Abergavenny Town climbed off the bottom of the JD Cymru South table as they defeated fellow strugglers Abertillery Bluebirds 3-1 to claim only their second league win of the season.
With both sides desperate for victory to kickstart their floundering campaigns, it was the Pennies who took the lead inside the opening five minutes when Curtis Methven found the net.
Rhys Schwank doubled the lead on 25 minutes, before he missed the chance to make it 3-0 soon after when his penalty was saved by Bluebirds goalkeeper Shaun Gardiner.
In the 71st minute, Kyle Williams scored for the third time in four matches as the visitors threatened a late comeback but a goal from Owen Taylor – in his first game back at Abergavenny following his return from Aberystwyth Town – wrapped up a crucial win for Danny Elliott’s side.
Alex Bonthron’s late winner secured a dramatic 3-2 win for Cwmbran Celtic away to Cambrian & Clydach Vale.
The visitors led 2-1 at the interval as Shaun Moss and Tom Meechan scored either side of a strike from Cam Army forward Liam Reed.
Reed pulled his side level once again on the hour mark, but the home faithful were stunned when Bonthron headed home from Meechan’s cross in the 87th minute cross as Celtic grabbed their first league victory since October.
League leaders Briton Ferry Llansawel left it late to secure a 2-0 victory against Baglan Dragons at Old Road and move eight points clear at the top of the table.
The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw, but a silky solo goal from Reds substitute Ryan George finally broke the deadlock in the 90th minute before Josh Bull – who had also come off the bench – slammed home a second goal two minutes later.
Despite goalkeeper Lewis Gibbs finding the net for Trefelin in remarkable fashion, his side fell to a 5-2 defeat to Afan Lido at Princess Margaret Way.
It was an emotional afternoon as both sides participated in a moment of silence to remember Lido academy player Preston Camps-Lee, who tragically passed away at the age of 16 a few days earlier.
Callum Saunders put Trefelin ahead in the early stages of the match, but Brad Flay was on hand to equalise for Lido in a tight first half. Gibbs then became the third goalkeeper to score in the JD Cymru South this season as his long ball up field sailed over everybody and into the opposite net to restore the visitors’ lead.
Their advantage didn’t last long as Josh Webber scored his first goal since October to make it two apiece, before both sides were then reduced to ten men as Tom Krauze and Lido captain Liam Griffiths were each shown second yellow cards.
The home side sparked into life in the final ten minutes as 17 year-old Ieuan Owen’s brace gave them a healthy two-goal cushion and with their opponents flooding numbers forward in search of a late comeback, it was a swift counter attack that secured all three points for Lido as Webber netted his second of the afternoon.
JD Cymru South results
Cambrian & Clydach Vale 2-3 Cwmbran Celtic
Afan Lido 5-2 Trefelin
Abergavenny Town 3-1 Abertillery Bluebirds
Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-0 Baglan Dragons
