In the context of two previous heavy defeats against Bryntirion, this looked a respectable result but Ponty finished the game disappointed at their inability to take advantage of a home side reduced to ten men for most of the second half.
The visitors featured Rasul Abdul on his return to the Club as well as a full debut for former Ynysybwl player Mark Coles but it was the home side who were the first to threaten when Adam Carpenter headed narrowly wide after seven minutes shortly before Chris Golton came off his line smartly to foil Robbie Walters.
Ponty’s first real attempt on goal came when Cyron Williams headed narrowly wide from an Abdul corner on the quarter hour mark with Jacob Daly whipping a free kick just over the Athletic’s crossbar immediately afterwards. However, the Dragons took the lead after eighteen minutes when a penalty was awarded for handball and Daly scored confidently from the spot.
Unfortunately, the lead lasted only four minutes when some defensive indecision allowed Carpenter the chance to cross and Martin Dando neatly tucked the ball first time into the corner of the net.
Five minutes later, Williams lost his footing and gave Gavin Thomas a run on goal and he did excellently to twist and turn his way past Golton and the covering Tommy Saleh before scoring into the empty net. Ponty looked certain to equalize three minutes later when Daly was worked clear but he untypically shot wide with only keeper Alan Founaguin to beat.
It was entertaining stuff at this stage of the game and after forty two minutes, Ponty were indebted to Golton when he made a superb point blank save from Jonathan Cuss. Play switched to the other end immediately and a Daly cross was chested down by Wayne Antoniazzi with his back to goal before he turned and put a fierce shot inches over the bar.  
Five minutes after the break came a potentially game changing incident when prolific striker Robbie Walters was shown a straight red card for a head high challenge on Golton. However, the home side reorganized efficiently and upped the tempo of the game with Ponty showing naivety with their frequent attempts to find a way through with a short passing game on a heavy pitch. In fact the next chance to be created came from the home side when Thomas was worked clear but dragged his shot just wide.
The game became a dreadfully messy affair as the half wore on with most of the play seemingly compressed into the middle third of the pitch and with Ponty frequently being caught offside when they did try to spread the play. However, with fifteen minutes to go, an Antoniazzi through ball was taken on by Abdul but a half challenge by a defender when he was in the act of shooting saw his attempot go straight to Founaguim.

With the visitors becoming more frustrated it began to look as if they would be caught pushing forward and almost inevitably, Cuss sprung the offside trap and scored with a low shot in the last minute.
Ponty now face a difficult home game this Saturday against an Afan Lido side which still harbours hopes of a return to the League of Wales.

Pontypridd Town: Chris Golton; Peter Evans (sub. Lee Harriman), Tommy Saleh, Cyron Williams, Matthew Phillips (sub. Kyle Johnson), Mark Coles, Craig Green (sub. Leon Duke), Wayne Antoniazzi, Stuart Parr, Jacob Daly, Rasul Abdul.