Pontypridd Town 4-4 Caerau Ely: Young Guns salvage point after two stoppage time goals
Caerau Ely struck twice in stoppage time to secure a point in a dramatic 4-4 draw with Pontypridd Town at the USW Sport Park.
Player-manger Danny Hooper haunted his former side with what seemed a consolation strike before substitute Levi Robson scored the equaliser.
Caerau had led twice through goals from Josh Spencer and Jerome Actie, but Pontypridd twice responded with goals from Vaughn Fowler and then Tyrrell Webbe.
Fowler added a second before to put Pontypridd ahead before Kareem Leigh had seemingly scored Pontypridd’s insurance goal.
The result means Pontypridd move up to 10th, whilst Caerau fall behind Cwmamman following their victory over Undy.
Caerau had tried to impose themselves in the early stages of the match and Hywel Davies almost did that, his shot was sent just over the bar.
Josh Spencer – starting for the first time under Danny Hooper – showed his strikers instinct as he scored a rebounded effort from three-yards out
Vaughn Fowler from a low driven corner slides the ball past Matthews into the bottom right corner of the net from close range.
Pontypridd drew level through Vaughn Fowler as the defender met a low-driven corner to slide the ball past Elliot Matthews.
Neither side could create any real testing opportunities after Fowler’s leveller. It was a half of two quarters, with Caerau in control for the first and then Pontypridd in the second part.
The second-half brought much more entertainment for the spectators as it burst into life in the opening few minutes.
Jerome Actie hit a sumptuous free-kick from 25-yards out to beat Michail and restore Caerau’s lead.
The Cymru South’s bottom side couldn’t celebrate for long though as the old adage of being vulnerable just after they scored was certainly true as Ponty responded immediately.
Tyrrell Webbe was on and to score a tap-in from yards out after Caerau’s defence had switched off.
Pontypridd then took the lead for the first time in the match. Fowler registered his second goal of the afternoon with a left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner.
Kareem Leigh added a fourth for Ponty with less than fifteen minutes remaining with Matthews unable to keep out his powerful header.
Player-manager Danny Hooper brought himself to the playing aspect of football for the first time, hoping to salvage something from the field, rather than the touchline.
The decision to bring himself on proved wise as he mounted his sides late comeback with a nine-man wall unable to keep out his deflected free-kick which was scored from the edge of the area.
Caerau went all out for an equaliser which came with the final kick of the game.
A ball was played across goal to Levi who gently placed his shot past Michail’s left side, sparking jubilant celebrations from the away side.
Pontypridd Town: Giannis Michail, Luke Sylvester, Lee Baldock, Vaughn Fowler, David Vincent, Shane Parry (Lewis Ellis 75), Aiden Lewis (Liam Shaw 81), James Bloom, Luke Gullick (Gavin Beddard 83), Tyrrell Webbe, Kareem Leigh.
Goals: Vaughan Fowler 26, 67, Tyrrell Webbe 47, Kareem Leigh 78’
Yellow Cards: Shane Parry 38, Lee Baldock, Luke Sylvester
Caerau Ely: Elliot Matthews, Jerome Maynard, Jerome Actie, Corey Spencer, Luke Bridgeman, Joe Shephard, Dylan Amin (Levi Robson 75), Nathan Mathias (Danny Hooper 81), David Lyons, Hywel Davies, Josh Spencer.
Goals: Josh Spencer 7, Jerome Actie 47, Danny Hooper 90, Levi Robson 93’
See how the eight-goal thriller played out here:
(Featured Image: Darren Griffiths and Mike James)
