Pontypridd secured a first away win since September, scoring five times in a club-record away win, to stay ahead of hosts Fochriw Village in 3rd place in the Taff Ely Rhymney Valley League division one.
First half goals from Liam Griffiths, Lewis Taylor and Dan Outing gave Pontypridd a commanding lead before substitutes Lewis Roberts and Tom Sheppeard sealed the win after a second-half comeback from Fochriw. Sheppeard’s strike in added time was a standout moment, being the 16 year old’s first ever goal in senior football.
There were enforced changes from the defeat at home to Aber Valley a week earlier. Piotr Tolak was unavailable and with Lewis Watkins still sidelined with long-term injury, it left Pontypridd with no recognised goalkeeper. Utility player Artur Cegielka deputised between the posts and did an outstanding job for the team. Daniel Perry returned to the starting line-up following his suspension and John Radnor’s absence. There was also a return up front for Gareth Davies.
In awful conditions with swirling wind and heavy, persistent drizzle on a pitch that even exponents of the rugby code would have struggled on, Pontypridd started the match brilliantly, playing the conditions perfectly. Liam Griffiths forced a brilliant early save from the Fochriw goalkeeper (the first of a catalogue stops he made during the 90 minutes) and the shoot on sight policy saw as many as half a dozen efforts registered before Pontypridd broke through in the 5th minute. Gareth Davies made the goal with excellent work on the left, outfoxing his marker and his whipped ball from the goal-line was swept home expertly by Liam Griffiths from six yards; the forward’s 10th goal of the campaign.
Lewis Taylor doubled the lead within ten minutes, sliding home at the back post after more good work by Davies, this time from the right flank. Taylor was denied a second by a world class save, his cushioned volley plucked right out of the top corner by the Fochriw custodian. However, from the resulting corner Dan Outing was on hand to stab home from close range his first goal of the season after Ryan Jones’ delivery caught out the Fochriw number one.
Although Ponty were clinical with their chances, Fochriw were not and in the first-half racked up plenty of opportunities of their own. The best being a penalty awarded in the 26th minute, which was fired well wide. Griffiths and Evans both had good chances to add a fourth Ponty goal, but had to settle for a three-nil at the break.
HALF-TIME | Fochriw Village 0-3 Pontypridd
As expected Fochriw came out fighting in the second-half, with nothing to lose they were happy to throw bodies forward and put Ponty under sustained pressure. A goal inside the first five minutes of the half gave them hope but Pontypridd had chances to extend their lead before Fochriw fired home a second goal: a superb long-range strike after Ponty switched off at Fochriw throw-in.
Now there were questions of the Pontypridd players with memories of the previous visit here still fresh; surrendering a 3-1 lead in the final quarter to lose 4-3 in a Bernard Martin Cup tie last October. However, those doubts were eased within in a minute. Aled Evans broke up a Fochriw attacking phase and fed Lewis Roberts whose pace sent him flying away from the sparse home defence to fire into the goal past the Fochriw goalkeeper.
With plenty of space to attack as Fochriw went for broke to try and save the game, there were plenty of opportunities for Pontypridd to add to their goal tally on the counter-attack but four extraordinary saves by the Fochriw keeper kept them out until Sheppeard latched on to Huw Morgan’s pass and fired home his maiden goal from inside the penalty area and seal a superb win.
FULL-TIME | Fochriw Village 2-5 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Artur Cegielka [gk], Bradley Harris, Dan Outing, Daniel Perry, Ryan Jones, Owain Lewis, Aled Evans, Kieron Cook [c], Lewis Taylor (Lewis Roberts 57), Gareth Davies (Tom Sheppeard 81), Liam Griffiths (Huw Morgan 69)
Subs not used: Aron Barnes, Callum Roper
Goals: L. Griffiths (5), L. Taylor (14), D. Outing (23), L. Roberts (66), T. Sheppeard (90+1)
Man of the Match: D. Perry
