Pontypridd Town gave a battling performance at title chasing Ton Pentre in the Welsh League First Division on Saturday, but eventually slipped to a narrow defeat despite giving the home side a scare.
Ponty went into the game without six first team regulars, and could name only twelve fit players leaving fans of Ponty’s struggling team fearing the worst from arguably their toughest game of the season.
There was a scare for Ponty in the second minute when only a great double save from Chris Golton kept the home side out, as the keeper first parried a shot then smothered the rebound.
But Ponty’s tactics of playing five across midfield and a high backline to deny Ton space soon had the home side frustrated. And as Ponty’s confidence grew they started to create a few chances of their own with the best falling to Anthony Saleh who fired a 30 yard effort just wide.
There was a warning for Ponty when Ton for once sprung the offside trap but Golton made another brilliant save to deny Andrew Pearson a certain goal.
But Pearson got his revenge on 32 minutes when he chased a long ball and managed to block a clearance by Golton that bounced towards goal leaving the striker a simple tap in to the empty net.
Ponty almost got back into the game when Rasul Abdul broke quickly and released Jacob Daly to cross for Peter Evans to force a good save from Marty Ellacott to keep Ton in front at the interval.
Ton started the second half in more determined fashion and Ponty’s defence was stretched on several occasions, but poor finishing from the Ton strikers and some magnificent last ditch blocks and tackles from Ridgeon, Phillips, Green and Saleh kept Ponty in the game.
But Ponty fell further behind on 58 minutes after a spell of sustained pressure in which they just couldn’t get the ball away. Former Ponty captain Andrew Hughes thought he’d scored against his old club with a drive from inside the crowded penalty area only for Golton to make another fine save, but the rebound fell at the feet of Pearson who netted his second tap in of the afternoon.
If Ton thought the game was over they were shocked just two minutes later as a cross from Jacob Daly on the right fell to Rasul Abdul who provided a lovely finish with a shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Then just three minutes later the impressive Mark Coles flicked on a goal kick to put Stuart Parr through but with just the keeper to beat he fired over.
Golton came to Ponty’s rescue yet again when he saved with his legs from Kift and from a Ton corner Anthony Saleh cleared the ball off the goal line.
With 8 minutes to go Ponty almost got an equalizer but were denied by former Ponty keeper Ellacott in the Ton goal with an unbelievable acrobatic save. Jacob Daly reached the goal line and sent in a superb cross which cut out the Ton defence. Substitute Michael Selio hit the ball first time from the edge of the area only to see Ellacott fly across the goal to fingertip the ball away to gasps of amazement from the crowd.
Despite the defeat Ponty can take heart from this display, and if they can maintain this level of performance they will surely start picking up the points needed to move up the table.

Pontypridd Town team: Chris Golton, Anthony Saleh, Chris Ridgeon (Michael Selio 79), Luke Hooper, Matthew Phillips, Craig Green, Rasul Abdul, Mark Coles, Jacob Daly, Stuart Parr, Peter Evans.
On Saturday Ponty face a vital game against fellow strugglers Garw Athletic at Ynysangharad Park, kick off 2pm.