the win intact.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 3-2 Nelson Cavaliers 2nds
Pontypridd FC: Lewis Watkins [gk] (Lewys Morgan 62), Bradley Harris, Artur Cegielka, Dan Outing, Hywel Patterson, Aled Evans, Josh Husband (Huw Morgan 69), Kieron Cook [c], Lewis Taylor, Lewis Roberts, Liam Griffiths (Adam Davies 69)
Subs not used: Daniel Perry, Piotr Tolak
Goals: L. Griffiths (32, 35), A. Evans (44)
Man of the Match: Aled Evans
Referee: Simon White
[featured image: Marie Ward]
