Novira Cymru South top two Pure Swansea and Pontypridd United played out an enthralling 4-4 draw at Swansea Bay Sport Park on Friday night.
Remarkably, there was only one first half goal as Dan Ingram put Pure Swansea ahead just before the break by finishing clinically after Bradley Gibbings struck the crossbar.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 56 minutes when Jordan Hughes was sent off for a handball offence in the box, with Jack Jones scoring the resulting penalty to equalise for Ponty. The visitors completed a quickfire turnaround just two minutes later as Kofi Rowe found the net.
The drama was only just beginning though, as Kyle Copp scored twice to put Pure Swansea back in front – the second of which was a penalty – before Casey Coughlin netted to make it 4-2 to Jack Midwinter’s side with only nine minutes left on the clock.
However, Ponty refused to be beaten. Clayton Farrah pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute before popping up again deep into stoppage time to score a dramatic equaliser as both sides dropped points for the first time this season.
Baglan Dragons made it three consecutive wins by triumphing 3-1 over Caerau Ely at Evans Bevans Playing Fields thanks to Tom Davies’ hat-trick.
All four goals came in a frantic 27-minute spell in the first half, with Davies scoring in the 11th and 25th minutes to put Baglan two goals ahead.
Caerau Ely, in their first game under the guidance of new manager Ben Stait, pulled a goal back just after the half hour mark through Tim Parker, but Davies completed his hat-trick six minutes later and that ultimately proved enough to earn three points for the hosts who climb to fourth in the table.
Trethomas Bluebirds recorded their first win of the season in style as Norton Ferreira’s hat-trick inspired them to a 5-2 home victory against Afan Lido.
The Bluebirds made a rapid start to the contest as goals from John Clarke and Jay Thomas put them into a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes. Jack Pascoe pulled a goal back for Lido on the half hour mark, but Trethomas’ two-goal cushion was restored shortly before the break by Ferreira.
The Portuguese native scored again four minutes into the second half to further tighten the hosts’ grip on the game, before completing his hat-trick on 71 minutes. There was a late Lido consolation from Johden De Meyer, but the points had been long wrapped up for Trethomas.
Novira Cymru South
The points were shared on derby day between Llanelli Town and Carmarthen Town, as the two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Stebonheath.
Carmarthen took the lead inside nine minutes through Liam Thomas, but Llanelli turned the game around to lead at half-time as summer signing Nathan Crisan scored twice – first from the penalty spot and then firing home on the rebound after a shot struck the post.
The Reds, who remain without a win this season, held the lead until second half stoppage time when former Llanelli man Ryan Bevan smashed in an equaliser against his former club. Bevan received a second yellow card in the aftermath to be sent off, while Luke Cummings suffered the same fate as Carmarthen finished the contest with nine men.
Aberystwyth Town made it back-to-back wins for the first time since February as they triumphed 1-0 over Pontardawe Town at Park Avenue.
There may only have been one goal in the game but it was a stunner as Dan Owen let fly from distance just before half-time, scoring what proved to be the winner for Craig Williams’ side.
Ynyshir Albions won for the first time since the opening weekend as they earned an impressive 1-0 victory away at Newport City.
The decisive goal came just after the hour mark as teenager Dion Facey found the net for the Rhondda side. Newport City’s Kai Steadman struck the crossbar with a header late on, but Ynyshir held on for all three points.
Friday results in full:
Treowen Stars P-P Cardiff Draconians
Baglan Dragons 3-1 Caerau Ely
Llanelli Town 2-2 Carmarthen Town
Newport City 0-1 Ynyshir Albions
Pure Swansea 4-4 Pontypridd United
Aberystwyth Town 1-0 Pontardawe Town
Trethomas Bluebirds 5-2 Afan Lido
