Cambrian United maintained their position at the top of the JD Cymru South with a 2-0 victory over Aberystwyth Town at the M&P Group 3G on Saturday.
Cambrian found the breakthrough in the 24th minute as the division’s top scorer Liam Eason met a loose ball and fired into the bottom corner for his 19th league goal of the season.
Alex Bonthron’s header was denied by the post early in the second half, but the Rhondda outfit eventually put the game to bed late on as Josh Allen slotted home from Jack Fox’s cross to make it a 16th consecutive league game unbeaten for Liam Williams’ side.
Cambrian remain top of the table on goal-difference, narrowly above second-place Trefelin, who returned to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Cardiff Draconians at Lydstep Park on Saturday.
Trefelin took control of the contest thanks to quickfire strikes from Jasper Jones and Luke Bowen midway through the first half. Bowen added a third goal for the visitors on 63 minutes shortly before the Tref talisman completed his hat-trick to give Andy Hill’s side their ninth consecutive league win away from home.
Ammanford moved level on points with promotion rivals Caerau Ely with a 1-0 win over Baglan Dragons at the Rec on Friday night.
Ammanford thought they had taken the lead inside the first minute of the match as Chris Bell headed in from Charlie Davies’ corner, but a foul in the build-up meant the goal was ruled out.
However, the hosts eventually found the opening goal half an hour later as Dan John latched onto Adam Orme’s defence-splitting pass, rounded Matthew Stanton and slotted into an empty net for his 14th league goal of the season.
A strong defensive display from Ammanford in the second half ensured they made it three straight wins and kept their first clean sheet in over a month. Wyn Thomas’ side now only sit behind the promotion spots on goal-difference.
JD Cymru South
Caerau Ely missed the chance to restore their two-point lead inside the top three after playing out a goalless draw with bottom-of-the-table Cwmbran Celtic at Rhiw Dda’r on Saturday.
The Young Guns failed to threaten Celtic goalkeeper Iwan Hooper as much as they would have liked, with a frustrating result enough to keep them above Ammanford, who have a game in hand.
Although it was a first point for Celtic in over two months, their survival task is now extremely difficult after 15th-place Afan Lido claimed a 4-1 win over Llantwit Major at the Marston’s Stadium on Friday.
Major striker Jack Bevan continued his fine form by heading home from Connor Goldsworthy’s corner inside 13 minutes to open the scoring with his seventh goal in as many games.
However, Kofi Rowe was sent off for the visitors after two quick yellow cards at the start of the second half, ultimately awarding Lido a route back into the game as Liam Griffiths levelled the scoreline seven minutes after Rowe’s dismissal.
Johden De Meyer and Cameron Keetch both added their names to the scoresheet to give Lido comfort late on before Griffiths capped off a clinical second half display in stoppage-time as Lee Surman’s side eased their relegation fears.
Trethomas Bluebirds claimed back-to-back home wins with a 4-2 victory over Pontypridd United at the CCB Centre on Friday.
Jon Hood got the Bluebirds off to a wonderful start with his strike in the eighth minute, but Ponty were level 14 minutes later as Jack Jones scored from the penalty spot to bag a goal against his former club.
It was the Bluebirds’ turn to be awarded a penalty as Ponty goalkeeper Mike Lewis brought down Jack Shaw, who converted the resulting penalty.
An own goal from Alex Newman-Jones gave Ponty another equaliser, but the defender eventually made amends by scoring the goal to restore his side’s lead late on. Shaw set up Osian Rees in stoppage-time to ensure the hosts took all three points.
Treowen Stars climbed into the top half with an entertaining 3-2 victory away to Newport City on Friday.
Ellis Sage headed home the opening goal for Newport in the 11th minute after he was left unmarked from Richard Noyes’ corner, but the Stars were level on the half-hour mark as Dylan John powered his header from Gavin Meacham’s corner beyond Elliot Jones.
Cole Mace’s low effort into the far corner saw the Steelmen restore their lead on 71 minutes, but a goalkeeping mistake from Jones presented Carter Campbell with an open goal and an easy finish to bring the visitors level once again.
The Stars completed their comeback with nine minutes of normal time remaining as a neat team move saw Tom Gameson’s square ball travel through to Harvey Selway, who fired home at the back post to give his side back-to-back wins. Ben Murphy’s side are now up to eighth in the table, leapfrogging Newport in the process.
Carmarthen Town’s promotion hopes suffered a blow as they were held to a goalless draw with Ynyshir Albions at the LHP Stadium on Friday.
Both sides had their fair share of chances, but lacked a cutting edge as Carmarthen remain eight points adrift of the promotion spots with three games remaining, while Ynyshir have now made it four consecutive JD Cymru South games unbeaten for the first time ever.
Weekend results in full:
Afan Lido 4-1 Llantwit Major
Ammanford 1-0 Baglan Dragons
Newport City 2-3 Treowen Stars
Trethomas Bluebirds 4-2 Pontypridd United
Caerau Ely 0-0 Cwmbran Celtic
Cambrian United 2-0 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff Draconians 0-4 Trefelin
Carmarthen Town 0-0 Ynyshir Albions
