Leg-end Seals Point For Mardy

Having lost their last five games, a trip to play a Ponthir side who had won their last five looked a daunting task for a Mardy side missing several regulars as usual. However, the visitors turned in arguably their best display of the season and returned home with a well deserved point after a 2-2 draw.

Unsurprisingly as the form team in the division, Ponthir started the game well and knocked the ball about confidently only to come up against a resilient and well organised Mardy defensive unit. However, after weathering the opening phases of the game, the visitors began to look dangerous themselves with Liam Simmonds doing well to work his way into a shooting position before being foiled by home keeper Oliver Rosemeyer. Owen Vaughan was next to test Rosemeyer after winning the ball in midfield and taking it on before bringing another save from the Ponthir keeper. It was pretty much end to end at this stage of the game and Mardy keeper Kris Purnell did well to block a close range shot before Scott Watson completed the clearance. However, the home side took the lead after nineteen minutes when Tom Warren beat Purnell with a well struck shot from the edge of the area. Mardy then went close to equalising with a length of the field move finishing with a Levi Boulter cross that was half cleared to Simmonds who once again saw his shot saved by Rosemeyer. Nevertheless, the visitors weren't to be denied and, just after the half hour, more good play by Simmonds saw him gain possession and spot a run by Monty Squire who took the ball on before slotting home the equaliser. Mardy looked to be taking control at this stage and were retaining possession well and winning a lot of second balls with Charlie Morris almost putting them in front just before the interval when his goalbound shot struck Rosemeyer's leg and rebounded to safety.

Mardy started the second half well and took the lead only three minutes after the break. Dan Palmer held the ball up well throughout the afternoon and on this occasion, despite being hemmed in by two defenders near the corner flag, he managed to thread the ball through to Boulter who beat several defenders to make progress into the area and set up Simmonds who scored with a low shot into the corner. The goal spurred Ponthir into action and they began to press forward forcing several corners from the last of which Dan James headed an equaliser after 56 minutes. Pressure mounted as the home side looked to continue their recent winning run but Mardy defended resolutely with centre backs Watson and Dan Grist performing some last ditch heroics although the visitors continued to look dangerous themselves and looked to take advantage of Ponthir pressing forward. With the clock having moved into injury time and Mardy almost running on empty, it appeared that their hard work would amount to naught when a shot from a Ponthir attacker looked to be giving his team all three points only for Watson to divert the ball onto the bar and awayto safety with the player afterwards claiming that the save gave him leg-end-ary status. There was still time for one last Mardy attack with good work by Boulter teeing up Squire for a shot which went inches wide. The goal would have been due reward for the midfield players phenomenal work rate but the point gained by his team was a deserved reward for their display. This Saturday the team will be at home to bottom of the table Coed Ava Athletic.

Mardy Development Team also put in an improved display but went down 0-4 to high flying Glascoed. This Saturday they travel to play PILCS Reserves.