Last season’s JD Cymru South golden boot winner Liam Eason stole the show on the opening weekend of the new campaign as he bagged a hat-trick in Cambrian United’s 4-0 home win over Treowen Stars on Friday night.
Eason’s goals inspired Llanelli Town to the title last season and Cambrian will hope he can have the same impact in the Rhondda after it took him just 31 minutes to bag a hat-trick against the newly-promoted visitors. The striker headed home crosses from Josh Allen and Cam Strinati either side of a clever finish over Treowen goalkeeper Cael Jones.
Calum Bateman added his name to the scoresheet midway through the second half with a composed strike, while Treowen finished their second tier debut with 10 men after substitute Chris Hartland was sent off late on.
Carmarthen Town were also big winners on the opening weekend, as Liam Thomas’ brace inspired the Old Gold to a 4-0 victory away at Cwmbran Celtic on Saturday.
Thomas opened the scoring with just 13 minutes on the clock as he sent an unstoppable volley beyond Iwan Hooper from Morgan Weaver’s cut-back, while summer signing Keyon Reffell doubled the advantage on 25 minutes.
A stunning strike from Tom Dyson made it 3-0 shortly after the hour mark, before Thomas rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot in the final 10 minutes.
Aberystwyth Town began life in the JD Cymru South with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Llantwit Major on Saturday.
Former Newtown boss Callum McKenzie was leading the Seasiders for the first time and it was Desean Martin – who followed him from Latham Park – who broke the deadlock with just 12 minutes played as he received Tyrone Ofori’s pass and slotted home. However Llantwit, back under the guidance of Karl Lewis, were level on 26 minutes when Jack Bevan turned the ball home from close range.
Aber’s winning goal came just before the hour mark when Ofori – celebrating his 25th birthday – brought down a long throw from Calvin Smith and fired into the roof of the net. Ethan O’Toole was sent off for the visitors for a second bookable offence with six minutes remaining, but they held on to claim victory.
Tyler Brock scored a dramatic 98th-minute penalty as Trefelin came from behind to triumph 2-1 over last season’s runners-up Trethomas Bluebirds at the CCB Centre For Sporting Excellence on Friday night.
The Bluebirds, in their first competitive game under new boss Paul Evans, made a dream start to the contest as summer signing Norton Ferreira rounded Alex Pennock and calmly slotted into the back of the net inside three minutes.
Brock brought Trefelin level on the stroke of half-time as he raced into the box and fired beyond Elliot Jones. The scoreline remained level for all of the second half until the visitors were awarded a spot-kick deep into stoppage time, which Brock converted – his third goal in two games since signing from Briton Ferry – to snatch victory.
Sunday’s only match saw Baglan Dragons storm to a 3-0 home win over a new-look Pontypridd United.
Carl Clement’s side took the lead inside just five minutes as Kieran Parsons headed home from Dylan Thomas’ corner, before Tom Davies – the Dragons’ top scorer last season – added a second goal in the 16th minute.
Ponty had handed starts to seven new signings and one of those, Andrew Evans, endured a nightmare league debut as he was sent off on 71 minutes. Eight minutes later, Baglan wrapped up victory through Davies’ second goal of the afternoon.
Cardiff Draconians’ debut in the JD Cymru South ended in a 1-0 defeat to Ammanford at Lydstep Park on Saturday.
It was a competitive contest in the capital, with both goalkeepers in impressive form to keep the score goalless for the majority of proceedings.
However, Ammanford finally found the breakthrough with 77 minutes on the clock when Euros Griffiths – now in his 17th season at the club – powered home a header from Harri Lawson’s corner. It was enough to condemn the Dracs to a first league loss on home turf for 15 months.
Fellow newly-promoted side Ynyshir Albions were also beaten at home on Saturday as Caerau Ely triumphed 4-1 at the Ynyshir Oval.
The Buns actually took the lead in the eighth minute through Dre Griffiths, but Caerau Ely remarkably scored three goals in as many minutes to turn the game on its head by half-time. Jack Turner and new signing Zack Maher both found the net before captain Tom McClean converted from the penalty spot.
The visitors wrapped up the win midway through the second when Matty Kimmins, a summer arrival from Llantwit Major, got off the mark for his new side.
Kayne Mclaggon continued his bright start to life at Newport City as his goal was enough to earn the Steelmen a 1-0 home win over Afan Lido on Friday.
Mclaggon, who also scored on his debut in the Nathaniel MG Cup, provided the decisive moment five minutes into the second half when he dinked the ball over Lido goalkeeper Ben Haines.
Sam Houldsworth’s side missed a host of chances to add to their lead, but saw out victory – with Lido finishing with 10 men after captain Ioan Evans was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Weekend results in full:
Newport City 1-0 Afan Lido
Cambrian United 4-0 Treowen Stars
Trethomas Bluebirds 1-2 Trefelin
Cardiff Draconians 0-1 Ammanford
Cwmbran Celtic 0-4 Carmarthen Town
Llantwit Major 1-2 Aberystwyth Town
Ynyshir Albions 1-4 Caerau Ely
Baglan Dragons 3-0 Pontypridd United
