A goal deep into stoppage time by Mark Jones saw us win 2-1 against a plucky Pontypridd Town side who belied their bottom of the table position with a display that should have seen them take the spoils but they spurned numerous golden opportunities and paid the price.

Pontypridd kicked off and immediately attacked with the ball going out for a goal kick which many thought was a corner. From the  goal kick Craig Jones found Mark Jones and he shot from outside the box but it was straight at the keeper. On 4 minutes Liam McCreesh played the ball wide to Noah Daley who in trying to beat the full back was pulled back and Lido had a free kick 15 yards out on the left. The ball was played into the area but headed behind for a Lido corner. Lewis Holmes met the corner perfectly but his header hit the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Pontypridd attacked left and won a throw which was taken quickly and from a good position they fired a shot wide. Liam McCreesh then played the ball wide for Chris Hartland who cut in and shot wide from just outside the box. On 18 minutes Mark Jones forced a diving save out of the Pontypridd keeper It was now Pontypridd’s turn to put pressure on the Lido defence but again their shots were off target. Noah Daley and Liam McCreesh were the victims of some physical challenges but both were able to continue. Another Lido attack saw Sacha Walters get to the byeline but his cross was cut out and the chance was lost. On 42 minutes a missed tackle on the left saw the ball crossed into the area and the header was cleared off the line. In their next attack Pontypridd won a corner which was headed goalwards and appeared to be going in until a Pontypridd player helped the ball on but only succeeded in diverting the ball over the crossbar.

In added time Craig Jones was booked for a foul just outside our area, the resultant free kick hit the wall and was cleared as the half time whistle sounded. Somehow the game was goalless despite numerous good chances for both sides.

We started the second half on the front foot with Craig Jones finding Chris Hartland but his shot from outside the area went wide. Noah Daley then closed down the keeper whose clearance went straight to Liam McCreesh but he was only able to shoot wide. Our passing was certainly improved in the early stages of the second half and on 55 minutes Mark Jones was played into the area but he could only shoot at the keeper. Pontypridd had a couple of throws near the edge of our area and a long ball into the box saw former Lido player Scott Hillman score against a static defence. It was almost two straight from the kick off, we lost possession and Rory McCreesh saved a 1 on 1 with his feet. In the 65th minute a repeat scenario saw Rory again save a 1 on 1. Lewis Holmes got his head to a long throw but it was straight at the keeper. It was beginning to look as if it wasn’t going to be our day, Noah Daley cut in, his shot beat the keeper but a defender cleared it off the line then Jack Hurley played the ball to Chris Hartland and his shot hit the post! We kept pushing forward and Chris Hartland fired a shot over the bar but on 77 minutes we got our reward, Cai Owens who had replaced Sacha Walters on 70 minutes played the ball wide to Chris Hartland, Chris played in a low cross, Mark Jones stepped over the ball allowing the supporting Liam McCreesh to score with a right footed shot.  We now pushed forward looking for a winner and Mark Jones was just unable to get to a Craig Jones through ball. With 5 minutes to go several players were involved in a move which ended with James Parry firing a shot over the bar. Again the Pontypridd keeper held a Lewis Holmes header as we entered added on time, Pontypridd were now conceding free kicks and trying to disrupt play as much as they could. Jack Hurley found space and fired a low shot at goal which again the keeper did well to hold. Just as it looked as though we would have to settle for a point up popped Mark Jones to win it in the 95th minute. Again, Chris Hartland had the ball wide right, he again played in a low cross which found Mark who seemed to take an age before slotting the ball past the keeper. There was still time for another Pontypridd attack which we cleared before the full time whistle sounded.

