Goals from Owain Jones and Ben Ahmun was enough to see Pontypridd United claim their first ever victory in the Cymru Premier, beating Aberystwyth Town 2-1.
Jones scored in the first half and Ahmun in the second, as Ponty put in a professional performance at the USW Sport Park. Alex Darlington scored five minutes from time, but it wasn’t enough for the Green and Black Army.
The result sees Ponty rise up to ninth in the table, while Aber drop to tenth.
After a tentative opening ten minutes, the game was bought into life by two quick chances for Aberystwyth.
First, Harri Horwood made some great progress down the wing before cutting the ball back to Alex Darlington in the area, but the striker dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post.
A minute later, a Ponty defensive mishap almost gifted Aber a goal. A sliced clearance fell to the feet of Sam Phillips, who found Iwan Lewis free in the area. Luckily for the hosts, James Saddler was alert and produced a great block on the line to deny the Aber number eight.
From that corner, Ponty’s captain Clayton Green cleared the ball upfield and found Lewys Twamley. Twamley found himself one-on-one with Lewis Webb, but the on loan Newport County man couldn’t curl his effort enough to find the bottom corner, and the scores remained level.
But they were only level for another six minutes, as Ponty scored their first Cymru Premier goal in the 25th minute. A cross from Luke Cummings found Owain Jones, and the Dragons striker powered it off the crossbar to put the home side one up.
Ponty built on their goal and had a few more chances through Twamley and Joseph Evans, but some good last-ditch defending from Aber kept the deficit to one goal as both teams headed into the halftime break.
The majority of the second half was a low-tempo affair. Ponty happy to sit back and keep their lead, while Aber didn’t do much to test them.
The introduction of Ben Ahmun 20 minutes from time changed the game for Ponty, as five minutes after coming on he doubled their lead.
Twamley put in a cross from the wing, which Ahmun originally missed, but it led to pinball in the area as Aber couldn’t clear their lines. Eventually, Daniel Williams backheeled it back to the substitute, who prodded it off the post and into the back of the net.
Aber did rally back and got one back five minutes from time. A corner wasn’t cleared properly by Ponty, leaving Darlington to get his head to the ball, and it wormed in somehow past Ashely Morris, and it was game on in the closing stages.
Aber had chances in added time. A Sam Litchfield header and a Iwan Lewis volley all flashed past the same post, but Ponty held on to gain all three points to the delight of their fans.
Both sides are involved in the midweek round of fixtures. Ponty travel to Cardiff Met, while Aber take on TNS at Park Avenue.
Player of the Match: Lewys Twamley
Twamley showed his class today and was a nightmare for the Aber defence all day. If he stays fit and continues this form, Ponty will have an excellent chance at staying up
Pontypridd United: Ashley Morris (GK), Luke Cummings, James Saddler, Jordan Knott, Daniel Williams (Corey Jenkins, 75’), Lewys Twamley, Joseph Evans, Jarrad Wright, Joe Hunt, Owain Jones (Ben Ahmun, 69’), Clayton Green (C)
Unused Subs: Morgan Davies (GK), Oliver Dalton, James Bloom, Corey Jenkins, Aaron Hillier
Goals: Owain Jones (26’), Ben Ahmun (75’)
Yellow Cards: Clayton Green (58’)
Aberystwyth Town: Lewis Webb (GK), Louis Bradford, Sam Litchfield, Jack Thorn (C), Iwan Lewis, Niall Flint, Sam Phillips, Charley Edge (Jonathan Evans, 78’), Harri Horwood, Ben Erickson, Alex Darlington
Unused Subs: Leigh Jenkins (GK), Thomas Rimmer, Philip Perry, Cameron Allen, Jamie Jones, Harry Arnison
Goals: Alex Darlington (85’)
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