After two good performances to start the season where the results could have been better a chance to make up for them today. A slight tweak to the line up front today giving Lewis Roberts a start and Dylan Porter returning after suspension.
On a glorious day, Ponty started off quickly and were straight on the front foot, creating pressure on Hopkinstown, and in the 8th minute after some good build up play, Lewis Roberts passed on to Tom Frowen who put the ball in the net for a 1-0 lead.
Despite Pontypridd dominating most of the play for the next 30 mins, they couldn’t turn that pressure into goals.
Then in the 39th minute, a great counter attacking move saw Dylan Porter with a headed through ball from the halfway line to Aled Evans who put the ball into the net for a well deserved 2-0 lead which was the half time score
The Black Sheep again started quickly after the break, and in the 50 minute had a corner and in the melee which followed an Aled Evans shot took a deflection off Lewis Roberts to go into the net for 3-0. Hopkinstown made it difficult for Ponty to settle and in Lewis Cummings had a player who was a real thorn in their side with his tremendous work rate.
In the 55th minute a lovely move where Charlie Hobby played a lovely ball forward which split the defence where Tom Frowen ran on to clear on goal and coolly put the ball into the net for a deserved 4-0 lead
Not long after scoring, the Pontypridd defence who had been so dominant, had a lapse in concentration and Iestyn Harding nipped in for a goal for the visitors.
Ponty made a couple of substitutions in the 63rd minute with Michael Clare and Geraint Lewis replacing Liam Jones and the impressive Charlie Hobby.
Not long after the impressive Lewis Cummings scored a 2nd for Hopkinstown to make it 4-2.
Pontypridd then brought on Joe Hathaway and Huw Morgan for the hard working pair of Lewis Roberts and Dylan Porter.
Hathaway almost had an immediate impact by scorching down the wing but his cross couldn’t be turned into the net.
The pace of the subs caused havoc in the final third but the pressure didn’t turn into goals.
In the 81st minute, Ross Thomas came on for the solid Jonny Hughes, and in the 85th minute a great ball down the wing by Thomas for Hathaway to run onto, when he got into the box he looked and saw Clare in acres of space, and passed it in to him for a tap in and 5-2. Despite sustained pressure from Pontypridd they couldn’t add to the score and match finished 5-2. The game was played in a great spirit by both teams in a searing heat.
On reflection, a fair result and a better all round performance than in the previous two matches, Pontypridd used their bench well in the hot conditions and the subs had an impact on the game, clearly highlighted by the final goal, Thomas to Hathaway and Clare scoring.
MOTM – Tom Frowen
Special Mentions – Collective team effort from the starting 11 and all the subs in testing heat
Coaches Dan Outing & Nigel Wheeler – Today’s effort was best summed up by Elis Hughes after the game despite a good result and performance, the team could still go up a few levels. Us as coaches couldn’t agree more. Next up a Monday night away game against high flying Talbot Green.
