WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION 2
PONTYPRIDD TOWN ... 1 ABERBARGOED BUDS . 2
PONTYPRIDD Town were again undone at home for the second successive league game by a smash and grab raid by Aberbargoed Buds.
Buds went ahead 2-0 within the first 10 minutes through in-form Scott Armitage and a David Burnett own goal although Scott Armitage can take credit for both and Pontypridd again had a mountain to climb in a similar situation to the previous league game against Garden Village.
Both Ponty and the Buds came into the game having both disposed of First Division opposition in the guise of Cambrian and Clydach and Port Talbot the previous weekend in the Welsh Cup.
However it was the Buds who looked the more dangerous and determined in the first half.
Pontypridd seemed to lack any zeal in a lacklustre first half in which the Dragons looked nothing like pre-season promotion favourites.
Although they came back very strongly in the second half, a mixture of weak finishing and good goalkeeping kept the score at 2-0 until with 10 minutes to go the introduction of Gavin Beddard and Jamal Easter finally changed the game enough in favour of Pontypridd to allow a late goal back.
James Hill and Danny Hooper both made determined runs for Pontypridd with no little acts of skill but in the end the Buds held on for a 2-1 victory that lifted them above Pontypridd in the table.
Pontypridd dropped to fifth with a difficult game against Risca away next Saturday.