Pontypridd returned to winning ways by seeing off a spirited Hopkinstown side in a TERV Alliance division one match at the Maritime. Gareth Davies struck twice alongside superb strikes from Kieron Cook and Owain Lewis to ensure ended on a positive note after two disappointing home results in December.
The visitors were a bit of an unknown quantity due to well-publicised problems this season finding committed players. Poor weather during the autumn also meant Hopkinstown had only played five league fixtures before this encounter. Ponty player-manager Ryan Wheeler made four changes to the side that started last week’s heavy defeat to Cefn Hengoed, as well as some tactical tweaks, including Thomas Slater at right back.
Slater acquitted himself in the role, with Artur Cegielka at left back, their forays forward made better use of the midfield structure and provided the width that was missing against Cefn Hengoed.
Although Pontypridd enjoyed most of the possession and greater quantity of attacking positions, Hopkinstown provided a genuine threat on the counter attack. Callum Davies had the best of the early opportunities when he got behind John Radnor and latched on to a long ball but lifted his shot over the bar. Lewis Taylor forced a good save with a rasping free kick and Cook connected sweetly with a half-volley but it was unfortunately straight at the goalkeeper.
Hopkinstown were inches from taking the lead just before the twenty minute mark when they sliced through the Ponty midfield and Simon Pember found himself one on one with Piotr Tolak. His cushioned effort beat the Ponty stopper but smacked the upright and bounced away from goal. Ponty made the visitors pay for that miss within minutes. A superb break through the middle of the pitch by Artur Cegielka turned defence into attack. The utility man tried to feed Lewis Taylor, who dummied for Gareth Davies and the forward finished with aplomb into the roof of the net.
With the breakthrough Ponty continued to press. Davies was denied a couple of times, Huw Morgan fired over from a good position and a Hopkinstown defender almost scored an own goal off a corner. However, they carried a threat at the other end with Pember twice forcing Tolak into saves from distance. Then just before half-time, the visitors levelled. A long throw found its way through the back post, the Hopkinstown attacker got the better of Slater and turned the ball past Tolak.
HALF-TIME | Pontypridd 1-1 Hopkinstown
There was an early blow for Ponty in the second half when Slater was forced off with injury and replaced with Bradley Harris. Chances were at a premium too until Kieron Cook produced a trademark free kick finish to restore the homesters’ lead. John Radnor was another injury blow but the introduction of Aled Evans, returning from suspension, indicated the strength on the Ponty bench. Still it was nip and tuck for twenty minutes with both sides having chances to add to the score.
Ponty got the crucial fourth goal though. Substitute Tom Sheppeard was adjudged by ref Simon White to have been pushed in the box, allowing Davies to double his tally and take his record to five goals in five league games since he joined the club in September. Hopkinstown were not finished though and showed plenty of pluck to halve the deficit with a neat header off a set piece. That left Ponty with potentially a nervous final ten minutes but Owain Lewis came up with a superb finish from the left channel after a short corner and there was no further come back for Hopkinstown, who were arguably lucky to finish with 11 players on the field after goalkeeper Steven Jeffrey fouled Lewis Taylor outside the penalty area and denied what appeared to be an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd 4-2 Hopkinstown
Pontypridd FC: Piotr Tolak [gk], Thomas Slater (Bradley Harris 48), John Radnor (Aled Evans 57), Dan Outing, Artur Cegielka (Ryan Jones 70), Kieron Cook [c], Huw Morgan (Aron Barnes 70), Owain Lewis, Lewis Taylor, Lewis Roberts (Tom Sheppeard 70), Gareth Davies
Goals: G. Davies (23, 75 pen), K. Cook (54), O. Lewis (82)
Man of the Match: Owain Lewis
Referee: Simon White
