As the dust settles on Pontypridd United’s comeback win over Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Genero Adran Leagues promotion play-off, manager Claire O’Sullivan has hailed her side’s resilience.
After conceding two quick goals at the end of the first half, things looked bleak for the Dragons, but O’Sullivan always had the belief that her team could turn things around.
“It feels amazing. To come back from being 2-0 down at half time, which probably came against the run of play as well, I was a little bit concerned. We knew we had to score three goals to win the game, but as soon as we came out and scored early, I thought if we got the next one that there would only be one winner.”
Pontypridd United 3-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
It could’ve been so different for Ponty. On a number of occasions in the first half they were denied by Molly France, but for defender Lucy Jones, she was disappointed with how they acted towards the end of the half.
“We knew as a team we didn’t perform well in that first half. We switched off for ten minutes at the end of the half, but we had to make tactical changes and the break and we knew the odds were against us. But I believe in this team and when we put our minds to something, anything is possible.”
Believe they did, and Ponty rallied to turn things around. Shannon Hindmarsh, Nicole Fenton and Quianna Wheeler scored the all-important goals to seal promotion, and for captain Hindmarsh, the feeling of seeing the third goal go in was indescribable.
“We never make it easy for ourselves! When we came back out, we knew we had to change the game. Once we got the one goal, we kept fighting and we got over the line. I’ve got no words to describe when that third goal went in. We had to get the belief back, and once that first went in, I knew we would do it.”
And what a moment it was for Hindmarsh, who was making her first appearance for the club since October, to score with her first touch after coming on as a substitute at half-time.
“I’m so pleased for Shannon,” O’Sullivan said. “This was the first squad she had been in since October when she picked up a really bad knee injury. She’s been working so hard to get back into the squad, but she’s the club captain and she always leads by example.”
Meanwhile, it was the perfect send off for Maddie Williams, who has skippered Pontypridd in Hindmarsh’s absence this season but will be departing in the summer.
“We’re losing Maddie next season because she’s moving away, but that’s the way you leave a club,” O’Sullivan added. “It was all very emotional at the end, but we’re over the moon.”
While there is excitement about what next season could hold, for Jones, all the focus for Ponty is on celebrating and coming back against all the odds.
“We’re looking forward to being back in the Adran Premier and playing against some of the biggest sides in the country again, but for now, we’re going to go and celebrate and enjoy ourselves.”
