Another week and another narrow defeat for Pontypridd FC but yet again there was disappointment that the team left the field empty-handed after matching TERV division 1 leaders Gelligaer for much of the game.
In their first competitive game in Ynysangharad Park, the reserves got off to an excellent start through Hassaan Tariq’s first goal for the club and first in senior Welsh football. Tariq’s short time in Welsh grassroots football has already had plenty of ups and downs with problems obtaining international clearance that meant his case went to a judge at FIFA and then the steep learning curve of adapting to football in a new country. However, Tariq has worked hard to improve his game and merited his goal.
Gelligaer hit back before half-time and the game remained in the balance until the final eight minutes when a tiring Ponty side conceded two goals. Tariq scored his second of the game in the closing moments but it proved to be a mere consolation for the cause.
FULL-TIME | Pontypridd FC Reserves 2-3 Gelligaer
Pontypridd Reserves: Ciprian Sava [gk], Piotr Tolak (Jake Swainston 61), Rhydian Fitter, Gareth Kear, Dan Outing [c], Karwan Jawad, Dan May, Louie Sellwood (Rafael Gomes 59), Connor Bickford, Rana Hassaan Tariq, Ryan Mehenni
Goals: H. Tariq (8, 90)
Man of the Match: G. Kear
Referee: (stand-in – no official appointed / failed to turn up)
