Pontypridd delivered an almost flawless attacking display to earn a club record win, scoring THIRTEEN goals against last season’s division one champions Caerphilly Athletic 2nds. Hywel Patterson scored a hat-trick, there were also braces for Aron Barnes, Gareth Davies, Josh Husband, Liam Griffiths; Aled Evans and Artur Cegielka completed the scorers.
There were five changes to the starting line-up from last week’s Bernard Martin Cup defeat at Fochriw as eight players returned to the matchday squad. The Caerphilly Athletic squad was much changed from the one that won the title last season, although the starting line-up included James Harvey, who scored twice in this fixture last season when Caerphilly clinched the league title in April.
Gareth Davies was back up front after last week’s stint in goal and the forward showed his poacher’s instinct early, two early chances were off target before a good run was only denied a run by a two handed save from Caerphilly’s stopper. Davies and Patterson’s partnership was looking fruitful and they inadvertently combined for the opener. After excellent work by Huw Morgan out wide, he laid the pass for Davies whose scuffed shot was poached home at the far post by Patterson. A timely goal, coming a short time after Tolak denied Harvey at the other end with an excellent save.
After a fairly tight first 20 minutes it didn’t feel like that would open the floodgates but having been forced to work hard for the opener, Ponty’s second arrived within two minutes of the first when Aron Barnes drove home from the edge of the penalty area after a corner was partially cleared. Soon after, Patterson played in Aled Evans whose superb burst from midfield broke the Caerphilly lines and he ran through to score with a composed finish.
Evans might have doubled his tally before he provided a sumptuous assist for Patterson, after excellent work by Davies, to finish with a crisp right foot volley at the back post. The lead at half-time might have been greater but for a trio of saves to deny Barnes but the four goals Ponty were more than good value for.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 4-0 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
The recurring habit of throwing away commanding positions re-surfaced at Fochriw last week but there was no let-up in this encounter. Davies scored his first goal for the club with a close-range header from a left side corner. Davies doubled his account five minutes, finishing well on the half turn. A brace of goals his excellent performance deserved before he was withdrawn on the hour.
Davies was unlucky not to bag a hat-trick when his third strike was disallowed for a push by a team-mate but no such ill-fortune for Patterson. After being felled, the target man picked himself up to convert a penalty and earn the metaphorical match ball just past the hour.
There was plenty more to come. Substitute Josh Husband thrashed home his first ever goal for the club before Aron Barnes scored with a sublime chip. A quick-fire brace from top scorer Liam Griffiths took the tally into double figures before Husband slotted his second to bring up a dozen of goals. Artur Cegielka completed the scoring, converting Lewis Roberts’ cross from close-range.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 13-0 Caerphilly Athletic 2nds
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak [gk], Bradley Harris, Dan Outing, Daniel Perry, Gareth Kear [c], Aled Evans, Huw Morgan (Owain Lewis 72), Ryan Jones (Josh Husband 52), Aron Barnes (Artur Cegielka 72), Hywel Patterson (Lewis Roberts 72), Gareth Davies (Liam Griffiths 60)
Goals: H. Patterson (21, 35, 62 pen), A. Barnes (23, 69), A. Evans (25), G. Davies (48, 53), J. Husband (67, 77), L. Griffiths (70, 73), A. Cegielka (84)
Man of the Match: Hywel Patterson
Referee: Simon White
