Second half goals from Michael Waters and Ian Jones ensured we returned with the three points. We had missed several good opportunities in the first half but fitness told in the second half and it was just a matter of keeping a clean sheet. 

There was a league debut at centre back for Shaun Morgan and he made some important interceptions and tackles and he can be pleased with his debut. Early in the first half we attacked down the left and crossed to Shaun Best but he was crowded out and unable to get a shot on target. Pontypridd then broke and crossed in and they had a free header which went straight at Leon Cosker. From Leon's clearance Damon Thomas picked up the ball, made ground and shot. Not for the only time in the game the ball hit the ref and was picked up by the Ponty defenders. 

Just before the quarter hour Ponty had a corner, Leon Cosker just got a touch on it, the ball was picked up by Dan McGrath who made ground and fed Ian Jones who from outside the box shot inches wide of the right hand upright. In the opening twenty five minutes we gave too many free kicks around the penalty area and this was Ponty's main chance of scoring. An example was the lack of understanding between Karl Lewis and Leon Cosker. With only one attacker giving chase Karl and Leon left it to one another just outside the area. Between them they conceded a free kick which was headed inches wide. On twenty five minutes we had a free kick just outside the Ponty area, Ian Jones took it and their keeper Chris Golton did well diving low to his right to turn away Ian's shot for a corner. Ponty then came back and had a couple of corners which caused us some anxiety before we had a free kick on half way just after the half hour. Michael Waters played a short ball to Karl Lewis who made ground down the left cut inside and shot. Once again the Ponty keeper dived low to his right to turn the ball away for a corner. On 33 minutes we should have been one up, Michael Waters picked up the ball in the centre circle and beat player after player drew the keeper and chipped it over him but unfortunately it went inches wide. It would have been goal of the season without a doubt. 

Two minutes later Ponty had a free kick 30 yards out, the shot beat the wall and Leon Cosker fumbled it but managed to recover before the ball crossed the line. On 38 minutes Shaun Best found himself in space 35 yards out, he turned and headed for goal but as the keeper came out he tried to take it around him rather than shoot and the chance was lost. Kieran Howells replaced the injured Damon Thomas on 51 minutes and two minutes later we took the lead. We had a throw on the right in line with the penalty area. Steve Davies took it and threw to Michael Waters who was completely unmarked 15 yards from goal. He turned and fired an unstoppable left footer into the net. 

On 55 minutes we had another throw in the same position, Kieran Howells played it in to Ian Jones who netted however it didn't count as Ian was ruled offside. Ponty's challenge was not as strong in the second half and it was a case of us getting a second to close out the game. That second came on 68 minutes when Kieran Howells won the ball just inside our half, he fed Corey Thomas who had replaced Shaun Best on the hour. Corey beat the offside trap and closed in on goal, the keeper saved Corey's shot but only succeeded in palming the ball into Ian Jones's path. Ian with the keeper on the floor and hardly a challenge from the home side footed home from 10 yards. 

5 minutes later it was almost 3-0, Corey Thomas fed Steve Davies down the right, Steve cut in towards goal and shot from just outside the area. His left footer screamed past the keeper but hit in post and flew away towards the corner flag. Corey Thomas was first to react but he was fouled, Ian Jones heading the free kick just wide of the post. With just over 10 minutes to go Steve Davies went down the right and passed to the unmarked Corey Thomas but a defender got back to knock the ball out for a corner. Steve took the corner and the keeper punched the ball out of the area but straight to Michael Waters twenty five yards out. Michael made ground beating a couple of defenders and from just inside the area hit another left footer past the keeper giving him no chance. 

We played out the final 10 minutes, Steve Davies and Ian Jones had half chances but other than a Ponty corner which Daniel Williams cut out and cleared Ponty's challenge had gone.

Lido side:  Leon Cosker  Karl Lewis  Damon Thomas  Dan Williams  Justin Williams  Shaun Morgan  Steve Davies  Dan McGrath  Shaun Best  Ian Jones Michael Waters

Subs: 
12 Corey Thomas for Shaun Best 59
14 Kieran Howells for Damon Thomas 51
15 Chris Latham for Dan McGrath 83

Bookings:  Dan Williams 45 - Michael Waters 57

Report by Peter Reynolds.