Port Talbot Town 2-2 Pontypridd Town: Jandir Zola’s penalty makes for a Desmond at Victoria Road

A second-half penalty from Jandir Zola earned a point for Port Talbot Town against a battling Pontypridd Town.

The draw stretches Port Talbot’s unbeaten run at home to five games, with Mark Pike’s side yet to lose at home this year. Pontypridd are still hovering above the drop zone after only earning a point.

Port Talbot Town opened the scoring through Connor Harris but Luke Gullick equalised from the spot. Aiden Lewis gave Pontypridd a first-half lead but early in the second half, Jandir Zola canceled that out.

There was plenty of action in the first half with three goals but after Zola’s penalty, the game faltered out into a scrappy affair.

Immediately after the kick-off, Pontypridd had an early opportunity. Luke Gullick tried to slot it past James Harris but the Talbot goalkeeper blocked with his body.

Gavin Beddard had a goal-bound header but teammate James Bloom blocked his effort.

Pontypridd’s method of play was to put balls over the top and Gullick was found by Liam Shaw, Gullick had an effort which whistled past the post.

Despite the early opportunities for Pontypridd, Port Talbot Town scored with their first real opportunity. A counter-attacking move was finished off by Connor Harris after his driven shot deflected off the post for the opening goal.

Their lead, however, was short-lived after a penalty was awarded to Pontypridd due to a foul from Jackson Hall on Luke Gullick. Gullick hit a powerful penalty past Harris to bring Pontypridd level.

Five minutes before the half-time whistle, Aiden Lewis scored with an audacious chip over the towering James Harris.

They almost furthered their lead as Josh Allen hit the side netting after Gullick put across the ball in the box.

Pontypridd were presented with a golden opportunity in the early stages of the second half. Josh Allen crossed the ball into Lewis but he skied his effort from just a yard out onto the crossbar.

The visitors were made to rue that miss as Lewis Baldwin conceded a penalty for a foul on Keane Watts. Jandir Zola sent Cameron Clarke the wrong way from the penalty spot to level proceedings.

The goal gave Port Talbot a verve to find a third goal with counter-attacks their means of attacking.

Goalscorer Zola almost doubled his tally from a free-kick but Clarke was alert to the effort.

Approaching the final quarter of the match, it became a dull affair with a number of stoppages.

Luke Gullick had an opportunity in stoppage time as Pontypridd piled the men forward but his header was routinely saved by Harris.

Port Talbot Town: Harris, Jo Hall, Miller, R.Morgan, Ja Hall (C), Zola, Williams, Thomas, B.Morgan, Harries, Watts

Pontypridd Town: Clarke, Parry (Wheeler 86), Bloom, Shaw, Hillman, Baldwin, Lewis (Hibbs 74), Fowler, Beddard, Gullick, Allen (McKeary 60)

(Featured Image: Ethan Baker Photography)