It was a night of twists in the JD Cymru South title race on Friday as second-place Llanelli Town cut the gap to league leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel to six points – with Lee John’s side holding a game in hand.
Briton Ferry were on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller, as Cambrian & Clydach Vale triumphed 4-3 at Old Road.
The Rhondda outfit stunned the Reds in the first half, as a Liam Eason brace and Tim Parker’s stoppage time goal put them 3-0 up at the break.
Corey Hurford came off the bench at half-time and made an instant impact by grabbing two goals back for Ferry in the opening eight minutes of the second period, but a second yellow card for Kris Evans made the hosts’ task harder.
Liam Reed was sent off in the 79th minute to make it 10 men each, but Cambrian restored their two-goal lead in the 90th minute through Cameron Keetch.
There was still time for one more red card and one more goal in stoppage time, as Hurford received his second booking to reduce Ferry to nine men before Luke Bowen netted with the final kick of the game.
Meanwhile, Llanelli were comfortable 4-0 winners over bottom-of-the-table Abergavenny Town at Stebonheath.
All four goals came in the first half as Curtis Hutson finished at the back post, Joe Hunt rounded the goalkeeper to score, Kurtis Rees fired in after pinball in the box and Danny Williams powered a header home.
Teenager Ieuan Owen was again the star for Afan Lido as the Reds earned a 3-2 win away at Pontardawe Town.
Owen scored twice, either side of Joe Lloyd’s goal for Ponty, before January signing Cai Owens put Lido 3-1 ahead. Iestyn Williams netted in stoppage time for the hosts, but it could not save them from a fourth consecutive loss.
Defeat for Pontardawe means that they are now only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, as 14th-place Llantwit Major drew level with them on points following a 3-2 home win over Abertillery Bluebirds.
It was a disastrous start for the Major as they conceded inside the opening minute when Kyle Williams scored for the Bluebirds.
Joel Woodington and Rob Jones both scored in first half stoppage time to turn the game around before the break, while Woodington added his second goal in the 79th minute. Bluebirds substitute Ben Ward netted in stoppage time, but it proved only to be a consolation.
Fifth-place Ammanford earned their biggest victory of the campaign as they triumphed 6-2 away at Goytre United.
Like Llantwit, the Black and White Army were forced to recover from conceding in the first minute when Keane Watts got Goytre off to the perfect start.
Euros Griffiths’ header and a brace from Tristan Jenkins put Gruff Harrison’s side 3-1 up at half-time, before Rhys Thomas got the hosts back in the game just after the hour mark.
However, Lewis Reed and substitutes Mark Jones and Cian Cable all found the net in the final 20 minutes to make it a convincing win for Ammanford.
Baglan Dragons continued their impressive recent form and made it five consecutive wins by defeating Taffs Well 1-0 on home turf.
The decisive moment came in the 67th minute, when Tom Davies scored his 12th league goal of the campaign to break the deadlock.
Carmarthen Town were again left to rue dropped points at home as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Caerau Ely.
Liam Thomas opened the scoring after 17 minutes, but the in-form Brandon Griffiths came off the bench to equalise in the 71st minute. Jonathan Invernizzi was sent off moments later as Carmarthen finished the game with 10 men.
JD Cymru South results
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-4 Cambrian & Clydach Vale
Llanelli Town 4-0 Abergavenny Town
Baglan Dragons 1-0 Taffs Well
Goytre United 2-6 Ammanford
Llantwit Major 3-2 Abertillery Bluebirds
Pontardawe Town 2-3 Afan Lido
Carmarthen Town 1-1 Caerau Ely
