REPORT: PONTYPRIDD UTD 1-3 ATFC

Aber Town thrilled their fantastic away support once again on Saturday with a 3-1 away win over third-placed Pontypridd United in the Novira Cymru South. Liam Angel scored an own goal to give the visitors the lead after seven minutes, and Tomos Evans doubled the advantage on 55 minutes. Jack Bevan reduced the arrears two minutes later, but Aber held on and Novira Cymru South joint top scorer Aaron Williams sealed the win with a breakaway goal, scoring with the last kick of the game (90+6 mins) to cement the Black and Greens' second-place position.

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Credit: Darren Griffiths

On a balmy afternoon in Treforest, Clayton Farrah fired over for Ponty from a corner, but then Rhys Lewis surged through for Aber and, when his low effort rebounded off the post, Angel fumbled the ball into his own net to gift the visitors the lead. Town’s huge away support, again numbering 40 or 50 in South Wales, cheered on their side and a rather messy game ensued. Farrah nodded wide from a corner, then Dan Owen forged a path down the middle and laid the ball off for Lewis, whose low shot was inches wide. Angel tried to redeem himself with a looping header, but Town Player of the Month Luke Evans gathered the ball comfortably in goal. Town survived a series of corners and then Owen burst through thrillingly, but his cross was gathered by Edward King in the home goal. Ponty survived a couple of free kicks from Leo Thompson late on, and Aber went in a goal to the good.

This was, in truth, a tight game and a one-goal lead always looked insufficient, with the hosts threatening from set pieces. At the other end, Dillon Browne and livewire substitute Tarran Hollinshead had shots blocked, but then Thompson sent in another cultured free kick, Browne nodded it back across the box and Tomos Evans snaffled up his third goal of the season from close range. However, Aber never do it the easy way and, just two minutes later, Kofi Rowe sent in a cross from the left and Bevan halved the deficit, again from close range, to set up a nervy second half.

Williams curled a superb effort against the crossbar which just evaded Hughes, then was again denied at the near post from Hollinshead’s cross. Jamie Veale clipped the crossbar with a snapshot for Ponty, before Ben Davies sent an effort over the bar at the other end. Ethan Edwards flicked an attempt wide for the hosts, then substitute Gruff Sedgwick tested King with a header from Davies’ cross. Evans saved Eli Phipps’ effort from close range, and Aber survived a number of late set pieces, with Phipps heading the best opportunity wide from Veale’s corner. Into injury time, substitute James Smallwood ran 70 yards up the pitch and fed Williams, who just missed. Birthday boy Harry Cotham made two great clearances late on, then Town’s Man of the Match Ben Davies broke from a corner, ran the length of the pitch and touched the ball to Williams to clinch the game with the last kick of the match, sending the Black and Green tifosi into raptures.

The comfortable scoreline belies a close game at the USW Sports Park this afternoon, but Craig Williams’ men deserve great credit for earning an excellent result away to the Novira Cymru South’s third-placed team without ever really playing their absolute best. The Seasiders now stand a point shy of Pure Swansea at the top of the table and face Caerau Ely at home next Saturday (KO 2.30pm). Join us!