Aberystwyth Town rescued a late point against Pontypridd United with a dramatic 96th minute equaliser from goalkeeper Matthew Turner.
The stakes were high in Saturday evening’s televised match between relegation-threatened Pontypridd United and fellow strugglers Aberystwyth Town. What turned out to be a scrappy affair started slowly, with the first half-chance of the match falling to Jonathan Evans. Evans, who scored a decisive 93rd minute bicycle kick in Town’s crucial win over Flint Town United last time out, latched onto a poor clearance from Ponty, but failed to capitalise after an excellent recovery from Pontypridd defender Jordan Knott.
Aber were forced into an early change when right-back Louis Bradford was taken off with what looked to be a hamstring injury. Ponty piled on the pressure, with striker Ben Ahmun playing off of the shoulder of the last man and stretching the backline. A major chance came when Ahmun expertly controlled a fantastic over-the-top through ball from United midfielder Iwan Lewis and prodded the ball past oncoming Aber keeper Turner, only to be thwarted by a goal-line clearance from young Aber defender Jack Thorn.
United’s pressure soon paid off when Ponty’s teenage wing-back Thomas Davies made a run into the centre of the box to nod fellow wing-back Kieran Lewis’ delightful cross home and give the valley side a well deserved lead.
Town allowed Ponty to dominate possession, and sitting off Ponty caused further issues when Ahmun forced Thorn into another goal line clearance. Ponty’s chance came when Town keeper Turner was caught in two minds from a long Ponty ball which their talisman found himself on the end of, but an unfavourable angle for Ahmun made Thorn’s job to clear simple in the end.
Town started the second half off strongly, with the ball falling to Town striker John Owen who struck the ball cleanly but was denied brilliantly by United keeper George Ratcliffe down to his right. Aber could not keep up the strong start and the game lulled until Amhun latched onto a loose pass from the Town defence and attempted to round Turner, who closed the striker down quickly at his feet. The ball rebounded to United number 7 Danny Williams whose effort was cleared off the line, this time by Aber’s Billy Kirkham.
Aber pushed forward in the last 15 minutes, the highlight of their chances being Owen’s back heel attempt from a corner. It was Ponty who had the chance to put the game to bed, but their rapid counter attack was thwarted with great work from Aber substitute Jake Canavan who then gave the ball back to Davies. Turner produced a superb save from Davies’s shot, keeping the game alive.
Aber’s resilience had looked to be in vain until the last kick of the game when Town keeper Turner sent the travelling green army into raptures in the stands. A corner was cleared as far as Thorn, whose left footed strike was prodded home by the unlikeliest of scorers, rescuing an unlikely point from the brink of defeat.
Pontypridd head to Pembrokeshire in their next fixture against Haverfordwest County AFC whilst Aberystwyth host bottom of the table Airbus UK Broughton FC. Both teams will look to build on recent good form and ensure survival in the Welsh Premier League.
Pontypridd United FC: George Ratcliffe (GK), Luke Cummings (64’), Jordan Knott, Danny Williams (78’), Ben Ahmun, Kieran Lewis (89’), Kurtis Rees, Jarrad Wright, Clayton Green, Ben Williams, Thomas Davies
Substitutes: David Vincent, Owain Jones, Harrison Bright
Yellow Cards: George Ratcliffe, Luke Cummings, Clayton Green
Aberystwyth Town FC: Matthew Turner (GK), Louis Bradford (17’), Jack Thorn, Jonathan Evans (74’), Iwan Lewis, John Owen, Niall Flint, Harry Arnison, Liam Walsh, Alex Darlington (39’), Billy Kirkman
Substitutes: Sam Litchfield, Steffan Davies, Jake Canavan
Yellow Cards: Harry Arnison, Billy Kirkman
Goals: Thomas Davies (33’), Matthew Turner (90+6’)
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