Cambrian United maintained their lead at the top of the JD Cymru South with a 2-1 win away to Cwmbran Celtic, whose relegation was confirmed at Avondale Park on Friday evening.
Cwmbran took a shock lead in the 33rd minute as youngster Evan Maidment scored his first senior goal for the club, but Cambrian were quickly level through Jack Fox’s fifth league goal of the season.
Both teams went into the break at one apiece, but the league leaders completed the turnaround just six minutes after the restart thanks to Josh Allen’s strike. Celtic were unable to come from behind to earn the victory they needed to survive, meaning they will be playing in the third tier next season.
Cambrian’s title rivals Trefelin maintained pressure at the top of the table with a 3-1 victory over Pontypridd United at USW Sports Park on Friday.
Kostya Georgievsky put Trefelin ahead in the 26th minute with a powerful finish into the roof of the net before Luke Bowen quickly doubled the visitors’ advantage with his 18th league goal of the season.
Ponty striker Eli Phipps halved the deficit for his side with a curling strike over Scott Coughlin from the edge of the area, but Trefelin restored their two-goal cushion late on as Jasper Jones headed home from Morgan Thomas’ corner. Andy Hill’s side remain one point behind leaders Cambrian United with a game in hand.
JD Cymru South
Ammanford took a step closer to promotion with an emphatic 5-1 win over Treowen Stars at Bush Park on Saturday.
Ammanford had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 17th minute when Gavin Jones stood over a penalty, but the forward slipped and miscued his spot-kick. Jones nearly redeemed himself moments later when he latched onto Dan John’s pass, but the frustration continued as his effort was denied by the post.
Both sides were then reduced to 10 men as Treowen goalkeeper Cael Jones was sent off for his foul on Jones, who was also shown a straight red card for the visitors 15 minutes later. However, just one minute after Jones’ dismissal, Ammanford took the lead as Stars defender Craig McDonnell turned Owain Davies’ cross into his own net.
Chris Bell headed home from Callum Thomas’ free-kick to double Ammanford’s lead early in the second half before Thomas set up John, who clinically tucked away his 15th league goal of the season to make it three.
McDonnell got the Stars on the scoresheet with his goal on 82 minutes, but Matt Delaney’s penalty and Matt Fisher’s curling finish ensured Ammanford took home all three points.
Wyn Thomas’ side have just two games remaining and maintained their one-point lead over fourth-place Caerau Ely, who stormed to a 4-1 win over Llantwit Major at the UWL Stadium on Saturday.
Caerau took the lead eight minutes before half-time as Jack Turner’s header back across goal left an unmarked Luke Gullick with the simple task of nodding into the net.
Cameron Gauci brought Major level three minutes into the second half as his cross-turned-shot flew over Harry Irving despite the Caerau goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.
However, the Young Guns restored their lead six minutes later as Major defender Kris Evans turned Ollie Redhead’s low cross into his own net. Tom McClean quickly gave the visitors clear daylight when his corner directly found its way into the net amongst a crowded six-yard box.
Gullick wrapped up a convincing display from Dean Wheeler’s side in style as he received Charlie Lewis’ threaded pass and sent a deft lob over Ryley Allen. Caerau remain just one point adrift of the promotion places, so will be hoping for a slip up from third-place Ammanford in the final two games.
Carmarthen Town secured their biggest ever JD Cymru South victory with a stellar 7-0 win away to Baglan Dragons on Saturday.Â
Carmarthen established a two-goal lead at the interval thanks to goals from Toby Jones and Lewis Reed before a quickfire brace from Liam Thomas within six minutes of the restart put the Old Gold firmly in control.
Reed also doubled up for the afternoon, while late goals from substitutes Josh Joda and Mason Thomas-Jones sealed a convincing win. Carmarthen are now unbeaten in their last six games and have scored a staggering 23 goals during that time.
Trethomas Bluebirds came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw with Ynyshir Albions at the Ynyshir Oval on Saturday.
The Buns were two goals to the good after 33 minutes played as Christen Bethell scored his third league goal of the season before Jago Norton found the net from Dion Facey’s corner.
Osian Rees pulled a goal back for the Bluebirds on the stroke of half time by rounding Harry Webber and finishing into an empty net. Alfie Newman-Jones then rescued a point for the visitors late in the day as he squeezed the ball home in the midst of a goalmouth scramble.
Newport City moved back into the top half with a 1-0 win over Cardiff Draconians at Lydstep Park on Saturday.
The Dracs came extremely close to scoring the opening goal with 25 minutes on the clock when Newport goalkeeper Ed King spilled Luke Davies’ free-kick into the path of Sam Cawley, whose header rattled the crossbar.
Despite their pressure in the first half, it was the Steelmen who found the breakthrough as Louis Phillips sent a sweetly struck half-volley through a crowded area and into the net for his first goal since arriving back at Newport from The New Saints. Victory for Sam Houldsworth’s side brings an end to their six-match winless run in all competitions.
Afan Lido made it three consecutive league wins for the first time since October 2023 with an impressive 1-0 triumph over Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue on Saturday.
Calvin Smith came agonisingly close to putting Aberystwyth in front early on as his low drive from a tight angle ricocheted back off the post.
Lido’s Johden De Meyer later forced two key saves from La’trell Jones, but the visitors eventually found a way past the young Aber goalkeeper as Cameron Keetch’s flick-on found John Hall, who fired home his first goal for the club since August 2023.
Lido pushed for a second goal, with Liam Griffiths seeing his header cleared off the line before Liam McCreesh’s audacious effort clipped the crossbar, but Hall’s strike proved to be enough to seal all three points.
Weekend results in full:Â
Cwmbran Celtic 1-2 Cambrian United
Pontypridd United 1-3 Trefelin
Baglan Dragons 0-7 Carmarthen Town
Cardiff Draconians 0-1 Newport City
Llantwit Major 1-4 Caerau Ely
Treowen Stars 1-5 Ammanford
Ynyshir Albions 2-2 Trethomas Bluebirds
Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Afan Lido