Rory McCreesh  2 Craig Jones  3 James Parry  4 Alex Gammond  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Jack Hurley  7 Liam McCreesh 8 Noah Daley  9 Mark Jones 10 Chris Hartland  11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Cai Owens for Sacha Walters 70 – 14 Jack Underwood – 15 Josh Webber for Noah Daley 78 – 16 Luke Evans 17 Jack Fleming

Toby Link-Jones scored his first goals for the Youth with Luke Evans and Morgan Freeman also on target in a 4-1 win over Bridgend Street. Once again, the weather played its part with a strong wind blowing off the sea and on times some torrential showers making it a difficult game in which to play. We played against the wind in the first half but coped quite well taking the lead on 22 minutes when Toby Link-Jones side-footed in a Jack Fleming corner. A minute later and Luke Evans headed in at the far post from a Jack Fleming free kick. Any idea we had that this was going to be easy was immediately knocked on the head when Bridgend Street pulled a goal back. It stayed like that until 71 minutes, as usual playing with the wind was no real advantage with passes being overhit. Then Morgan Freeman found a bit of space and his 20 yard shot gave the keeper no chance. A corner led to our fourth on 79 minutes, it was headed back out to Jack Fleming and his cross to the far post was met by Toby Link-Jones for his second. We safely saw out the game with no major concerns to keep our run going

The Development side earned a fine win at Llantwit Major by 3 goals to 2. They created several chances in the early stages with Toby Link-Jones, Connor Thomas and Morgan Freeman all going close in the first 15 minutes. Jonathan Triggs then hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the area. Despite all our positive play we went behind on 24 minutes when a left wing cross was headed in at the far post. Despite this setback the lads kept plugging away and earned their reward on 35 minutes when another Jonathan Triggs shot hit the crossbar but Kieran Howells followed up to head the ball into the empty net. From the kick off a fine run down the left by Morgan Freeman saw him play Jonathan Triggs in but his shot went just wide from outside the area.

We took the lead on 47 minutes, Kieran Parsons intercepted a crossfield pass and ran forward before shooting from the edge of the area. Llantwit Major equalised on 59 minutes following a corner. They appealed for a handball and our players hesitated allowing them the room to score. Play swung from end to end with Morgan Freeman and Connor Thomas working hard up front and they could have had a couple of goals but the final ball just wasn’t right. We regained the lead on 70 minutes when Morgan Freeman was pushed in the penalty area and he netted to the keeper’s left. With Llantwit Major pushing forward looking for an equaliser they left gaps at the back but despite some great work we just couldn’t score a fourth. However a very encouraging display with a number of youngsters impressing.

We welcomed back Mark Jones and he responded by volleying in the opening goal on 5 minutes.  Chris Hartland cut in on the byeline and delivered a perfect cross for Jonah. We didn’t push on from this allowing Taffs Well to have a lot of possession. However they didn’t make the best use of it until they hit the crossbar from a free kick on 25 minutes and then on 27 minutes equalised with a far post header. Mark Jones shot just wide on 32 minutes in our next meaningful attack but then on 40 minutes he restored the lead firing in at the far post following a Sacha Walters free kick.

The early stages of the second half imitated the first with Taffs Well again having an abundance of possession. On 66 minutes we had the chance to make the game safe when we were awarded a penalty but Liam McCreesh’s kick lacked power and was easily saved by the keeper. Three minutes later it was almost game over, Jack Hurley played a great ball inside the defender for Chris Hartland to run on and drill a left footed shot past the keeper from just inside the area. Jack Hurley was unlucky on 75 minutes when his first time shot hit the keeper and was cleared. We almost gave Taffs a lifeline on 89 minutes when we conceded a penalty but Rory McCreesh dived to his left to make a fine save. In added on time Mark Jones completed his hat trick when he was played through and he slipped the ball past the keeper.

Rory McCreesh  2 Craig Jones  3 James Parry  4 Alex Gammond  5 Lewis Holmes  6 Jack Hurley  7 Liam McCreesh  8 Josh Webber  9 Mark Jones 10 Chris Hartland  11 Sacha Walters

Subs  12 Cai Owens  14 Jack Underwood  15 Ben Thomas for Josh Webber 66  16 Jack Fleming for Sacha Walters 81 17 Luke Evans