Pure Swansea maintained their narrow lead at the top of the Novira Cymru South with a 3-1 victory over Caerphilly Athletic at the Swansea Bay Sports Park on Saturday.
The Swans tested Cassius Tanhai with some early chances before eventually finding the breakthrough in the 26th minute thanks to Tom Johnston, who scored his first goal since returning to the club.
Kyle Copp doubled the lead on the stroke of half time with a calmly converted penalty after the forward was fouled inside the area. Danny Williams then put the Swans firmly in control five minutes after the restart with a sweetly struck effort from outside the area for his first goal of the campaign.
Caerphilly substitute Elliot Humphries pulled a goal back for the away side six minutes later, but the Swans saw out the remainder of the match to keep their unbeaten streak intact.
Second-place Aberystwyth Town continue to sit just one point behind Pure Swansea as the Seasiders triumphed 3-1 against Pontypridd United at USW Sports Park on Saturday.
Aberystwyth opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a stroke of luck as Rhys Hughes’ effort struck off the post and ricocheted back into the net off Liam Angel, who could not do much to prevent the ball from trickling past Ed King. Aberystwyth defender Tomos Evans then established a two-goal lead for the visitors with a close range strike 10 minutes into the second half.
Jack Bevan prodded in from Kofi Rowe’s cross to give Pontypridd an immediate lifeline, but Aber ensured they took home all three points in stoppage time as Ben Davies raced up the pitch and unselfishly squared the ball for Aaron Williams, who bagged his sixth goal of the season with a simple finish.
Pontardawe Town moved out of the bottom three with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Trethomas Bluebirds at the CCB Centre on Saturday.
Jay Thomas gave the Bluebirds an early sixth minute lead, but Pontardawe found themselves in front heading into half time thanks to Chris Jones’ penalty and Josh Dorward’s fourth goal in two games.
17-year-old defender Jenson Stone opened up a crucial two-goal cushion for the visitors late in the day before Thomas bagged his second goal of the afternoon to quickly half the deficit. However, Ponty survived the late scare to pick up their first away win of the season.
Dion Facey scored a dramatic 95th minute winner to clinch a 2-1 victory for Ynyshir Albions against Treowen Stars at Bush Park on Saturday.
Treowen’s Jac Evans scored his first goal for the club to cancel out Jago Norton’s strike for the visitors as both sides went into the break level.
It seemed likely that the match would end in a draw as the clock ticked into the fifth minute of stoppage time, but Facey came off the bench to give Ynyshir a memorable away win. The Buns have still only lost just one match this season and are now on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Llantwit Major claimed their first away win of the season as they came from behind to beat Carmarthen Town 2-1 at the LHP Stadium on Friday.
Lewis Reed put Carmarthen ahead in the 15th minute by heading home from Harri Jones’ cross, but Major were level on the half-hour mark as Adam Roscrow produced a clinical finish into the net via the post for his sixth goal in three games.
Major completed their turnaround 12 minutes into the second half as Tom Tweedy brought down a chipped pass from the left-hand side, and executed a powerful strike beyond Lee Idzi. Major are now just one point adrift of moving out of the bottom three, while Carmarthen are now winless in their last four Novira Cymru South home matches.
Baglan Dragons also staged an impressive comeback as they earned a 2-1 victory over Llanelli Town at Stebonheath Park on Friday.
Novira Cymru South
Llanelli found an early breakthrough in the 11th minute thanks to Ethan Morgan’s first goal for the club. Baglan had the chance to equalise shortly after the hour mark, but Tom Davies failed to convert from the penalty spot.
The Dragons eventually found a way past Joe Massaro with 10 minutes remaining though, as Toby Jones set up Latvian forward Andzejs Dubjaga. Jones was the provider again, this time for Tom Davies, who completed a stunning late turnaround to secure an immediate return to winning ways for the Dragons.
Caerau Ely secured their fourth consecutive Novira Cymru South win and moved up to fourth in the table with a 2-0 victory over Afan Lido at Cwrt yr Ala Road on Friday.
Lewis Harling put Caerau in front on 48 minutes as he controlled Liam Bishop’s cross well inside the area and picked out the bottom corner on the turn for his third goal in two games.
Zack Maher gave the Young Guns comfort with 19 minutes of normal time remaining in what was almost a carbon copy of the first goal as Bishop delivered a teasing cross into the area, with Maher running in to nod the ball past his former teammate Exauce Dimonekene to wrap up all three points.
Nothing could separate Cardiff Draconians and Newport City in a 1-1 draw at Lydstep Park on Saturday.
The Dracs broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through Dylan Amin, who met Dan Bowen’s threaded pass and produced a clinical first-time effort beyond Alex Harris before the Steelmen levelled the scoreline early in the second half as Jake Wilson’s header looped over Harry Johnson.
Sam Cawley had the perfect opportunity to put the Dracs back in front when Harris’ foul on Brandon Thomas inside the area resulted in a penalty, but Harris redeemed himself and denied Cawley from the spot.
Jonah Williams thought he had found a late winner for Newport in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside and both teams were forced to settle for a point.
Weekend results in full:
Caerau Ely 2-0 Afan Lido
Carmarthen Town 1-2 Llantwit Major
Llanelli Town 1-2 Baglan Dragons
Trethomas Bluebirds 2-3 Pontardawe Town
Pontypridd United 1-3 Aberystwyth Town
Treowen Stars 1-2 Ynyshir Albions
Pure Swansea 3-1 Caerphilly Athletic
Cardiff Draconians 1-1 Newport City
