Liam Eason scored a stoppage time penalty to earn a 1-0 win for Llanelli Town away at Penrhiwceiber Rangers on Saturday, sending the Reds two points clear at the top of the JD Cymru South.
Goalkeepers Jacob Ireland and Scott Coughlin made some key saves for their respective sides throughout the contest, as the match looked set to end goalless as the clock hit 90 minutes.
However, a costly foul inside the area saw Llanelli awarded a late penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage and Eason calmly converted to claim victory for Lee John’s side.
It could prove to be a decisive weekend in the title race as Trethomas Bluebirds dropped points in a 2-2 draw away at Trefelin on Friday night.
The Bluebirds took the lead midway through the first half courtesy as talisman Gareth Tedstone scored from the penalty spot after Ethan Edwards was fouled by Trefelin goalkeeper Aaron Jones.
However, the hosts would head into half-time on level terms after Lee Trundle scored his 13th league goal of the season, before captain Jordan Davies completed the turnaround in the 69th minute with his first goal since November 2023.
Staring at a first defeat in eight matches, Trethomas salvaged a draw – their third in succession – with five minutes remaining as Andy Evans’ header from Lee Baldock’s diagonal ball struck both posts before eventually crossing the line.
Third-place Pontypridd United moved just four points behind the Bluebirds – with a game in hand – as they came from two goals down to win 3-2 away at Ammanford.
The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute as Harri Lawson’s curling free-kick from out wide sailed past everyone into the back of the net, while Adam Orme doubled the advantage just three minutes into the second half when he lashed home from the edge of the box.
Yet Ponty were level with a quarter of an hour to play thanks to two goals in the space of four minutes from Kieran Lewis and Dan Griffiths, the former curling a shot into the far corner before the latter slotted home from close range.
The winning goal then arrived in the third minute of stoppage time as Euros Griffiths was booked for a foul inside the box and Dan Griffiths stepped up to score his second of the afternoon and complete a stunning comeback. The final action of the game saw Euros Griffiths sent off for a second yellow card in three minutes as Ammanford finished with 10 men.
Llantwit Major staged an even later turnaround to triumph 4-2 away at Caerau Ely on Friday night, climbing into the top half in the process.
Clayton Farrah fired the Young Guns in front just before the half hour mark, but Major levelled the contest eight minutes into the second half through Cian Williams.
Liam Bishop restored the lead for the hosts with just seven minutes remaining, but it was Major who took the three points thanks to three late goals inspired by Matty Kimmins.
First, the Belgium-born forward set up Finn Jennings to equalise in the 88th minute before finding the net himself in the first minute of stoppage time. Kimmins then grabbed his second assist of the night four minutes later, setting up teenager Jack Shaw to score his first goal for the club to wrap up victory.
Goytre United climbed out of the relegation zone as they earned a first win in four games by triumphing 2-0 over bottom-of-the-table Taffs Well at Glenhafod Park on Friday.
18-year-old Caleb Rogers, making his first senior start for Goytre, scored seven minutes before half-time to give his side the lead, before captain Cameron Harris doubled the advantage in the 66th minute.
Stephen Kelleher’s side are now two points above the drop zone, while the Wellmen are eight points adrift of safety.
Cwmbran Celtic also earned a crucial three points in the relegation battle as they beat Carmarthen Town 1-0 to claim back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The decisive moment at Avondale Park arrived with just 14 minutes on the clock as Gabe Howells latched onto Andy Larcombe’s through ball and calmly slotted home past Charlie Craig.
Simon Berry’s side are now two points above the bottom three and host Taffs Well next weekend in another potentially decisive fixture.
Fellow strugglers Afan Lido were moments away from earning their first win since Boxing Day but conceded a stoppage time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Baglan Dragons at Evans Bevans Playing Fields on Saturday.
Lido took the lead in the 69th minute when debutant Dylan Williams swung in a corner which went into the back of the net, but the Dragons’ own debutant Connah Troy – who signed from Lido in January – equalised in the sixth minute of stoppage time as he sent a bullet header past Ben Haines.
Newport City also scored a stoppage time equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw away at Cambrian United on Saturday.
Josh Graham came close to putting Newport City ahead midway through the first half as his shot hit the post, but it was Cambrian who took the lead moments later in the 22nd minute through Tom Hillman.
That remained the difference between the two sides until the eighth minute of stoppage time, when Steelmen captain Luke Cooper fired home to salvage a point for his side.
Weekend results in full:
Caerau Ely 2-4 Llantwit Major
Goytre United 2-0 Taffs Well
Trefelin 2-2 Trethomas Bluebirds
Baglan Dragons 1-1 Afan Lido
Cwmbran Celtic 1-0 Carmarthen Town
Penrhiwceiber Rangers 0-1 Llanelli Town
Ammanford 2-3 Pontypridd United
Cambrian United 1-1 Newport City
