In a crucial game in the relegation battle, Pontypridd United scored two late goals to claim a vital point against Aberystwyth Town, who could not hold on to their lead with just six minutes to go in the Cymru Premier clash at Park Avenue.
It was a fairly slow start in the early kick off at Park Avenue, with neither side having many chances early on in Mid Wales.
Both teams had a very direct tactical style in the first half, with the ball in the air for a large amount of the first half, as both sides looked to make use of their aerial presence in attack.
Pontypridd were having a lot of luck with their direct play, with Ben Ahmun the target up top. The target man won his fair share of the ball in the air.
Jack Karadogan received the first booking of the game after 15 mins for intervening with Matt Turner’s goal kick in the Aber half.
The first real chance came after Ash Morris’ ball from a drop kick went straight over the Aber backline into Ahmun, but it was well defended by the Seasiders as the ball was cleared away for a corner.
The visitors’ skipper Clayton Green was booked for a very late challenge on Aber midfielder Harry Arnison, giving the home side a free-kick on the left side which would come to nothing.
Seasiders striker John Owen had a chance at the back post from Billy Kirkman’s cross, however it was a difficult angle to head on target.
Midway through the first half Aber Town had a big chance to go in front. Niall Flint kept the ball in play on the left and beat his man on the byline to fire across to Jonny Evans, who fired a shot just over the bar.
Aber continued to pile on the pressure with crosses into the Pontypridd area. However, the Dragons defended well on most occasions.
With Aber taking the game to Ponty, the visitors changed their game plan with more of their play on the floor, whilst also changing to direct passes at times.
Pontypridd had a goal disallowed in the 35th minute for the ball going out of play from a corner, after a scrappy affair in the box, which Ponty eventually tapped in.
Ahnun continued to cause problems for Aber, drifting out wide at times whilst also playing a target man role.
Just before half time, Aberystwyth Town took the lead in what was arguably against the run of play. A ball was played over the top to Niall Flint who volleyed at goal, which was saved well by Morris. However, his save fell straight to Jonny Evans who tapped the ball home to give Anthony Williams’ side the lead going into the break.
Pontypridd made a substitution at half time, with Danny Williams coming on for Karadogan, who was on a yellow card from earlier on.
Aber started the half positively after their opening goal, with good pressing early on high up the field, with Ponty losing possession near their box.
Pontypridd were creating chances from counter-attack’s with Aber’s high press, with the Dragons struggling to keep possession early on in the second half.
Niall Flint picked up a yellow card for a mistimed challenge in Ponty’s half, after the midfielder slipped whilst pressing his man.
The visitors had another goal disallowed in the 62nd minute, with substitute Williams having a goal from close range disallowed for offside.
Aber right-back Liam Walsh was taken off for Mark Cadwallader after the former Barry Town United man suffered an injury moments before.
Ponty started to respond better with around 20 minutes to go, with the visitors finding much more space out wide to put in crosses, yet to still failed to threaten the Aber Town box on many occassions.
Aber continued to push for a second goal and finally found it in the 73rd minute through substitute Cadwallader. A clever corner from Kirkman low to the front post was flicked on by Cadwallader past Ponty goalkeeper Ash Morris to put Aber 2-0 up at Park Avenue.
The visitors began to get frustrated after Aber’s second, with Cardiff loanee Tom Davies pulling back Johnny Evans down the right, earning himself a yellow card.
Arnison found himself through on goal just moments later on, however a good sliding challenge by Jarrad Wright ensured he was stopped.
That challenge would be pivotal to what happened next, as Ponty got a goal back with ten minutes to play.
A shot from outside the box was parried by Turner, allowing Owain Jones to tap home to give Ponty hope in the closing stages.
The Dragons gained momentum after the goal, piling on pressure late on at Park Avenue.
Despite their efforts, Aber regained their two-goal advantage on Saturday afternoon through the substitute Cadwallader once again.
The striker got on the end of a brilliant ball by Johnny Evans, and fired into the bottom corner inside the box to give the Seasiders what looked like a comfortable victory.
However, the action was far from over, with the last six minutes bringing a key moment in the relegation battle in the Cymru Premier.
Pontypridd responded instantly to Aber’s third goal, as they claimed yet another goal back against the Seasiders. A flick on from a long throw from the right found Davies in the box, who fired a shot into the top right corner to give Ponty another lifeline.
Despite Aberystwyth’s efforts to see out the game, Pontypridd found a dramatic equaliser late on at Park Avenue.
A cross in from the left was headed home by substitute David Vincent into the bottom corner to give Ponty a point in the last minute, in what is a crucial moment in the relegation battle in the Cymru Premier.
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