Ynyshir Albions continued to show their resilience in the Novira Cymru South as Cole Baker’s dramatic stoppage-time goal rescued a 2-2 draw with Carmarthen Town at the LHP Stadium on Saturday.
Teenager Adam Cartwright found the opening goal for Ynyshir in the 53rd minute, but stunning strikes from Hari Jones and Jaime Rickard quickly turned the game on its head.
It seemed any hopes of an equaliser for Ynyshir were out the window when Jago Norton was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, but there was late drama as Baker popped up in the third minute of stoppage time to earn a point. Craig Hughes’ side are unbeaten in five out of their first six league matches, while Carmarthen are now winless in their last four games.
Novira Cymru South leaders Pure Swansea moved a point clear at the top of the table with an emphatic 4-0 win over Pontardawe Town at Swansea Bay Sports Park on Friday.
The Swans took the lead inside just five minutes thanks to their captain Jacob Lund, who scored his first goal of the season. Bradley Gibbings doubled the advantage early in the second half with another clinical finish to give the hosts breathing space.
Kyle Copp bagged a late brace to fully wrap up all three points for the league leaders as he headed home from Lund’s cross before poking the ball past Nat Osborne at full stretch. Jack Midwinter’s side are now the only side yet to be beaten in the Novira Cymru South this season.
Aberystwyth Town climbed up to second in the table with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Caerphilly Athletic at the CCB Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
Aberystwyth found themselves two goals to the good with just 19 minutes on the clock thanks to Aaron Williams’ brace. Dan Owen’ cross was parried straight into Williams, who poked home from five yards out before Owen’s shot from outside the area took a slight deflection off Williams, which proved enough to divert the ball into the net.
Caerphilly improved in the second half and were rewarded for their pressure as Fin Skiverton escaped his marker and fired in from Izaac Follon’s cross before he met Will Toms’ and powered his header past Luke Evans to make it two apiece.
Aberystwyth’s squad depth proved crucial though, as substitutes James Smallwood and Tarran Hollinshead combined for a well-worked winning goal. Smallwood pressed down the left hand side and skipped past two Caerphilly defenders before his cross found 18-year-old Hollinshead, who curled home his first goal for the club to restore the lead late on.
Aber captain Liam Walsh was sent off in the 88th minute for a second bookable offence, but the Seasiders survived late pressure to claim their fourth straight win.
Afan Lido became the first team to beat Pontypridd United as Liam Griffiths’ penalty sealed a 1-0 win at the USW Sports Park on Friday.
Pontypridd forward Kofi Rowe saw his curling effort from distance denied by the crossbar in a goalless first half, but it was who Lido found the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half as Griffiths converted from the penalty spot after he was fouled inside the area.
Ethan Edwards and Evan Cadwallader missed glorious chances to keep Ponty’s unbeaten run intact, while the Dragons would also finish the match with 10 players as Liam Angel was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time following his foul on Cameron Keetch. A first away win of the season for Lido lifted them into the top half, while Ponty dropped to fourth-place having been second before kick-off.
Caerau Ely moved into the top half and kept their first clean sheet of the season as Ben Stait’s side triumphed 3-0 against Llanelli Town at Cwrt yr Ala Road on Friday.
Tim Parker got things rolling for Caerau with his goal on 10 minutes before late strikes from substitutes Dan Griffiths and Jaden Bahumaid ultimately put the game to bed.
Both sides finished the game with 10 players as Griffiths and Llanelli defender Jackson Hall were both shown straight red cards for an altercation in stoppage time.
Llantwit Major claimed their first Novira Cymru South point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Treowen Stars at Bush Park on Saturday.
Major opened the scoring in the 14th minute as Tom Tweedy met Connor Goldsworthy’s pinpoint first-time cross and headed beyond Shaun Gardiner at the near post.
The Stars levelled the scoreline five minutes before half time though, as captain Christian Davies converted from the penalty spot.
Treowen defender Joe Evans was shown a straight red card shortly after the hour mark, but Gardiner remained on top form for the rest of the match to ensure the hosts remained third in the table.
Cardiff Draconians secured consecutive victories with an action-packed 2-1 win over Baglan Dragons at Lydstep Park on Saturday.
Novira Cymru South
The Dracs had the chance to take an early lead as Kieran Parsons’ foul on Sam Cawley inside the area resulted in a penalty and a straight red card for the Baglan defender. Luke Gullick stepped up to take the penalty, but he fired his spot kick over the bar.
Toby Jones punished Gullick’s miss by putting the Dragons ahead with a deft lob over Harry Johnson five minutes later, but the Dracs were back on level terms in first half stoppage time as Keegan Saunders guided his header into the top corner from Myles Corson’s cross.
The Dracs completed the turnaround six minutes after the restart as Jordan Pike’s clearance to block Dan Bowen’s cross fell only as far as Haben Samson, who slammed home the loose ball. Efu Kazadi was dismissed for the hosts when he was sent off for a second bookable offence, but Nana Baah’s side held on to secure all three points.
Friday results in full:
Pontypridd United 0-1 Afan Lido
Pure Swansea 4-0 Pontardawe Town
Caerau Ely 3-0 Llanelli Town
Newport City P-P Trethomas Bluebirds
Caerphilly Athletic 2-3 Aberystwyth Town
Carmarthen Town 2-2 Ynyshir Albions
Cardiff Draconians 2-1 Baglan Dragons
Treowen Stars 1-1 Llantwit Major
