Pure Swansea v Pontypridd United: Talking points as shares spoiled in eight-goal thriller
Clayton Farah rescued a late point for Pontypridd United. (Pic by Jamie Edwards/FAW)
Pure Swansea and Pontypridd United both saw their 100% records ended as the sides shared eight goals at Swansea Bay Sport Park.
The Dragons twice came from two goals down, with a brace from defender Clayton Farrah preserving their unbeaten start.
Daniel Ingram put Swansea ahead before Jordan Hughes was sent off, allowing Jack Jones to equalise from the resulting penalty. Kofi Rowe then turned the game around for Pontypridd, only for Kyle Copp to score twice and put the hosts back in front
Casey Coughlin further extended their lead before Farrah struck for the second time to complete the comeback and ensure the points were shared.
The two remain in the top two of the Cymru South after Carmarthen Town dropped points against Llanelli Town
A game of two halves
The old adage rang true at the top of the Cymru South, as the top-of-the-table affair proved cagey in the first half, with Dan Ingram’s strike to make it 1-0 to Pure Swansea the only moment of note in the opening period.
A red card, two penalties and seven goals saw a second half that was indicative of the standard of the Cymru South this term.
Jack Midwinter will see this game as two points dropped, as his Pure Swansea side led 4-2 with less than 10 minutes to go, despite being down a man following Jordan Hughes’ red card for handling the ball in the penalty area. Matthew Driscoll might also be disappointed to share the spoils, as Ponty failed to fully capitalise on their numerical advantage.
The Late Late Show by Clayton Farrah
The centre-back was the hero for Pontypridd as he netted twice in the closing stages to salvage a point for Ponty.
Farrah, who has been selected to represent the Cymru regional squad, may be disappointed with his side’s defensive efforts, especially conceding on three occasions after Pure Swansea were reduced to 10 men. But he is sure to take solace from the fact he rescued Ponty’s unbeaten record with his two late strikes.
Having signed this summer from Newport City, the 29-year-old is a leading figure in the early-season form with Ponty sitting level on points with Pure Swansea, who still lead after tonight’s draw.
Pure Swansea react to red card with triple sub
After Jack Jones dispatched the penalty awarded after Hughes handled the ball in the penalty area, it took just two minutes for Pontypridd to make use of their numerical advantage, with Kofi Rowe finding himself unmarked in the box and netting from close range to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
Finding themselves 2-1 down in a crucial clash, Midwinter made a triple change, with Harvey Chapman, Morgan Wright and Ricky Kerr entering the play. The changes proved pivotal for Pure Swansea, as within 10 minutes they had regained the lead thanks to a brace from the experienced Kyle Kopp.
The wide man showed his quality as he netted twice to send Pure Swansea into the lead and back to the top of the table.
Both teams profited from strong wing play
The first period saw a plethora of speculative long balls, with no real end product from either team. It was clear to see that this was a game neither side wanted to lose.
From the stands, it was evident that if either team were going to get anything out of the game, both sides needed to utilise the quality they had on the flanks.
It was indicative of the quality of the wide players on the pitch that their contributions made up the majority of the attacking output in the second half, with Ethan Edwards notching two assists for Ponty alongside Copp’s brace for Pure Swansea.
A Cymru South classic
Two teams with real quality produced performances that both managers will look back on with adoration, with neither side letting up until the final whistle, when it was clear just how out on their feet some of the players were.
Pure Swansea remain top of the table, but only on goal difference, as Pontypridd United equal their current tally of 13 points.
With only one automatic promotion spot available, both teams will be looking to better the one point gained tonight in their next fixture.
Neither team plays again until September 11, when Pure Swansea take on Pontardawe Town and Pontypridd host Afan Lido, as several players in this fixture are selected for Gruff Harrison’s Cymru Regional Squad.
