In an entertaining game, both sides posed a significant attacking threat but it was Pony who held on for the victory.
The home side enjoyed plenty of early possession but failed to make any real impact on the gain line and were unable to breach the opposition 22.
Outside-half Dai Flanagan drilled over a penalty with eight minutes gone and as Cross Keys continued to infringe, he then repeated the act with a simple kick from in front of the posts.
Having shown plenty of aggression if not much finesse, Ponty had been well on top in the early exchanges but then retreated to soak up a phase of pressure. Cross Keys made good headway into the home 22 but failed to capitalise on an overlap wide out, eventually settling for a penalty kicked by replacement outside-half Dorian Jones.
Ponty responded with a concerted attack, instigated by a dynamic break by winger Lewis Williams and culminating in a penalty kicked by Flanagan. Keys then turned the game on its head with two opportunist scores in quick succession.
Centre Leon Andrews rounded off a sweeping foray down the flank, and winger Elliot Jones then touched down after a kick and rush counter. Dean Gunter converted both scores.
Ponty pressed forward, with Keys again reverting to infringing tactics and having lock Ollie Hodge sin binned in the process. Sustained pressure by the home side was then rewarded with points as Flanagan stroked over a close range penalty to bring up an interval score line of 12-17.
The home team set up a series of mauls and drives to advance into opposition territory as play resumed, allowing Flanagan to slot over a close range penalty. Cross Keys continued to stray off side, their prop Richard Cornock yellow carded and Flanagan putting over the ensuing penalty from near the half way line to edge his side into a one point lead.
Ponty were now in the ascendancy, winger Lewis Williams launching a kick and chase attack to score a try which Flanagan duly converted from a wide angle. The game was far from over though as Keys pressed towards the home line, shunting over from a five metre scrum for No. 8 Adam Powell to claim a try which Gunter converted.
The game was balanced on a knife edge going its final quarter, and keenly contested in the encroaching fog. As Cross Keys once more drove into the home 22, Ponty wing Lewis Williams intercepted to sprint clear for a dramatic try which Flanagan converted.
Ponty were just maintaining the edge, kicking for position and driving hard into the opposition defence, although Keys had a chance to strike back but Gunter pulled his penalty attempt wide. The home team responded with a foray at pace down the flank to regain the initiative. Going into injury time Ponty were still advancing, hooker Darran Harris leading a surge and scrum half Carl Thomas burrowing over for a last try to seal a hard fought victory.
