Jack Thorn’s red card for Aberystwyth was “harsh” according to Pontypridd United manager Gavin Allen.
Aber’s captain Thorn was given his marching orders for bringing down Owain Jones in the 77th minute just outside the box. Both sides had to settle for a point as the match finished goalless. Allen felt the sending-off was soft but said he could acknowledge where the referee was coming from.
“Personally, I thought it was a bit harsh,” he added after the match at USW Sports Park on Tuesday night.
“I understand why he’s given it. It’s unfortunate for them because he’s going to miss the last two games.”
The draw in South Wales means Ponty sit in the 11th position and occupies the second and last relegation place with 22 points, two points behind the Seasiders with two games left of the Cymru Premier season.
In a game of few changes, it was Ponty who had the opening chance in the 21st minute. Ethan Vaughan’s towering run down the left-hand side saw the left back cross towards the back post.
He found Clayton Green but his header was superbly saved by Town’s number one Dave Jones and with the ball falling to Owen Pritchard, the midfielder could only head the rebound against the crossbar.
At the other end, Aberystwyth’s John Owen saw his shot whistle past the far post, after the forward combined well with Liam Walsh. But it was the hosts who had the best opportunity of the night in first-half stoppage time.
Pritchard’s fantastic cross found Green inside the box but Ponty’s captain could only head wide, much to the disbelief of the home supporters, as the match went into half-time all square.
Aberystwyth came out of the second half more organised and reinvigorated as Jake Canavan stung the gloves of George Ratcliffe. Town substitute Steff Davies then saw his shot cleared off the line by Jarrad Wright, with the rebound falling to Jon Evans, who saw his low-driven effort pushed away excellently by Ratcliffe.
But with 13 minutes to go the game’s main talking point took place. A long ball was played forward to Jones, but he was fouled by Thorn just outside the box after the visitors captain was adjudged to have pulled his shirt and Griffith had no hesitation to show the defender the red card.
From the resulting free-kick Jones stepped up and looked to bend the ball into the bottom corner but his strike was excellently pushed away by Jones. Despite six minutes added on no one could find a winner as both sides came away with a point in Treforest.
“There wasn’t much between us in the first half,” Allen added.
“I thought we got the ball down to play a little and better at keeping possession. We didn’t create much, the same as them. There wasn’t much between both teams.
“Second-half, of course, there was a huge change with the sending off. We must have put 16, or 17 balls into the box but unfortunately, we just couldn’t create.
“I’ve just said to the boys there’s too many people in the box, when you put too many people in the box it gets a bit difficult to create your own space and people are in the way more than anything else. “We haven’t lost and we look forward to Saturday.”
Pontypridd United
George Ratcliffe, Ethan Vaughan, Keston Davies, Ben Williams-Margetson, Ben Ahmun, Kieran Lewis (Luke Cummings, 68), Luke Gullick (Owain Jones, 68), Jarrad Wright (Jack Karadogan, 86), Owen Pritchard, Ryan Bevan and Clayton Green (C).
Yellow Cards: Jarrad Wright 59,
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