The few spectators who chose to brave the cold and ignore the televised counter attractions were rewarded with a highly entertaining but ultimately disappointing evening for the small band of faithful Ponty supporters.
There was no indication in the opening stages of what was to come with Newport pressing forward from the first whistle and penning back the home team. They almost got an immediate reward for their enterprise with Lewis Sommers being put through and brought down just outside the area by keeper Chris Golton. Fortunately, a back tracking defender behind the keeper meant that the referee’s decision was a yellow card not the red that was initially expected.
Wayne Antoniazzi then went close from distance for the home team but it was only temporary respite with YMCA first hitting the bar then the post before an attacker was pulled back going for the rebound and a penalty awarded with Gareth Lynch scoring confidently from the spot.
Sommers then headed narrowly wide from a free kick and the visitors went close on a number of other occasions although there were signs that Ponty were slowly dragging themselves back into the game. However, Golton was forced to make a good save at the feet of Danny Cueto, who had replaced Sommers, before Ponty grabbed a shock equalizer after thirty seven minutes when Stuart Parr latched onto a neat through ball from Rasul Abdul and scored with a delicate touch past keeper Gareth Wesson. Nevertheless, the Dragons were still living dangerously with Golton grabbing a header that came back off the post and Steve Edwards heading just wide.
Whatever was said at the break in the home dressing room appeared to have worked with Ponty pushing forward at the start of the second half and going in front after only six minutes as a result of a Jacob Daly corner being delightfully turned in on the volley at the near post by Parr for his second of the evening. Two minutes later, David Delaney’s pace got him clear but he chose to blast the ball rather than place it with only Wesson to beat and his effort crashed off the post and away to safety.

The visitors took full advantage of the escape and began to pen the home side in their own half before grabbing an equalizer with twenty minutes to play when Mark Drew crossed for the unmarked Aaron Stewart to score with ease. To everyone’s surprise, Ponty went back in front five minutes later with Delaney going past a defender in the box and scoring with a neat right foot shot past Wesson. Home supporters hoped that the visitors thoughts would turn to Saturday’s Welsh cup semi-final but to their credit, they redoubled their efforts with Mark Coles clearing a header off the line before a cross found central defender Daniel Heath unmarked and he brought YMCA level again with a good left shot from the edge of the box with five minutes left to play. Ponty were now visibly tiring and Newport went in front two minutes later when Junior Borg crossed for Cueto to score easily with the goal celebrations disproving any suggestion that the visitors would be disinterested in the outcome of the game. A disastrous closing spell for the home side was completed deep into injury time when substitute Faris Yafai grabbed a fifth goal and made the scoreline a cruel one for a Ponty side which, in good conditions, showed they are capable of playing some entertaining football.

Pontypridd Town: Chris Golton; Peter Evans, Tommy Saleh, Craig Green, Cyron Williams, Mark Coles, David Delaney, Wayne Antoniazzi, Jacob Daley, Stuart Parr, Rasul Abdul. Not Used: Mike Selio, Lee Camilleri.
Newport YMCA: Gareth Wesson; Mark Drew, Craig Ford, Junior Borg, Daniel Heath, Gareth Lynch,  Aaron Stewart (sub. FarisYafai), Steve Edwards, Lewis Sommers (sub. Danny Cueto) John Pardue, Joe O'Brien. Not used: Alex Jenkins, Jamie Martin, Darren Berry.