Pontypridd crashed out of the Bernard Martin Cup to Fochriw Village, squandering a two-goal lead in the final 22 minutes to lose in the final minute at Fochriw Welfare Ground.
With 19 senior players unavailable, a makeshift side which included striker Gareth Davies playing in goal, Lucas Hickman and Lewys Morgan playing through the pain barrier and two 16-year-olds on the bench, travelled north to the top of the Rhymney Valley. To make matters worse, Matthew Bennett-Jones rolled his ankle during the warm-up and had to instead start the game on the sideline. Nevertheless, the side produced an excellent performance for 65 minutes and led 3-1 courtesy of goals from Lewys Morgan, Ryan Jones and Darren Davies, making the collapse in the final quarter all the more mystifying.
Despite the Ponty XI having never played together before, including full debuts for Lewys Morgan, Darren Davies and Hickman, they started the stronger outfit. Forward Lewys Morgan was sharp and lively, confident to take the opportunity to shoot at the merest sniff of a chance, while Ryan Jones and Lucas Hickman (still recovering from a dislocated shoulder) were willing runners in support.
A handful of chances came and went for Pontypridd in the opening 20 minutes before Fochriw took the lead against the run of play, their left winger getting in behind Harris and cooly lifting the ball over Davies in goal. However, Ponty hit back quickly with Lewys Morgan equalising within a minute.
Bradley Harris made amends for his earlier error with a superb run from right back. His cross was touched into Morgan’s path by Ryan Jones and the forward scored his first goal for the club with a powerful drive. A minute later, Ponty completed the turnaround with a fluke goal. Ryan Jones’ cross from the left catching out the Fochriw keeper at his back post.
Pontypridd held out their lead until half-time, the only negative of the first-half being Lucas Hickman’s withdrawal seven minutes before the break because of injury.
HALF-TIME | Fochriw Village 1-2 Pontypridd
Pontypridd started the second-half in the ascendancy, Bennett-Jones had a sight of goal but his low drive lost most of its energy in the long grass and presented an easy save. In the 52nd minute came a big moment in the game when Lewys Morgan collided with the Fochriw keeper in a 50/50 challenge. No malice from either party, it was unfortunate that the Fochriw custodian was forced off with injury. However, his replacement would have a decisive say in the end.
Just after the hour, the makeshift Fochriw keeper pulled off two point-blank saves Lewys Morgan and Bennett-Jones. Although he could do nothing a few minutes later when Darren Davies arrived on the end of Bennett-Jones’ cross-shot to extend the Pontypridd lead in 67th minute.
That should have been it, but Pontypridd switched off from the restart, failing to deal with a long ball and allowing a Fochriw forward to sweep home past Davies. Two minutes later, Fochriw were gifted a shooting chance from a direct free-kick, which was superbly converted. Within three minutes, Pontypridd had allowed Fochriw to undo over an hour of good work.
It always felt like one goal would be enough in those final 20 minutes and having clawed back the momentum, Fochriw played with renewed vigour. Despite tired bodies from those who hadn’t play much, if any, football before this game, Ponty still looked like the most threatening side.
There were chances for Lewys Morgan, Jones and Bennett-Jones but the Fochriw sub keeper made excellent saves from the latter two. 16-year-olds Callum Roper and Tom Sheppeard were given senior debuts in the final stages and brought an injection of energy as Ponty pursued a winner but in the end it was the home side that found the decisive moment.
A tired Perry was beaten by his opposite number inside the penalty box and the Fochriw forward powered his shot past the blameless Davies at the near post to send Fochriw through to the next round and leave Pontypridd left to focus now on just the the league and Intermediate Cup.
FULL-TIME | Fochriw Village 4-3 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Gareth Davies [gk], Bradley Harris, Daniel Perry, Josh Husband, Owain Lewis, Aled Evans (c), Huw Morgan, Darren Davies (Callum Roper 81), Ryan Jones, Lewys Morgan (Tom Sheppeard 84), Lucas Hickman (Matthew Bennett-Jones 38)
Goals: Lewys Morgan (24), Ryan Jones (25), Darren Davies (67)
Yellow card: Aled Evans
Referee: Steve Waters
