JD Cymru South round-up: Aberystwyth Town boost promotion hopes with crucial away win

Aberystwyth Town edged closer to the JD Cymru South promotion places with a 1-0 win away at Newport City on Saturday. 

The decisive moment came 10 minutes into the second half when Aber teenager Tom Mason smartly volleyed a loose ball into the top corner from close range to score for the second consecutive game. 

Newport came agonisingly close to a late equaliser when an effort struck the post and looked to be creeping over the line, only for Sam Paddock to make a vital clearance. Aber have now taken 10 points from the last 12 available and are just four points behind third-place Ammanford. 

In contrast, Carmarthen Town’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow as Mark Aizlewood’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Llantwit Major at the LHP Stadium on Friday. 

Carmarthen took the lead in style in the 26^th minute as Luke Cummings sent a fierce strike from distance beyond Shaun Gardiner. However, Major defender Kris Evans, who returned to the club on loan from Briton Ferry Llansawel a day earlier, equalised five minutes before half-time with a well-guided header from a corner. 

The point takes Llantwit up to 10^th in the table, but Carmarthen remain in sixth and have now won just one of their last nine league matches. 

Matt Driscoll earned his first win as Pontypridd United manager as his side triumphed 2-0 over Afan Lido at USW Sports Park on Friday. 

Ponty were awarded a penalty late in the first half but Jamie Veale’s spot-kick was saved by Lido goalkeeper Exauce Dimonekene. 

However, the Dragons eventually took the lead with 53 minutes on the clock as Gareth Tedstone fired home a loose ball to mark his return from injury with his first goal for the club. Liam Angel doubled Ponty’s lead just six minutes later as he was left unmarked from Veale’s corner and headed beyond Dimonekene. 

Ponty defender Dave Vincent was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession late on, but the hosts saw out the closing stages to end their five-match losing streak in all competitions. 

Trethomas Bluebirds also returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over bottom of the table Cwmbran Celtic at the CCB Centre on Friday. 

The Bluebirds found the breakthrough in the 27^th minute as Jay Thomas latched onto Osian Rees’ through ball and produced a smart lob over Lewis Watkins to bag his fifth goal of the season. 

Rees doubled the advantage for the Bluebirds just after the hour mark as the 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club since joining from Cardiff Met earlier in the month. Paul Evans’ side are still 13^th in the table, while Celtic remain seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the standings – with a game in hand on 15th-place Afan Lido.  

Weekend results in full:

Carmarthen Town 1-1 Llantwit Major 
Pontypridd United 2-0 Afan Lido 
Trefelin P-P Cambrian United 
Trethomas Bluebirds 2-0 Cwmbran Celtic
Cardiff Draconians P-P Ynyshir Albions 
Newport City 0-1 Aberystwyth Town 
Treowen Stars P-P Baglan Dragons