LATE DOUBLE BRINGS HOME THE POINTS

ABER VALLEY  0      PONTYCLUN     2

Pontyclun travelled to Abertridwr on an unseasonably warm and sunny afternoon to take on strugglers Aber Valley FC.

Aber Valley got proceedings underway and the first chance fell to Pontyclun in the opening minutes when a firm shot from Aled Davies on the edge of the area was spilled by the Aber Valley goalkeeper straight to Alex Smith but the Pontyclun forward could only send his effort straight at the opposing custodian.

Eight minutes in the home team had their first opportunity of the match when following a move down the right a home forward eluded the challenge of Matthew Trigg before getting in a low shot at the near post which Pontyclun keeper Andrew Ringsell did well to get down low and block the effort with his feet.

With chances very much at a premium for both sides it was Pontyclun who came close to taking the lead in the 18th minute when the ball was played to the onrushing Matthew Trigg on the left hand corner of the Aber Valley area but the Pontyclun full-back sent his effort just wide of the right hand post.

The home team’s best chance to open the scoring came in the 25th minute when Pontyclun keeper Andrew Ringsell spilled a shot but fortunately Lewis Miller was on hand to clear the danger.

As the half wore on it was Pontyclun who were enjoying more and more and more of the possession. However, the nearest they came to scoring was in the 33rd minute when a Matthew Trigg free-kick on the edge of the Aber Valley area was just pushed to safety by the home goalkeeper. This proved to be the last significant effort of the half and the interval arrived with the teams tied at 0-0.

  The opening phase of the second period was a very tame affair with Aber Valley perhaps enjoying the better of the exchanges. As the minutes ticked by the play became increasingly scrappy as neither side really looked like breaking the deadlock.

However, with the travelling Pontyclun contingent becoming increasingly frustrated with their team’s inability to break down the tiring home team it was Pontyclun who finally took the lead in the 77th minute. The ball was played to substitute Tom Haley on the left hand side of the Aber Valley penalty area. The Pontyclun player swivelled and turned and sent in a firm effort which crashed against the underside of the Aber Valley crossbar and looked to have rebounded to safety. However, Pontyclun’s Ethan Jones was on hand to pick up the ball on the right hand side of the area and hammered it into the net.

Three minutes later Pontyclun doubled their lead. The ball broke to Pontyclun substitute Oli James on the right hand side of the Aber Valley penalty area and he sent in a pearl of a shot which curled around the Aber Valley goalkeeper before nestling in the net.

These two goals in quick succession knocked the stuffing out of Aber Valley and as the minutes ticked by it was Pontyclun who were very much in the ascendency. In the closing minutes Pontyclun substitute Richard Lau caused the Aber Valley defence all kinds of problems with his pace. However, despite chances falling to Richard Lau, Tom Tweedy and Aled Davies, Pontyclun were unable to increase their lead and the referee’s whistle sounded with Pontyclun winners by 2 goals to 0.