Pontypridd Town 1 Taffs Well 4
Welsh League Division One – 22nd March, 2008
Welsh League Division One – 22nd March, 2008
Ponty have frequently shown promise in defeat on a number of occasions this season but against one of the poorest sides seen at Ynysangharad Park this season, they produced an uninspiring display and slid to defeat in a disastrous second half.
The visitors had more of the play territorially in the early stages but the game was virtually devoid of any goalmouth incident or meaningful action other than a nasty looking injury to Taffs keeper John Howe after fifteen minutes which necessitated his replacement. Fortunately for the visitors, they had a replacement stopper on the bench and Matthew Morling was able to take over.
Ponty’s best spell of the half came in a fifteen minute spell before the interval when they had most of the play and forced a number of corners but without getting a serious attempt on goal.
The second half started off in much more promising fashion and eight minutes after the break, an excellent move started by Rasul Abdul and carried on by Jacob Daly saw the ball reach David Avery on the edge of the six yard box only for him to miscue his shot with a goal looking certain.
Two minutes later, disaster struck when a harmless looking ball across the Ponty box ballooned off debutant Dafydd Hughes and past keeper Chris Golton for an own goal to give the visitors the lead. The goal signalled a shocking spell for the home team and just after the hour mark a Michael Nessbert cross reached former Ponty player Jamal Roberts in front of goal and he scored with a firm right foot shot. Six minutes later, Roberts was again left unmarked to score his second goal with a firm header.
Fortunately, the goal seemed to shake the Dragons out of their lethargy and they finally began to play with Daly starting to make some positive runs down the flanks as well as striking a long range free kick inches wide. There was a glimmer of hope with fifteen minutes to go when great work by Daly on the left flank ended with a cross to substitute Stuart Parr who netted with a neat right foot shot into the corner. However, any chance of a comeback was immediately extinguished when Kevin Crock got clear only a minute later to score with ease.
Manager Mal Camilleri described the display as ‘unacceptable’ and Saturday’s game away to fellow strugglers Croesyceiliog has now taken on huge significance if Ponty are to climb out of trouble.
Hopefully the visitors had a safe journey home after having to leave the clubhouse before food could be served within minutes of the game ending to begin the long trip back to Taffs Well. Unfortunately, double chips all round was little consolation for a disappointed Ponty squad.
Pontypridd Town: Chris Golton; Dafydd Hughes (sub. Peter Evans), Tommy Saleh, Matthew Phillips, Mark Coles, Luke Hooper (sub. Stuart Parr), David Avery (sub. Mike Selio), Wayne Antoniazzi, Jacob Daly, Cyron Williams, Rasul Abdul.
The visitors had more of the play territorially in the early stages but the game was virtually devoid of any goalmouth incident or meaningful action other than a nasty looking injury to Taffs keeper John Howe after fifteen minutes which necessitated his replacement. Fortunately for the visitors, they had a replacement stopper on the bench and Matthew Morling was able to take over.
Ponty’s best spell of the half came in a fifteen minute spell before the interval when they had most of the play and forced a number of corners but without getting a serious attempt on goal.
The second half started off in much more promising fashion and eight minutes after the break, an excellent move started by Rasul Abdul and carried on by Jacob Daly saw the ball reach David Avery on the edge of the six yard box only for him to miscue his shot with a goal looking certain.
Two minutes later, disaster struck when a harmless looking ball across the Ponty box ballooned off debutant Dafydd Hughes and past keeper Chris Golton for an own goal to give the visitors the lead. The goal signalled a shocking spell for the home team and just after the hour mark a Michael Nessbert cross reached former Ponty player Jamal Roberts in front of goal and he scored with a firm right foot shot. Six minutes later, Roberts was again left unmarked to score his second goal with a firm header.
Fortunately, the goal seemed to shake the Dragons out of their lethargy and they finally began to play with Daly starting to make some positive runs down the flanks as well as striking a long range free kick inches wide. There was a glimmer of hope with fifteen minutes to go when great work by Daly on the left flank ended with a cross to substitute Stuart Parr who netted with a neat right foot shot into the corner. However, any chance of a comeback was immediately extinguished when Kevin Crock got clear only a minute later to score with ease.
Manager Mal Camilleri described the display as ‘unacceptable’ and Saturday’s game away to fellow strugglers Croesyceiliog has now taken on huge significance if Ponty are to climb out of trouble.
Hopefully the visitors had a safe journey home after having to leave the clubhouse before food could be served within minutes of the game ending to begin the long trip back to Taffs Well. Unfortunately, double chips all round was little consolation for a disappointed Ponty squad.
Pontypridd Town: Chris Golton; Dafydd Hughes (sub. Peter Evans), Tommy Saleh, Matthew Phillips, Mark Coles, Luke Hooper (sub. Stuart Parr), David Avery (sub. Mike Selio), Wayne Antoniazzi, Jacob Daly, Cyron Williams, Rasul Abdul.