AFC Porth 1-4 Pontardawe Town: Dorward brace downs dismal Black Dragons
Pontardawe Town made the perfect start to their Ardal Leagues campaign as they put AFC Porth to the sword with a 4-1 victory at Dinas Park.
Joshua Dorward netted a brace inside five minutes before Joshua Roberts and Jordan Langley scored with five minutes to go before the end of the first half.
Substitute Ieuan Shepherd netted what was ultimately a consolation goal in a slightly improved performance in the second-half but ultimately Anthony Stokes’ side took home the plaudits for their pulsating first-half display.
From the outset, Pontardawe caused the home team problems. Dorward found Langley in the box and Bodger was forced into some early work.
Callum Dolman then rattled the post for the visitors as his swept shot almost brought them an early lead.
Porth were penned into their own half and failing to move the ball into the final third meanwhile the Swansea-based club were enjoying plenty of freedom on both flanks.
Two key chances came to Pontardawe to break the deadlock. Charlie Coates was denied at point-blank range after Langley’s pass before striker Josh Roberts put wide a shot just past the post on the rebounded effort.
Just after twenty minutes had elapsed, Pontardawe got the first goal that they had thoroughly deserved. Steve Berry threaded a ball through to Dorward who curled a shot past Bodger in his one-on-one.
Dorward was at the double moments later with a different kind of finish. The Porth defence stood off the ponytailed forward to turn his marker out and brush power home his strike.
To add to Porth’s woes, full-back Jack Weaver was replaced by Shepherd after being forced off with an injury.
The Porth defence was continuing to be opened at will and Langley again forced Bodger into action after being nicely put through from a back heel from Roberts.
Nathan Wiggins’ long-throw was Porth’s best weapon. It created a half chance for Kevin Richards’ side as Shane Davies shot at Steven Reeve.
Wiggins though would have to watch on as Pontardawe pulled further in front. Beating the offside trap, Coates jinked his way into the box and set up Roberts for the easiest of finishes.
Shortly after, Pontardawe profited on some lazy defending to give themselves an unassailable lead. Jordan Langley punished Jordan Jones by dispossessing him in possession and drilling home his shot.
Emerging from the second-half, the men from the Rhondda nearly fell further behind as Callum Dolman’s shot bounced off the post. Langley, already on one goal, also hit the post after finding a pocket of space on his wing.
A frustrated figure in the first-half, Dean Raven had Porth’s best chance of a goal but he was unable to turn his effort goal-wards.
On the hour, Josh Roberts should have had a second as he tried to dink a shot past Bodger but the keeper stood tall and Hayward was unable to turn home on the rebound.
Ieuan Shepherd provided a moment to celebrate for the home faithful as he got on the scoresheet to ensure Porth wouldn’t go scoreless. The midfielder found himself on the edge on the box and his shot flew past Steven Reeve after a deflection.
Moving into the final quarter, full-back Myles Perkins found himself going on two marauding runs. Perkins’ nearly scored from this spell with a near miss, as well as nearly causing an own goal for Wiggins as he cut out a testing cross.
No further fightback was to come from Porth as the game faltered out in the final ten minutes with Pontardawe leaving the Rhondda with the win.
AFC Porth: Tomos Bodger, Jordan Jones, Jack Weaver (Ieuan Shepherd, 31), Connor Berry (Andrew Hargreaves, 78), Nathan Wiggins, Charlie Fripp, Callum Richards, Scott Badman, Dean Raven (Dylan Jones, 69), Shane Davies (C), Matt Humphreys.
Goals: Ieuan Shepherd 64′
Substitutes not used: Dylan Jones, Jonathan Howe
Pontardawe Town: Steven Reeve, Matthew Richards, Myles Perkins, Samuel Balla, Steve Barry, Craig Davies (C), Charlie Coates, Callum Dolman, Joshua Roberts, Joshua Dorward (Tom Blizzard, 79), Jordan Langley.
Goals: Joshua Dorward 22, 26, Joshua Roberts 40, Jordan Langley 43′
Yellow Cards: Jordan Langley 68′
Substitutes: Tomos Blizzard, Thomas Grey, Finley Capel, Gabriel Kircough, Garry Taylor.
