The JD Cymru South title race took another twist as Trethomas Bluebirds lost 2-0 away at Baglan Dragons on Saturday – their first defeat in 10 games.
The Dragons, who were the last team to beat the Bluebirds in November, took the lead inside just 11 minutes as Tom Randall fired home his third league goal of the season.
The hammer blow for Mark Dunford’s title chasers came with just six minutes left on the clock when Artiom Legavec finished one-on-one with Harry Irving to seal victory for the hosts.
It means that Llanelli Town now hold a two-point lead at the top of the table following 4-2 comeback win away at Goytre United on Friday night.
The Reds were left stunned as they trailed 2-0 at half-time after a brace from Dan Simmonds, forcing Lee John into a triple substitution at the break in an attempt to change the game.
Liam Eason halved deficit nine minutes into the second half with a clinical finish, before equalising from the penalty spot shortly after the hour mark. Eason – celebrating his 27th birthday – completed his hat-trick and the turnaround on 76 minutes as Goytre threw away a two-goal lead for the second consecutive weekend.
The momentum had firmly swung in Llanelli’s favour and they wrapped up victory in the closing stages as Ethan Cann netted for the first time since Boxing Day.
Third-place Pontypridd United’s four-match winning streak came to an end as they were beaten 2-1 away at Cwmbran Celtic on Saturday.
Celtic led inside four minutes as Ponty goalkeeper Cameron Clarke spilled the ball to allow January signing Arthur Furness to tap in from close range.
The Dragons equalised seven minutes into the second half as Dan Griffiths netted his fifth goal in his last five matches, but Celtic claimed a crucial victory in their fight for survival when Callum Hodges headed in from Ollie Berry’s free-kick delivery in the 78th minute. Simon Berry’s side are now six points clear of the relegation zone.
Defeat for Pontypridd means that they are now only one point ahead of fourth-place Trefelin, who earned a third consecutive win by triumphing 3-1 away at Cambrian United on Friday night.
Lee Trundle scored for the fourth consecutive league game to open the scoring in the 20th minute, but in-form Cambrian frontman Tim Parker equalised on 35 minutes. The hosts were only level for three minutes though, as Callum Saunders restored Tref’s lead.
Trundle made it a brace for himself nine minutes into the second half to extend the advantage for Andy Hill’s side, who are now unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions.
Afan Lido earned a key point in their fight for survival in a 2-2 draw away at Carmarthen Town on Saturday, but will have been frustrated not to take all three after conceding a stoppage time equaliser.
The Old Gold led at half-time after Noah Daley danced through the Lido defence and fired into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute, but Lido had turned the game around by the hour mark thanks to two goals in nine minutes from Carlos Indjai and Brandon Roberts.
It would have been Lido’s first win since Boxing Day, but Carmarthen captain Daley popped up to equalise in the 91st minute. Lido remain in the bottom three, but are just one point behind 13th-placed Goytre United with a game in hand.
Penrhiwceiber Rangers also added a potentially crucial point to their tally in a 1-1 draw at home against Llantwit Major on Saturday.
The game was goalless until the 76th minute, when Joe Jenkins broke the deadlock for Rangers with his first league goal since September.
Major were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute as Rhys Llewelyn was sent off for a second bookable offence, but that did not deter the visitors as they grabbed an equaliser four minutes later through substitute Jake Barrow.
Caerau Ely ended their six-match losing streak with a 3-1 home win over bottom-of-the-table Taffs Well on Friday night.
19-year-old Paul Sunley was making his first start for the Young Guns and opened the scoring on 36 minutes before setting up George Sheppard five minutes later to put Dean Wheeler’s side in a commanding position at half-time.
Taffs Well halved the deficit through Nojus Gorochovas just before the hour mark, but Caerau captain Jack Ashford sealed victory with his side’s third goal of the night in the 75th minute.
Newport City climbed to seventh in the table with a 2-1 win away at Ammanford on Saturday afternoon.
Danny Hillman’s powerful low drive just after the half hour mark gave the Steelmen a narrow lead at the interval, but Lewis Reed equalised for Ammanford in the 59th minute with a calmly converted penalty.
With the points looking set to be shared, Newport City snatched a winner with two minutes left on the clock as Richard Noyes’ deflected cross fell kindly into the path of Hillman, who fired into the bottom corner.
Weekend results in full:
Caerau Ely 3-1 Taffs Well
Goytre United 2-4 Llanelli Town
Cambrian United 1-3 Trefelin
Baglan Dragons 2-0 Trethomas Bluebirds
Carmarthen Town 2-2 Afan Lido
Cwmbran Celtic 2-1 Pontypridd United
Penrhiwceiber Rangers 1-1 Llantwit Major
Ammanford 1-2 Newport City
