Pontypridd United moved top of the Novira Cymru South with a convincing 4-0 victory over bottom side Llanelli Town at USW Sports Park on Friday.
Pontypridd scored two quick goals midway through the first half to take control of the contest as Ethan Edwards continued his fine form in front of goal before captain Jamie Veale found the net for the first time this season.
Edwards bagged his 10th league goal of the season in the 65th minute to put the Dragons in a commanding position before youngster Josh Stephens got in on the act to wrap up a convincing display. Defeat for Llanelli in Lee John’s first game since returning as manager leaves them bottom of the table and 10 points adrift of safety.
Pontypridd finished the weekend in top spot as Ynyshir Albions triumphed 4-2 against Pure Swansea to inflict a first loss of the season on the previous leaders at the Ynyshir Oval on Saturday.
There were three goals scored in a frantic opening 10 minutes in the Rhondda as Joseff Haig put Ynyshir ahead, only for the Swans to edge in front thanks to strikes from Casey Coughlin and Tom Johnston.
Kai Crossley equalised for Ynyshir close to half time before club veteran Scott Jones, who was making his 300th appearance for the Buns, converted from the penalty spot to complete an epic turnaround. Haig’s second goal of the afternoon ensured Ynyshir collected all three points and moved to within just five points of new leaders Pontypridd. Ynyshir did finish the game with 10 players though, as substitute Dre Griffiths received a straight red card, while defeat for the Swans saw them drop three places.
Sam Johnson remarkably scored a hat-trick for the third game in a row as his latest treble saw Newport City climb out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Llantwit Major at the UWL Stadium on Saturday.
Johnson scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes to immediately put Newport in control. Tom Tweedy halved the deficit for Major three minutes later, but Johnson completed his hat-trick shortly before half time to restore the Steelmen’s two-goal cushion as the striker built on his recent hat-tricks against Pontypridd and Carmarthen Town in league and cup competition respectively.
Newport’s Keanu Marsh-Brown was sent off for a second bookable offence before Major pulled a goal back once again, this time through Tom Stokes. Despite those two quick setbacks, Newport held on to take home all three points and move out of the bottom three, leapfrogging Major in the process. All of Newport’s three league wins this season have now come on the road.
Aberystwyth Town climbed up to second-place with a 2-1 comeback victory over Trethomas Bluebirds at Park Avenue on Saturday.
The Bluebirds found an early seventh minute breakthrough courtesy of Jonathan Hood, who met Osian Rees’ cross and fired home at the back post, but his opener was cancelled out nine minutes later as Aaron Williams headed in from Leo Thompson’s corner to bring Aberystwyth level.
It was another corner from Thompson which led to Aberystwyth’s winning goal six minutes into the second half as the teenager’s delivery found captain Liam Walsh, who produced a clever flick past Ryan Idzi. Aberystwyth goalkeeper Luke Evans remained solid between the sticks for the remainder of the match as the Seasiders bounced back to winning ways in the Novira Cymru South.
Pontardawe Town also came from behind to claim victory as second half goals from Liam Samuel and Jesse Meacock sealed a 2-1 win over Carmarthen Town at Parc Ynysderw on Saturday.
Ryan Bevan’s superb strike had Carmarthen a goal to the good at half time, but Pontardawe responded in the second half, with Samuel equalising just one minute after the restart.
Ponty’s winning goal came in bizarre fashion seven minutes after Samuel’s leveller as 17-year-old Meacock swung in a corner which flew directly over Lee Idzi. Meacock has now contributed to seven goals in his last four league fixtures for Pontardawe, who move a point clear of the bottom three, meanwhile Carmarthen are winless in their last five games in all competitions.
Third-place Caerau Ely maintained pressure at the top of the table as Dan Griffiths’ strike proved decisive in a 1-0 win over Caerphilly Athletic at the CCB Centre on Friday.
Griffiths’ winning strike came on the half-hour mark as he received the ball from Owen Bancroft, shaped himself onto his right foot on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful low drive into the bottom corner.
Caerphilly’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Cassius Tanhai made a stunning reflex save to deny Liam Bishop’s deflected header and keep his side in the contest, but the hosts were unable to find a way past Harry Irving as the Young Guns secured their third straight away win.
Cardiff Draconians bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Afan Lido at the Orange Llama Stadium on Saturday.
Novira Cymru South
Dan Bowen found the breakthrough for the Dracs in the 18th minute as he did well to keep possession before he cut inside and fired low past Exauce Dimonekene.
Harry Treharne scored the crucial second goal for the hosts 10 minutes into the second half. Lido defender Jamie Baker tried to block Myles Corson’s cross from the right, but the loose ball fell kindly for Treharne, who sent a clinical first-time effort into the bottom corner. Nana Baah’s side held on to keep their first clean sheet on home soil this season.
Treowen Stars climbed into the top half with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Baglan Dragons at the Evans Bevans Playing Fields on Friday.
Both teams went into the final 15 minutes of the match still goalless, but up popped Tom Hillman to score his sixth goal of the season late on and hand the Stars their first win for almost two months.
Novira Cymru South results in full:
Caerphilly Athletic 0-1 Caerau Ely
Pontypridd United 4-0 Llanelli Town
Baglan Dragons 0-1 Treowen Stars
Llantwit Major 2-3 Newport City
Pontardawe Town 2-1 Carmarthen Town
Ynyshir Albions 4-2 Pure Swansea
Cardiff Draconians 2-0 Afan Lido
Aberystwyth Town 2-1 Trethomas Bluebirds
