Three Aberystwyth Town players who made the difference in hard-fought Pontypridd United win 

Aberystwyth Town produced a disciplined and hard-working display to come away from Pontypridd with a valuable three points in the Cymru South.

Liam Angel’s own goal put the visitors ahead after Rhys Hughes struck the post, before Tomos Evans doubled the lead. Jack Bevan quickly pulled one back for Pontypridd, but Aberystwyth stood firm under pressure before Ben Davies set up Aaron Williams to seal the win with virtually the final kick.

It was not a game short of pressure, with Pontypridd pushing for a way back into the contest and Aberystwyth having to defend their advantage for long spells. But the visitors showed their quality when it mattered, combining stubborn defending with a dangerous threat on the counter.

There were standout performances across the Aberystwyth side, with some of the less heralded members of the squad making a particularly important contribution.

The result was ultimately shaped by those moments of quality, whether it was a set-piece delivery, a crucial defensive intervention or the composure to exploit space when Pontypridd committed men forward.

Here are three Aberystwyth players who made the difference at USW Sport Park, plus an honourable mention for a substitute who made an immediate impact.

Leo Thompson

Thompson’s delivery from set pieces was a constant weapon for Aberystwyth and ultimately played a decisive role.

His inch-perfect free-kick created the second goal, giving Pontypridd’s defence a difficult situation to deal with before Tomos Evans got the final touch.

He continued to cause problems with his delivery as the game wore on, providing Aberystwyth with a reliable route forward even when Pontypridd were applying pressure.

Ben Davies

Davies was a constant outlet for Aberystwyth and showed his importance when the game opened up in the closing stages.

He worked hard without the ball and helped give the visitors an attacking option when they looked to break away from Pontypridd’s pressure.

His biggest contribution came right at the end. With Pontypridd committed forward, Davies was allowed to run into the box before keeping his composure to square for Aaron Williams, who finished from close range to seal the win with virtually the final kick.

It was a fitting contribution from a player who had worked hard throughout and, as Aberystwyth’s manager pointed out afterwards, was one of the team’s “unsung heroes” alongside Harry Cottam.

Harry Cottam

The defender was a commanding presence at the heart of the Aberystwyth defence and played a big part in keeping Pontypridd’s attack under control.

Cottam did particularly well to contain Jack Bevan, one of the more clinical finishers at this level, restricting him to scraps for much of the afternoon. Bevan did eventually score, but was replaced shortly after.

The centre-back stood firm when Pontypridd applied pressure and was part of a back line that remained disciplined throughout.

The defender also produced two tremendous blocks late on to deny the hosts as they pushed for an equaliser.

That resilience proved just as important as Aberystwyth’s threat on the counter, with the visitors eventually breaking forward one final time before Aaron Williams sealed the win with virtually the last kick of the game.

And Aberystwyth’s manager was in agreement, highlighting the work of Cottam as well as the impact of those coming off the bench.

“There are a few unsung heroes in the group,” he said.

“There are a few lads that don’t get the mention for the work they put in. I thought those two (Ben Davies and Harry Cottam) were really good today, and everyone else really put in a shift.”

Honourable mention: Tarran Hollinshead

Hollinshead deserves a mention for the impact he made after coming off the bench at half-time.

Brought on after Aberystwyth were forced into two changes, he added energy and purpose down the left and gave Pontypridd another problem to deal with as the game opened up.

His contribution was also recognised by the Aberystwyth manager, who said Hollinshead was “really good” after being introduced and highlighted the strength of the squad’s substitutes.