WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
ABERDARE TOWN ........ 1 PONTARDAWE .............. 1
A TELEGRAPH pole fire in the locality, with a resultant power cut had put paid to Town’s midweek fixture with Briton Ferry but there were no such alarms as they kicked off in bright sunlight against visitors, Pontardawe.
However, rather than an electrical fire it was Aberdare’s lingering flames of hope of an immediate return to the top flight that were extinguished on a blustery afternoon.
Two dropped points and other results in the division mean at least another season in Division 2 with the recurrent theme again evident of a surfeit of possession but an inability to convert the chances that come with it.
The experienced central defender Matthew Flynn made his debut and was the undoubted man of the match with midfielder Luke Jones continuing his excellent form.
The first quarter was a messy affair with the only incident of note seeing the visitors’ Rob Shannon booked by referee Jack Welch, following an elbowing incident with Flynn, resulting in the debutant with blood streaming down onto his shirt temporarily leave the field with an ear wound.
Aberdare’s threat was coming exclusively from Rob Blatchford runs and crosses but it was Pontardawe who took the lead after 37 minutes when sloppy marking and covering saw Josh Dorward, who has a habit of scoring against Aberdare, did it again, firing home unmarked from 10 yards.
Town should have equalised minutes later as Elliot Morris stabbed wide with the target gaping after a goalmouth melee. Aberdare began the second period in the ascendancy and it was no surprise when the equaliser arrived.
Elliot Morris was robbed of the ball in the penalty box but bravely regained possession finding Ross Daniels who steered home.
But Morris’ efforts came with great cost as he was forced to leave the field with what appeared a serious knee injury to be replaced by Johnny Chappell.
He was soon in the thick of it setting up Luke Jones who thundered his shot against the cross bar.
Jones was again in the mix, this time at the other end to thwart Shannon as he aimed to pull the trigger, enabling Aberdare keeper Clint Forbes to gather safely.
Jason Henley was producing his usual stable, unfussy performance and his colleagues in the back line Flynn, Powell and Jordan Coles were in cruise control.
As the game entered its final throes, Aberdare manufactured several chances with a Luke Jones effort well held by keeper Dion Carroll and a Josh Powell header flying over.
This Wednesday evening, with a 7.30pm kickoff, sees a home fixture with Swansea-based West End when Town will be looking to capitalise on their undoubted creative abilities by converting them into goals.