Pontypridd AFC men’s first team suffered another defeat in their second league game of the season but can take positives from a much-improved performance after a disappointing start away to Llanbradach.
Captain Liam Ormson returned to the starting line-up with his brother Jake in goal. Ashley Moyle was in the matchday squad for the first time since re-joining in the summer.
Cascade, always a tough side to play, began their campaign with a 5-0 home win against Penrhos.
The first half was an even affair, the Black Sheep certainly more at the races than Wednesday night, competing well, winning second balls and putting some pressure on the home defence without creating too many clear opportunities.
However, it was the home side that broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, Morgan Mayne showing more determination to win a header from a Cascade corner. One became two very quickly as some sloppy play from Ponty, not clearing their lines effectively, led to a collision in the box and a penalty was awarded to the hosts. Bleddyn Humphries made no mistake from 12 yards.
Despite trailing, Ponty heads did not drop and there were chances for the away side early in the second half. The best fell to Michael Clare, but the usually clinical striker couldn’t convert this time. The wait to get back into the game wasn’t long though; Elis Hughes scoring to make it 2-1 around the hour mark.
The bench came into its own and the substitutions made by John Radnor gave Ponty a boost in their chase, especially Moyle and teenager George Hobby.
However, as Ponty thought they might be getting on top, another poor goal was conceded. The Ponty players believed the ball had gone out for a throw-in, but instead of playing to the whistle too many switched off allowing Cascade to score a decisive third.
Dylan Porter set up a grandstand finish with an opportunistic strike and there was plenty of set piece pressure from Ponty in the closing stages but the home side held firm to secure all three points.
After the game head coach John Radnor said he was pleased with the turnaround from Wednesday which he felt was a really poor performance. On another day, Radnor felt Ponty could have taken all three points home with them. He challenged the players to take the positives and use that performance as the standard for the rest of the season.
