Bridgend Town 5 – 2 Pontypridd Town (Welsh League Division One) Saturday 9/2/08
Pontypridd Town slumped to another disappointing defeat on Saturday when failure to take advantage of a string of clear cut chances in the first half allowed Bridgend to take the points thanks to a second half comeback.
Ponty started the game at a high tempo and shocked the home side by taking the lead in the seventh
minute. Ponty had already been pressurising the home defence when centre half Cyron Williams (right) collected a clearance 30 yards out. With everyone expecting a cross back into the box Williams waltzed past two defenders and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
A few minutes later Ebony Dixon should have made it two when a defender slipped to allow the centre forward a clear run on goal but Cropley in the Bridgend goal pulled off the first of many outstanding saves to keep the ball out. Bridgend went straight up the other end and a left wing cross was turned in by the completely unmarked Parkins for a fifteenth minute equalizer.
Before the home fans cheers had died down Ponty got back in front. The hard working Dixon, who had a great game on his return from injury, tackled a defender who dallied on the ball and coolly placed the ball into the net past the stranded goalkeeper.
Ponty were now in complete control with Wayne Antoniazzi and new signing Dave Blackstock ruling midfield and were running the home defence ragged. A succession of chances were either blocked by defenders last ditch tackles or saved by Cropley, but Ponty should have at least another two goals for their efforts.
On the half hour Michael Selio split the Bridgend defence with a pinpoint pass and after Dixon had outpaced the defence he placed the ball inches wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. Then just before the interval Rasul Abdul made a quick break down the left and squared the ball to Jacob Daly but with the goal gaping Cropley somehow managed to get back and smother Daly’s shot.
The same pattern was repeated early in the second half as first Abdul burst through on goal but Cropley bravely dived at his feet to smother the ball again, then Dixon (left) latched onto a through ball by Blackstock only for Cropley to push the shot away for a corner, and Dixon fired wide from another chance set up by Craig Green.
But the game was turned on its head on 63 minutes when Bridgend pulled a goal back out of nothing. The hosts attacked down the right and Ponty foolishly left Dale Raven completely unmarked on the left edge of the penalty area, leaving the winger a simple finish when the ball was crossed in to him.
Seconds later Ponty found themselves 3-2 behind as Raven again capitalised on poor marking to fire in his second goal.
Ponty were shell shocked and never looked like recovering. Bridgend were suddenly moving the ball around with the confidence that was lacking in the first hour and it was almost inevitable that they would increase their lead.
Substitute Raith Plant made it 4-2 on 73 minutes when he raced onto a long pass and drove the ball home, and in injury time Dale Raven completed his hat trick with a neat lob over Ponty’s keeper.
Manager Mal Camilleri could take several positives from the game, in particular the form of new signing Blackstock and Dixon on his return from injury, and the way Ponty controlled the game for an hour. However Camilleri must be pulling his hair out at Ponty’s failure to take their chances when on top and the tendency to switch off and leave players unmarked that has been a feature of the last few games.
Pontypridd Town team: Chris Golton, Anthony Saleh, Craig Green, Matthew Phillips, Cyron Williams, David Blackstock (Stuart Parr 84), Michael Selio (Chris Ridgeon 63), Wayne Antoniazzi, Jacob Daly, Ebony Dixon, Rasul Abdul. Substitutes not used: Kyle Johnson, Mark Elliott.
Ponty have another difficult match on Saturday when Caerleon are the visitors to Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, kick off 2pm.
Pontypridd Town slumped to another disappointing defeat on Saturday when failure to take advantage of a string of clear cut chances in the first half allowed Bridgend to take the points thanks to a second half comeback.
Ponty started the game at a high tempo and shocked the home side by taking the lead in the seventh
minute. Ponty had already been pressurising the home defence when centre half Cyron Williams (right) collected a clearance 30 yards out. With everyone expecting a cross back into the box Williams waltzed past two defenders and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.A few minutes later Ebony Dixon should have made it two when a defender slipped to allow the centre forward a clear run on goal but Cropley in the Bridgend goal pulled off the first of many outstanding saves to keep the ball out. Bridgend went straight up the other end and a left wing cross was turned in by the completely unmarked Parkins for a fifteenth minute equalizer.
Before the home fans cheers had died down Ponty got back in front. The hard working Dixon, who had a great game on his return from injury, tackled a defender who dallied on the ball and coolly placed the ball into the net past the stranded goalkeeper.
Ponty were now in complete control with Wayne Antoniazzi and new signing Dave Blackstock ruling midfield and were running the home defence ragged. A succession of chances were either blocked by defenders last ditch tackles or saved by Cropley, but Ponty should have at least another two goals for their efforts.
On the half hour Michael Selio split the Bridgend defence with a pinpoint pass and after Dixon had outpaced the defence he placed the ball inches wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. Then just before the interval Rasul Abdul made a quick break down the left and squared the ball to Jacob Daly but with the goal gaping Cropley somehow managed to get back and smother Daly’s shot.The same pattern was repeated early in the second half as first Abdul burst through on goal but Cropley bravely dived at his feet to smother the ball again, then Dixon (left) latched onto a through ball by Blackstock only for Cropley to push the shot away for a corner, and Dixon fired wide from another chance set up by Craig Green.
But the game was turned on its head on 63 minutes when Bridgend pulled a goal back out of nothing. The hosts attacked down the right and Ponty foolishly left Dale Raven completely unmarked on the left edge of the penalty area, leaving the winger a simple finish when the ball was crossed in to him.
Seconds later Ponty found themselves 3-
Ponty were shell shocked and never looked like recovering. Bridgend were suddenly moving the ball around with the confidence that was lacking in the first hour and it was almost inevitable that they would increase their lead.
Substitute Raith Plant made it 4-
Manager Mal Camilleri could take several positives from the game, in particular the form of new signing Blackstock and Dixon on his return from injury, and the way Ponty controlled the game for an hour. However Camilleri must be pulling his hair out at Ponty’s failure to take their chances when on top and the tendency to switch off and leave players unmarked that has been a feature of the last few games.
Pontypridd Town team: Chris Golton, Anthony Saleh, Craig Green, Matthew Phillips, Cyron Williams, David Blackstock (Stuart Parr 84), Michael Selio (Chris Ridgeon 63), Wayne Antoniazzi, Jacob Daly, Ebony Dixon, Rasul Abdul. Substitutes not used: Kyle Johnson, Mark Elliott.
Ponty have another difficult match on Saturday when Caerleon are the visitors to Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, kick off 2pm.