The 2023/24 season has brought much frustration for Pontypridd AFC seniors with the first team finishing bottom of the TERV Premier Division, but a disappointing league campaign has been shaken off by a remarkable and historic Bernard Martin Cup run.
Tomorrow afternoon, The Black Sheep will walk on to the pitch at Rhydyfelin Dog Track in the club’s maiden cup final and will have the opportunity to gain immortality by securing the club’s first ever silverware.
On the eve of the Bernard Martin Cup final, we take a look back at The Black Sheep’s incredible run to the final.
After the original fixture was postponed in August 2023, Ponty’s Bernard Martin Cup challenge began in January away to Cwm Welfare Reserves. It looked like the familiar early cup exit would occur when Cwm Welfare scored two early goals but Lewis Roberts turned the contest on its head in the second half by scoring his maiden senior hat-trick and take The Black Sheep through.
Following the conclusion of the league campaign, the Bernard Martin Cup returned at the start of this month with an internal contest between Pontypridd AFC first team and Pontypridd AFC Reserves. On a sodden night at Ynysangharad Park, the Reserves threatened a major upset by taking a 2-0 lead into the half-time interval. However, another second-half surge saw the firsts overcome the deficit and finish 7-2 winners on the night.
In the quarter-finals Ponty were granted another home tie, this time Division Two champions Llanbradach were the visitors. Despite being underdogs, Ponty matched the experienced Llanbradach side all the way, denied victory in 90 minutes by a late equaliser. Following a 3-3 draw inside the regulation time, stand-in keeper Liam Beer saved two penalties to help The Black Sheep win the shootout 4-3.
The semi-finals brought the toughest test yet, away to Cascade YC. Despite Ponty’s excellent record at Penybryn, this was the first opponent in the cup run that had finished higher in the league than The Black Sheep.
After the first attempt was abandoned due to a typical Welsh valleys spring downpour with the score locked at 2-2, the semi-final was replayed two nights ago.
In wonderful Spring sunshine, Ponty produced one of the best “90 (plus 15 added) minute” performances in the club’s history. Lewis Roberts, who has found his best form in this competition, scored twice inside a minute midway through the second-half (taking his competition tally to six goals) to put Ponty in the ascendancy. Lewis Taylor fired home a free-kick to seal Ponty’s place in the final and even a goal in the final moments by the hosts couldn’t dampen the celebrations of The Black Sheep.
Talbot Green await in the final. TERV League Champions, they will be a South Wales Alliance League club next season after their recent play-off success. Certainly the biggest, and possibly the toughest, game in Pontypridd AFC’s history but this team have found a good habit of upsetting the odds in the past month.
