Cambrian & Clydach Vale were forced to settle for a point after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Pontypridd for a consecutive time.
Vaughn Fowler’s 90th-minute header secured a draw for Pontypridd who were making their return to the USW Sport Park.
Tyrrell Webbe opened the scoring for Pontypridd in the second minute but his header was cancelled out by Liam Reed.
Sam Jones scored in the second half to provide Cambrian with the lead but Cambrian let slip of a lead once more after conceding to goalkeeper Morgan Davies last Saturday.
Cambrian had controlled the majority of the fixture and played the better of the football however they rued not finishing more of their opportunities.
Cameron Keetch put Morgan Davies into some early action as he lifted his free-kick over the wall to force Davies to save.
Pontypridd graced the Sport Park with their first goal from their first opportunity.
James Bloom’s pass into the channel found Kareem Leigh and his delicate cross was headed home from a leaping Tyrrell Webbe.
To add to Cambrian’s troubles, Sam Johnson was forced off with an injury with Leon Jacka being sent on his place.
Having played to high intensity for the opening quarter, the next fifteen slowed down until goal action at both ends.
Aiden Lewis’ dink to Leigh saw the Ponty attacker flick a header at Dan Bradley who palmed the shot away.
Bradley’s save proved vital as Cambrian equalised on the half-hour mark.
Liam Reed’s determination saw him chase down the rushing Davies to force an error which saw him strike into an empty net.
Luke Gullick – playing in a deeper role – had two opportunities to restore Pontypridd’s lead.
He first tested Bradley with a well-powered shot after waiting for the ball to bounce before hitting a shot just wide from the far side.
Webbe almost got on the scoresheet again but was unable to turn home from Fowler’s pass.
Cambrian steered ahead of Pontypridd as they tried to spoil the party.
Sam Jones rifled his shot past Davies after picking the ball up from Liam Edwards’ shot being blocked on the line.
Jones hit the crossbar with a looping header with a further opportunity, the Ponty keeper looked beaten.
Cambrian continued to dominate as Reed hit a shot over the bar.
They had appeals for a penalty too with Sam Jones going down under the challenge from Aiden Lewis.
As Cambrian entered the latter stages, Jones was denied once more by Davies as his placed shot was blocked by the body of the goalkeeper.
The Sky Blues attempted to calm down the game with the introduction of the returning David Thomas who returned from Cardiff Metropolitan this week.
Ponty put the pressure on to the Cambrian in the final five minutes and created a number of opportunities.
Lewis fed a delicate ball through to Webbe who controlled with his right foot but smashed a shot wide with his left.
A free-kick then caused problems for Cambrian as Gullick almost headed in against Bradley.
Ponty broke down Cambrian’s rearguard in stoppage time from a set piece.
Having been undone by goalkeeper Morgan Davies last week, the man in the gloves was the distraction as Vaughn Fowler was the man to head home in a crowded penalty area.
Jacka’s free-kick from 25-yards was the final shot of the match as Ponty claimed another late point from their Rhondda rivals.
Pontypridd Town: Morgan Davies, Luke Sylvester (Gavin Beddard 70), Lee Baldock, Vaughn Fowler, Lewis Ellis, Lewis Cosslett, Aiden Lewis, James Bloom (C), Luke Gullick, Kareem Leigh (Louis Gerrard 84), Tyrell Webbe.
Cambrian & Clydach Vale: Daniel Bradley, Andre Griffiths (Josh Owen 81), Cameron Keetch, Keiron Coles, Connor Young, Camilo Strinati, Liam Reed, Cory Shephard, Sam Jones, Liam Edwards (David Thomas 81) Sam Johnson (Leon Jacka 15)
See how the Rhondda Derby was contested here:
(Featured Image: Darren Griffiths)
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