Pontypridd Town 6-3 Goytre – Goals galore as Ponty mark Leckwith Stadium debut with victory

Pontypridd began life at Leckwith Stadium with a convincing victory over Goytre as they progressed to the next round of the Welsh Cup.

The Dragons were playing their first home game of the season at their temporary ground, having moved from the USW Sport Park.

Both Pontypridd and Goytre played to an entertaining spectacle with a total of nine goals scored at Leckwith, including a penalty. There was also a hattrick of assists for Pontypridd’s Luke Gullick.

In the early stages of the game, Goytre almost graced Leckwith Stadium’s new pitch with a superb strike. His low driven free-kick hit the post, Charlie Hamer was unable to prod his effort in on the rebound, as Cameron Clarke saved with his leg.

Pontypridd’s top goal scorer Luke Gullick almost opened Ponty’s account, but his effort from inside the box was just wide of the target.

The first goal at Leckwith Stadium did come moments later, with Gullick involved. The attacker cut in on the far side and his hard work resulted in Andrew Smith tucking his effort home for the opener.

Scott Hillman then nearly doubled their lead, as Aiden Lewis crossed in to the Ponty skipper, who headed just over. Gullick later forced Cutland to dive down, to save his effort.

Josh Brown was unlucky not to draw Goytre level. After a ball over the top, his effort rattled the crossbar from just inside the box.

The second goal did come after an onslaught of Ponty attacks. Gullick kept the ball in and Jack Fox opened his account at Leckwith for Ponty with a close-range finish.

Gullick who had already had two assists, gave away a penalty after he was judged to have handled the ball when attempting to clear. Goytre’s Josh Brown stepped up and hammered his penalty home to reduce Goytre’s arrears.

In first-half stoppage time, Goytre drew level. Brown was on target again, staying onside to put the ball under Clarke for an equalising goal.

The early few moments of the second half, Kris Leek attempted a half-volley at Clarke’s goal, but the Ponty keeper made a good save.

That save proved to be big as Pontypridd regained their lead in fine fashion. Jack Fox scored with a superb curling effort with Cutland unable to do anything about it.

After the restart, Luke Gullick forced Cutland into another save, as they sought to kill the game off.

Pontypridd took a two-goal advantage for the second time of the game in the 50th minute. A corner wasn’t cleared and it allowed Vaughn Fowler to score with a lowly driven effort, opening his Pontypridd account.

Ponty made it five just over the hour mark, as Dafydd Brewer headed home his first goal for Ponty, from a well-delivered corner kick.

Goytre had two chances to get a consolation, firstly Kristian Wharton with a strike which went well over the bar, before Brown’s chipped effort went narrowly over.

Player-manager Gavin Beddard did well to hold up play and he lofted it to Jack Wheeler who went close to furthering the lead even more, forcing Cutland into a save at his near post.

Ponty eventually scored six, as Luke Gullick kept the ball in play and found substitute Danny Hooper in space, drilling the ball into the goal.

There was time for a consolation, as target man Dion Molyneux scored from close range, flicking his effort past Clarke.

Pontypridd now await the Welsh Cup draw on Monday.

Pontypridd Town 

Clarke, Wheeler (Iheanacho 86), Fowler, Rutherford, Hillman (C), Brewer, Smith (Beddard 48), Shaw, Lewis, Gullick, Fox (Hooper 48)

Goytre

Cutland, East, Fernquest, Evans, Molyneux, Thomas-Frost, Hamer, Leek, Sommers, Brown, Mbangomoasi

(Featured Image: Darren Griffiths)