Mark Pike’s tenure as Goytre United manager started with a resounding victory over league leaders Pontypridd Town.
Tim Parker’s brace early in the second half got Goytre into a comfortable position in the game. Sam Johnson restored some hope for Ponty in the final 20 minutes, only for Jay Thomas to secure the victory for Goytre United with ten minutes left.
It was the home side who started strongest, coming mere inches from taking the lead after six minutes, when Gavin Beddard saw his header deflected onto the post.
For the rest of the first half, however, both sides had to settle for nothing more than a couple of half chances. The away side tested Pontypridd goalkeeper Morgan Davies when Adam Robbins headed a free kick towards goal, but Davies did well to parry wide. Jay Thomas also had a strike from range, but Davies got across to hold it comfortably.
At the other end, Drew Fahiya was at the end of a Pontypridd counter attack, but when faced with a one-on-one he blasted his effort well wide. Later on in the half, the winger thought he had put his side ahead, but the linesman had already flagged for offside.
A fairly lacklustre half burst into life in the final five minutes. Gavin Beddard saw his tame shot saved comfortably by Coughlin, but the goalkeeper had to work harder to deny Sam Johnson two minutes later. A cross was headed by Gullick towards Johnson, who then saw his close-range header tipped over the bar.
Goytre United had the perfect start to the second half when striker Tim Parker fired them into the lead. Parker got behind the defence to get onto the end of a through ball, and he kept his cool to slot it past Davies.
Parker doubled his tally and his side’s lead just ten minutes later. Jay Thomas showed great pace to break down the wing, and his cross was straight to the feet of Parker, whose deflected effort looped over Davies and into the goal.
Joe Pelosi showed great pace to get past Paul Morgan and had a chance to extend Goytre’s lead to three, but Morgan Davies was equal to his shot by saving it with his feet.
Coughlin repeated his point-blank save from the end of the first half to deny Pontypridd from getting back into the game. A corner fell to Sam Johnson, and a close-range header was again parried over by the goalkeeper.
However, there was nothing Coughlin could do to deny Johnson with 20 minutes left on the clock. Corey Jenkins did well to find space down the left-wing and his cross found Johnson, whose volley flew in, giving his side hope of snatching a result.
Pontypridd failed to use the goal as a springboard and they didn’t have much momentum, and in fact it was the away side who scored the final goal. Pontypridd were awarded a corner on 81 minutes, choosing to send goalkeeper Morgan Davies forward to try grabbing an equaliser. However, the corner came to nothing, and Goytre hit their opponents on the counter. Jay Thomas got onto the end of a long ball, and after spotting Davies off his line, he fired home a lob from outside the box which secured three points for his side.
Despite the result, Pontypridd have held onto the top spot, although their lead at the top has been cut to just two points. Goytre United have also kept themselves in the title race, now finding themselves just six points behind the Dragons.
Player of the Match
Scott Coughlin – Goytre United
Whilst Tim Parker will take plaudits for his clinical finishing, Coughlin deserves particular credit for two vital point-blank saves, as well as looking solid at the back throughout. Had Johnson’s first half header gone in, the momentum could have swung in Pontypridd’s favour and they may have gone on to score more. Centre-back Jamie Baker also deserves particular praise, doing well to clear a few Pontypridd crosses.
Line-ups
Pontypridd Town: (4-2-3-1) Morgan Davies; Paul Morgan (Corey Jenkins 63′), Shane Parry, Jordan Knott, Lee Baldock; James Saddler (James Bloom 86′), Jarrad Welch (Taylor Marsh 78′); Drew Fahiya, Aiden Lewis, Sam Johnson; Gavin Beddard (C)
Unused substitutes: Harry Irving, Vaughn Fowler
Goal: Sam Johnson 70′
Goytre United: (4-2-3-1) Scott Coughlin; Adam Robbins (Tito Anderson 78′), Jamie Baker, Sean Cronin (C), James Parry; Kyran Steadman, Elliott Thomas; Jay Thomas, Brad Flay, Joseph Pelosi (Liam Bishop 73′); Tim Parker,
Unused substitutes: Gwion Howell, Morgan Thomas, Keegan Ricketts
Goals: Tim Parker 47, 56, Jay Thomas 82′
Yellow cards: Kyran Steadman 27, Jamie Baker 64, Adam Robbins 68, Brad Flay 75′
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