Hello and welcome back to my humble little blog. A belated Happy New Year and may I say a big thank all who take the time to read my words.
After a few week of misery suffering with a flu virus and also watching my beloved Everton flounder under the managerial prowess of 'Big Sam' Allardyce (no shots on target in three Premier league games) it was time to get back to watching some football where teams attempted to cross the halfway line and have shots at goal!When the draw was made for the Welsh Cup 4th round back in December, there was actually only the one tie which jumped out at me and that was Pontypridd Town versus Penydarren BGC. The romanticism of an all non-Welsh Premier tie, thus guaranteeing a lower level side in the last eight and, from a groundhopping perspective, a lovely new ground to visit.
The club stated that they had been trying to upgrade facilities at Ynysangharad Park for over 10 years but with the ground being in a public memorial park, the council rejected their plans. The club did look at the possibility of a groundshare with the rugby team before setting up home at the University, which also serves as the home of Cardfiff City academy. Some fans were not happy with the move claiming it takes the football club out of the town of Pontypridd, even though Treforest itself is part of Pontypridd.
The reason for the move is the club have ambitions to return to the upper echelons of Welsh football but there is no chance they will be allowed to progress in the grounds current form. There is a small seated stand on the halfway line but the ground has no hard standing or floodlights. It is also a lengthy walk to the changing room block. Speaking, albeit briefly, to a doyen of South Wales football he said long term there are plans afoot to move to a 3G pitch within the existing facility, which will meet all the criteria for promotion.
Pontypridd's old ground Ynysangharad Park
I set off on my long journey earlier than I needed to in order to give myself time to go and take some photographs of Ynysangharad Park (pictured above) in daylight as the last time I visited the ground it was on a Friday night, in 2005, when Pontypridd beat Gwynfi United 4-0 in front of a crowd of 202.
Going off topic briefly, Pontypridd also has a famous musical heritage as it was the birthplace of Evan and James James, the Father and Son who, respectively, wrote the words and music to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the national anthem of Wales. I was unaware of this fact until I spotted the memorial statue to them (pictured below) whilst walking through Ynysangharad Park en-route to the old ground.
Pontypridd is also the birthplace of Sir Tom Jones and with the appalling conditions that had battered South Wales the previous 24 hours, leading to the vast majority of games being called off, it was a bonus to see a game played on the green, green grass of home, though after trudging through the waterlogged outfield my boots may disagree!
There was a huge crowd present at USW Park, along with the cameras from S4C, and all present were treated to a thrilling cup tie.
Penydarren BGC, of the South Wales Alliance League, which sits two divisions below the Welsh League Division Two, of which Pontypridd are currently league leaders, travelled to Treforest for what they were billing as the biggest game in their history.
The team from Merthyr Tydfil, unbeaten so far this season, are already in the last eight of the Welsh Trophy and were attempting to cause an upset and reach the last eight of the Welsh Cup, but this would be their sternest test thus far.
They passed with flying colours. Hat-trick hero of the last round (versus Llandudno Junction) Chris Colvin-Owens was once again the star man as he bagged a brace to put Penydarren in the last eight.
On a very heavy pitch, the Miners were fastest out of the blocks putting the Pontypridd defence under enormous pressure. It was no surprise when Colvin-Owens gave Penydarren the lead after 12 minutes when he steered a cross home from inside the six yard box, the ball squirming over the line via the post. The large following, and I mean large, from Merthyr went absolutely wild.
The lead did not last long as within three minutes the home side were level. A cross from James Hill was headed into his own the net by Penydarren defender Alex Lloyd.
The game was end to end but you could clearly see the players were struggling with the sodden pitch as conditions underfoot were incredibly slippy. Nonetheless there were chances in the first have, mainly for Penydarren, but it was all square at the break.
Pontypridd began the second half on the front foot and nearly took the lead when Gavin Beddard's shot from distance came back off the post but it was Penydarren who got themselves in front on the hour mark when a cross found Owens unmarked at the back post and he made no mistake in firing home.
Penydarren then had two glorious chances to put the tie to bed but failed to take them. Ben Jones was played through but Pontypridd 'keeper David Burnett made a fine save and Nathan Williams was unable to convert the rebound. Then Jones crossed to an unmarked Williams but his shot went agonisingly wide, when it was probably easier to score.
However Penydarren were not made to pay for those missed chances and as Pontypridd began to fade, The Miners were able to see them game out. A thoroughly deserved victory for Penydarren who remain the only non-Welsh Premier League side left in the competition. They will travel north to Bangor City in the Quarter Finals. Who would bet against another giant killing?
