Llanelli Town opened up a four-point lead at the top of the JD Cymru South table as Liam Eason’s late strike saw the Reds snatch a 2-1 victory away at Pontypridd United on Friday.
After a goalless first half at USW Sports Park, two goals arrived in the space of a minute just after the hour mark. Bradley Gibbings opened the scoring for Llanelli by snatching the ball from Kavan O’Leary in the box and calmly slotting home, but Ponty responded immediately as Sam Johnson controlled Jarrad Wright’s diagonal ball and fired beyond John Chesters.
The winning goal came in the 88th minute when Joe Lloyd’s long throw found former Ponty man Eason in the box and his low shot squirmed underneath Cameron Clarke and over the line.
Match Action | Pontypridd United v Llanelli Town
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The Reds’ victory preceded second-place Trethomas Bluebirds being held to a 0-0 draw away at Penrhiwceiber Rangers on Saturday.
Mark Dunford’s side dominated the first half – and even had the ball in the net through Gareth Tedstone before the offside flag was raised – but Rangers defended resolutely to keep it goalless. It was then Harry Irving in the Bluebirds goal who produced heroics after the break to keep out the hosts.
Taffs Well were relegated from the JD Cymru South after conceding a stoppage time equaliser in a 1-1 draw away at Baglan Dragons on Saturday afternoon.
A victory would have kept the Wellmen’s survival hopes alive for a little longer and they took the lead in the 51st minute when Abdul Ibrahim fired home.
A red card for Dragons forward Nathan Logan in the 83rd minute appeared to help Taffs Well’s cause, but there was late heartbreak in the 94th minute for Josh Anderson’s side as substitute Kieran Parsons, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, equalised from close range to rescue a point the hosts.
Trefelin moved up to third in the table as Lee Trundle’s late strike secured a 2-1 comeback win away at Ammanford on Friday.
Lewis Reed scored his fourth goal in as many games by heading home at the near post from Adam John’s cross to put Ammanford ahead in the 71st minute, but that lead only lasted a minute as a kind deflection allowed Callum Saunders to find the net from close range and equalise for Tref.
The visitors then completed the turnaround three minutes from time as a long throw into the box was flicked home by Trundle against his former club.
Newport City made it three league wins in a row for the first time this season as they triumphed 3-0 over Carmarthen Town at Spytty Park on Saturday.
Danny Hillman put the Steelmen in front in first half stoppage time with a powerful header from Richard Noyes’ cross, before Kofi Rowe doubled the advantage just after the hour mark with a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Owen Bancroft then rattled the crossbar with a fierce strike, but the midfielder was not to be denied again as he latched onto a loose ball and tucked away the Steelmen’s third of the match in the 76th minute.
Cameron Harris’ stoppage time penalty rescued a point for Goytre United in a 1-1 draw with Caerau Ely at Cwrt yr Ala Road on Friday night.
Young Guns captain Jack Ashford scored for the second home game in a row to give his side the lead three minutes into the second half, which looked to be enough for three points until Goytre were awarded a spot-kick in the 97th minute which Harris calmly converted.
Goytre remain four points from safety with three games remaining after Cwmbran Celtic and Afan Lido played out a 1-1 draw at Avondale Park on Saturday.
Celtic went ahead in first half stoppage time through Gabe Howells, who brought down Cole Doolan’s cross, turned past his marker and fired beyond Ben Haines. However, Lido found their leveller late with just two minutes left on the clock as Liam McCreesh stepped up from the penalty spot and lashed his effort down the middle to extend his side’s unbeaten run to four matches.
There was also late penalty drama at the M&P Group 3G on Friday night as Ioan Emanuel missed a spot-kick for Llantwit Major in a 1-0 defeat away to Cambrian United.
The Cam Army went ahead three minutes before half-time as Josh Allen’s deflected strike from a tight angle flew past Ryley Allen. Emanuel had the chance to rescue a point for Major in the 91st minute but he was unable to find the net from 12 yards as Cambrian leapfrogged the visitors in the table.
JD Cymru South Weekend results in full:
Ammanford 1-2 Trefelin
Caerau Ely 1-1 Goytre United
Pontypridd United 1-2 Llanelli Town
Cambrian United 1-0 Llantwit Major
Baglan Dragons 1-1 Taffs Well
Cwmbran Celtic 1-1 Afan Lido
Penrhiwceiber Rangers 0-0 Trethomas Bluebirds
Newport City 3-0 Carmarthen Town
