Pontypridd laid seige to Cwrt Rawlin’s castle but ultimately the in-form side held firm and their stronghold remained intact after an entertaining eight-goal battle on a field named after a Welsh hero in the shadow of Caerphilly’s domineering Norman fortress. Despite leading three times in the match, Pontypridd ultimately fell to the sword of the home team’s clinical second-half finishing.
Alex Mitchell-Charman made his club debut in goal. Huw Morgan, Hywel Patterson, Artur Cegielka and Ryan Jones returned to the starting line-up after missing the defeat at Graig.
Cegielka got Ponty off to the perfect start, clipping home from the right wing inside the opening ten minutes. The visitors defended well for the rest of the half and were unfortunate to concede on the stroke of half-time via a deflection.
HALF-TIME | Cwrt Rawlin 1-1 Pontypridd
Ponty started the second half like the first, scoring early when Huw Morgan latched on to Cook’s pass and fired low past the home custodian. However, the home side were quickly level thanks to a penalty awarded against Cegielka.
The visitors re-took the lead with a penalty of their own after Huw Morgan was fouled when through on goal. Captain Cook stepped up to convert.
Cwrt Rawlin introduced Tom Starr, a past nemesis in his time with Caerphilly Athletic, and he was pivotal to the turnaround. The clinical striker scored his customary goal against Pontypridd with a good finish inside the box for Rawlin’s third equaliser.
There were chances at both ends. Ashley Moyle and Huw Morgan came closest for the visitors and Joe Thomas almost produced a sensational long range chip of the home keeper. Utlimately, the hosts struck the crucial seventh goal of the game, with another accurate finish 15 minutes from the end. Ponty pressed but couldn’t find a way back in and suffered an injury blow as Aled Evans was forced off with a fractured cheek bone following an aerial challenge. Starr settled the game in the final minute with a close-range volley.
FULL-TIME | Cwrt Rawlin 5-3 Pontypridd
Pontypridd FC: Alex Mitchell-Charman [gk], Artur Cegielka (Ashley Moyle 77), Ryan Jones, Darren Davies, Daniel Perry, Aled Evans (Dan Outing 88), Joe Thomas, Geraint Lewis, Huw Morgan, Kieron Cook [c] (Ryan Mehenni 84), Hywel Patterson (Gareth Kear 70)
Goals: A. Cegielka (10), H. Morgan (48), K. Cook (60 pen)
Yellow card: A. Cegielka
Man of the Match: H. Morgan
Referee: A. Harries
