Talgarth Town off to a winning start
The Royals prove too strong for Pontypridd
Talgarth Town launched their South Wales Women's League First Division campaign with a 3-1 victory over Pontypridd AFC at the King George V Playing Fields.
The teams had shared the spoils at the end of last season with a 2-2 draw and the latest meeting was another highly-competitive encounter.
The Royals broke the deadlock after four minutes when Caitlin O'Shea ran on to a Kristy Rea through ball before finishing past the advancing Hazel Boyd in the Pontypridd AFC goal.
The advantage was doubled 11 minutes later when Jade Perry fired a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area after being picked out by O'Shea.
The visitors halved the deficit in the 34th minute when Talgarth Town goalkeeper Meg Ryan denied Brook Morgan with her legs, but Kate Hughes was on hand to score from the rebound.
The Royals regained their two-goal buffer in the 61st minute after breaking quickly from defending a corner.
O'Shea played in Molly Ikin, who found the back of the net to secure a winning start to the new season.
Pontypridd AFC were reduced to 10 players before the match resumed after Hughes was shown a red card for comments made towards referee Paul Curtis.
Talgarth Town could have extended their lead in the closing stages, but they had done enough to make a winning start to the new campaign.
The Royals will be looking to build upon their opening day victory when they travel to newly-promoted Llangynwyd Rangers on Sunday.
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