Pontypridd AFC Youth began their South Wales FA Youth League Nye Bevan Division campaign with a defeat against a clinical Cwrt Rawlin outfit in an entertaining fixture that wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline suggests.
A new-look Ponty team included summer recruits Cameron Harris, Joao Leal, Alex Jones, Pip Wragg and Alfie Berrett in the starting line-up, confident after an unbeaten pre-season. However, they got off to a poor start conceding twice in the opening 14 minutes.
A debut goal from the impressive Harris and a goal from Ruben Owen, either side of Cwrt Rawlin’s third goal meant the game was finely poised at half-time.
Joao Leal was denied a wonder-goal on debut but his long-range overhead kick was disallowed because he hadn’t retreated back into an onside position.
Ponty missed other chances though, while the visitors were clinical and three second-half goals gave them a big win to take back to Caerphilly.
RESULT
PONTYPRIDD AFC YOUTH 2 C. Harris (14), R. Owen (31)
CWRT RAWLIN YOUTH 6 R. Griffiths (4), J. Watkins (13, 78), D. Cross (28), S. Burksfield (64), I. Ashman (90+5)
Pontypridd AFC Youth: Alex Jones [gk], Cameron Harris, Nathan Eratne [c] (Finley Wilkinson 77), Devon Keep (Garan Davies 78), Charlie Hobby, Tomas John, Pip Wragg, Evan Sienczyk, Joao Leal, Alfie Berrett (Leo Wilson 68), Ruben Owen
Referee: D. Llewellyn
