Pontypridd AFC’s 2023/24 league season began with defeat away to Church Village in the Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League Premier Division.
Macauley Morgan was the slayer of the Black Sheep with a second-half hat-trick that proved to be the difference between the teams on the scoresheet.
The striker, renowned for his crisp finishing and catalogue of club tracksuits, opened the scoring early in the second-half after a goalless first half that saw both sides have chances.
Ponty captain Aled Evans equalised on the hour, finishing a good move down the left between Nathan Eratne and Lewis Roberts, but was forced to be substituted immediately after with injury.
Two long balls killed off the visitors, Morgan profiting from the direct play and an onside call that aggrieved the visitors. Morgan’s hat-trick goal came just moments after Ashley Moyle missed a good chance for Ponty’s second equaliser.
Despite the deficit, Ponty stuck to the task and with better finishing might have taken something from the game. Lewis Roberts struck the post from close range and Liam Barter missed a penalty in added time.
FULL-TIME
CHURCH VILLAGE 3 M. Morgan (48, 64, 69)
PONTYPRIDD AFC 1 A. Evans (60) L. Barter missed pen (90+2)
Pontypridd AFC: Dylan Greedy [gk], Elis Hughes, Liam Barter, Dai Llewellyn (Rhys Mumford 79), Piotr Tolak (Huw Morgan 50), Nathan Eratne, Tom Frowen, Lewis Taylor, Aled Evans [c] (Dan May 61), Ashley Moyle (Connor Bickford 79), Hywel Patterson (Lewis Roberts 57)
Referee: A. Harries
