JD Cymru South round-up | Cwmbran Celtic secure final day survival

Cwmbran Celtic confirmed their JD Cymru South survival with a 1-0 home win over Llantwit Major on the final day of the season. 

Celtic’s all-important goal came after just 14 minutes, as Mario van Dieren headed home from Ollie Berry’s corner. 

Andrew Larcombe had the chance to double his side’s advantage from the penalty spot after a foul in the box by Jack Lansdown, but the Major goalkeeper – making his final career appearance – made amends by keeping out the Celtic captain’s effort. 

Celtic’s win meant that Penrhiwceiber Rangers were relegated following their chaotic 5-5 draw against Carmarthen Town at the LHP Stadium. 

Rangers took the lead inside eight minutes through Jack Thomas, but Gavin Jones equalised for Carmarthen four minutes later before Old Gold captain Noah Daley scored twice in the space of five minutes to complete a rapid turnaround. 

The visitors were not ready to give up though as Owen Orford pulled a goal back to make it 3-2 just before the half hour mark, then Thomas grabbed his second of the afternoon to equalise five minutes into the second half. 

Carmarthen restored their advantage on 67 minutes through Liam Thomas, but Rangers remarkably scored twice in two minutes – Thomas completing his hat-trick before Morgan Andrews found the net – to lead 5-4. 

With Cwmbran Celtic winning, it was not enough to keep Rangers up though and they conceded in the 89^thminute as substitute Sean Richards volleyed home his first senior goal for Carmarthen. 

Champions Llanelli Town concluded their season with a 3-0 home win over Trefelin, who slipped to fourth in the table. 

Theo Wharton’s powerful header gave the Reds the lead in the 37^th minute, before Trefelin forward Lee Trundle was shown a straight red card in first half stoppage time. 

Despite having a man advantage, Llanelli did not add to their tally until the 89^th minute when Kurtis Rees found the net for the first time this season before the division’s golden boot winner Liam Eason netted his 27^th goal of the season in stoppage time. 

Trethomas Bluebirds sealed second place in an impressive first season in the JD Cymru South as they triumphed 4-0 at home over Pontypridd United, who finish fifth. 

Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford announced earlier in the week that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign and it was clear that his team were keen to see him off with a win as they led by three goals at half-time. 

Jack Jones opened the scoring with a powerful header from Ethan Edwards’ cross, Harvey Selway volleyed home to double the lead five minutes later, before Callum Huggins added his name to the scoresheet shortly before half-time. 

Edwards had assisted all three first half goals and found the net himself 10 minutes after the break as he raced through on goal and calmly slotted past Cameron Clarke to seal the Bluebirds’ biggest win of the season. 

Newport City won 3-0 away at relegated Goytre United to end the season with seven consecutive victories and seal an impressive third-place finish. 

Lathan Garrett headed in from Richard Noyes’ cross to earn the lead in the 26^th minute, while Kofi Rowe doubled the advantage 13 minutes later by applying a neat first-time finish from Harvey Sing’s low cross. 

Rowe netted his second of the afternoon seven minutes into the second afternoon, tucking away the rebound after Luke Jones had saved Luke Cooper’s initial effort. 

Afan Lido made it four wins from their final six games of the season as they triumphed 3-1 away at bottom-of-the-table Taffs Well. 

It was a frantic start at Rhiw Dda’r as Goncalo Ferreira opened the scoring for the Wellmen inside the first minute, only for his strike to be cancelled out by Liam Griffiths’ close range finish six minutes later. 

Griffiths completed the turnaround on 25 minutes when he nodded home from Ioan Evans’ pinpoint cross, before Dylan Williams sent a ferocious half volley into the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time. 

Victory meant that Lido finish in 11^th place, as they leapfrogged Caerau Ely who were beaten 2-0 at home by Cambrian United. 

The game was goalless for over an hour until Tim Parker found the breakthrough in the 69^th minute, before the forward sealed the win – and with it a sixth-place finish for Cambrian – with his second goal in stoppage. 

Nic Arnold scored a stoppage time equaliser for Ammanford in a 1-1 draw with Baglan Dragons at the Recreation Ground. 

Connah Troy’s towering header put the Dragons ahead shortly after the hour mark, but Arnold popped up in the 96^th minute to fire home from close range after Babucar Sauane’s header was blocked on the line 

JD Cymru South Weekend results in full:

Ammanford 1-1 Baglan Dragons
Caerau Ely 0-2 Cambrian United
Carmarthen Town 5-5 Penrhiwceiber Rangers
Cwmbran Celtic 1-0 Llantwit Major
Goytre United 0-3 Newport City
Llanelli Town 3-0 Trefelin
Taffs Well 1-3 Afan Lido
Trethomas Bluebirds 4-0 Pontypridd United