Pontypridd suffered a heavy home defeat to TERV Alliance division one pace-setters Cefn Hengoed. Although the first two of the visitors’ four goals came about through no lack of good fortune, the reality was over the 90 minutes they were the superior team, out-maneuvering and out-matching the home side in every area of the pitch.
The meeting at the Maritime was notionally between 3rd and 2nd in the table respectively, although Hengoed’s status as title favourites was underlined by them having dropped just 2 points from 7 league fixtures this season, as well as 5-0 win over Pontypridd in Cefn Hengoed in October. This defeat completed a sobering 0-9 aggregate for Pontypridd over the two league fixtures. Cefn Hengoed returned to the top of the table above Aber Valley 2nds on goal difference.
Pontypridd had to make do with the absence of Aled Evans and Daniel Perry through suspension after their red cards in the draw with Treforest a week earlier, nevertheless the side selected matched their opponents well in the opening 20 minutes even if they struggled to make any major in-roads into the Hengoed defensive third. It was a blow then when Cefn Hengoed took the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances when a mishit cross bounced kindly off the crossbar for Paget to tap in from close range.
Pontypridd goalkeeper Piotr Tolak was the busiest of the two custodians in the first-half, making important saves to keep the home side in the game, while at the other end Heggarty dealt with the aerial ball well and saved comfortably Pontypridd’s only shot on target from Aron Barnes.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 0-1 Cefn Hengoed
The second-half got off to the worst possible start when Piotr Tolak was embarrassed by a freakish goal inside two minutes. Heggarty’s long clearance was taken by the wind and a more awkward bounce than anticipated caught out the Ponty keeper and the ball bounced into the net. A minute later, a short goal-kick went horribly wrong as Tolak passed straight to Paget, he played in Thomas to swivel and finish low.
Within a few minutes of half-time the game was over and it was difficult then for Pontypridd to find a way back into the game against a well-organised and fit outfit with the visitors midfield trio especially dominant against Pontypridd’s diamond on the day.
The arrival of Lewis Taylor and Thomas Slater off the bench injected a little energy into the attacking player but Cefn Hengoed always looked the most likely to score again and Paget scored his second ten minutes from the end when he pounced on a mix-up between Radnor and Tolak after another long punt up field by Heggarty. Brad Harris might have scored a late consolation but for a superb diving stop from Heggarty but it was very much Cefn Hengoed’s day.
Although there is no question Hengoed were the better side on the day and deserved the win, Pontypridd were left the sense that none of the visitors four goals had come about from exceptional play. They made the most of the bounce of the ball when it came their way and punished individual errors. The capacity of the home side to give opponents that don’t need it a leg up remains a concern.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 0-4 Cefn Hengoed
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak [gk], Bradley Harris, John Radnor, Dan Outing, Gareth Kear (Owain Lewis 67), Kieron Cook [c], Huw Morgan, Aron Barnes, Liam Griffiths (Thomas Slater 67), Artur Cegielka, Gareth Davies (Lewis Taylor 46)
Booked: Gareth Kear
Referee: Ashley Thomas
