Pontypridd United ended their three game losing streak beating Haverfordwest County 2-0 at the USW Sports Park.
A looping header from forward Joe Hunt on the 10th minute followed by a first time strike by Jack Karadogan on the 73rd was enough to earn all three points for the Dragons.
County midfielder Tyrese Owen was shown a red card after his second booking for a physical altercation with United’s Kieran Lewis.
United manager Andrew Stokes was visibly happy with his sides win whilst speaking to Sgorio, he said
“I thought we were excellent, absolutely excellent from the first minute, we controlled the game, it was nervy at times second half but we got there.”
The result sees United rise above County to ninth in the table whilst the Bluebirds sit in 10th place just outside the relegation zone.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side. Full back Luke Cummings done well to get down the right hand side and deliver a cross, but forward Joe Hunt could only send the ball over the bar whilst stretching to reach it.
But it was a Cummings cross again that created the first goal for the home side. He delivered another fantastic cross in to the box and it was Hunt who managed to get on the end of it again. This time his header looped over the County keeper and in to the back of the net.
It appeared that Cummings managed to get himself on the scoresheet after beating Aidan Macnamara to a through ball and rounding the keeper to tap home. But the defender was ruled to have fouled Mcnamara leading to the goal being disallowed.
The collision between the two lead to an injury to the County man and he was replaced by Oscar Borg after 23 minutes.
The Dragons continued their pressure and again come close to a second. A cross from Kieran Lewis dropped for defender Keston Davies was pushed wide by Ifan Knott.
The first chance for the away side came from a corner on the 28th minute. The cross delivered by Daniel Hawkins was comfortably collected by George Ratcliffe.
County midfielder Tyrese Owen was the first to go in to the book after he was carded for a professional foul stopping a counter attack for the home side.
The home side has calls for a penalty after a well worked corner routine led to Hunt being bundled over in the box. The referee waved away the appeals though to the disappointment of the home support.
United come close again just before half time. A great piece of combination play between Jack Karadogan and Corey Shephard seen Karadogan played through. He attempted a strike with his left foot but it sailed wide of the goal.
With neither side managing another goal the home side went in at the break with a one goal lead.
The first chance of the second half fell the way of the away side. A long throw dropped to the feet of midfielder Owen. His first time shot at goal was saved well by Ratcliffe who reacted to push the ball over.
County almost scored from the resulting corner but the United defence managed to clear the ball off the line.
County midfielder Kai Whitmore was replaced on the 53rd minute by youngster Harri John. He appeared to injure his ankle in a collision with a United player.
The away side come close to an equaliser just five minutes later. Midfielder Owen done brilliantly to break through midfield before playing Borg down the left hand side. His cross found Hawkins in midfield but he only managed to flick the ball in to the hands of the keeper from close range.
Tempers began to flare after an altercation between County’s Owen and United’s Kieran Lewis
Owen was shown a second yellow card for a push in the face that seen the away side down to 10 men on the 67th minute. Lewis was shown a yellow card for his involvement.
Despite going down to 10 men the away side still looked dangerous as they pushed for an equaliser.
But it was the home side who got the second of the game. They worked the ball down the left hand side where Hunt created a crossing opportunity. His cross found Karadogan on the six yard box and his first time strike beat the keeper to extend their lead.
County attacker Hawkins almost got a goal back for his side after some brilliant individual play. He picked the ball up on the left side of the box before beating a defender to race in to the area. He struck well across the face of goal forcing a great save from Ratcliffe who parried the ball to safety.
United almost added a third in added time as Hunt broke through on goal again. He was well denied by Knott in the opposing goal though.
The home side saw out the remainder of the game and picked up all three points to end their losing run.
Pontypridd United – George Ratcliffe (GK), Luke Cummings (Owen Pritchard 86’), Keston Davies, Ben Williams-Margetson, Jordan Knott, Corey Shepard, Kieran Lewis (Kurtis Rees 82’), Jarrad Wright (C), Joe Hunt, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson (Danny Williams 46’), Jack Karadogan
Goals: Joe Hunt 10’ Jack Karadogan 73’
Yellow Cards: Kieran Lewis 67’ Jordan Knott 90+1’
Haverfordwest County – Ifan Knott (GK), Rhys Abbruzzese, Ricky Watts (C), Kai Whitmore (Harri John 53’), Daniel Hawkins, Lee Jenkins, Tyrese Owen, Aidan Macnamara (Oscar Borg 23’), Jack Wilson (Rio Dyer 86’), Kayden Williams-Lowe, Luke Tabone
Goals:
Yellow cards: Tyrese Owen 29’ 67’
Red Cards: Tyrese Owen 67’
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