JD Cymru South round-up: Late Kayne Mclaggon equaliser maintains Newport City unbeaten start

Kayne Mclaggon scored a 98^th-minute equaliser as Newport City staged a late comeback to earn a 3-3 draw away at Baglan Dragons in the JD Cymru South on Sunday. 

Steelmen captain Luke Cooper opened the scoring after only eight minutes at Evans Bevans Playing Fields but Tom Davies equalised just three minutes later before firing the Dragons in front from the penalty spot on in the 24^th minute after Nathan Logan was fouled in the box. 

The hosts may have thought they had all three points wrapped up when substitute Artiom Legavec made it 3-1 on 84 minutes but Newport had other ideas. Charlie Davies pulled a goal back in the 90^th minute before Mclaggon dramatically levelled the contest deep into stoppage time with his third goal in as many games in the league this season. 

Cambrian United are the only side in the JD Cymru South with a perfect record still intact this season following their emphatic 5-0 win over Trethomas Bluebirds at the CCB Centre For Sporting Excellence on Friday night. 

The visitors were three goals to the good at half-time as Josh Allen, captain Kyle Jones and Dylan Edwards all found the net for the first time this season. 

Allen set up Calum Bateman to extend the advantage early in the second half, while Tom Hillman concluded the scoring late on as Liam Williams’ side also kept a third consecutive clean sheet. 

Trefelin struck twice late in the contest to seal a 3-1 win over Treowen Stars at Bush Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Tref captain Joseph Jones steered home Luke Bowen’s cross to open the scoring in the 27^th minute, but Corey Jenkins found an equaliser for Treowen Stars shortly after the hour mark as his shot squirmed under Alex Pennock. 

That looked to have earned the hosts a point against the promotion hopefuls, but Bowen restored Trefelin’s lead in dramatic style in the 90^th minute before substitute Roan Piper wrapped up victory deep into stoppage time. 

Afan Lido earned their first points of the season by triumphing 4-1 against Cwmbran Celtic at USW Sports Park on Friday night. 

Lido made a fast start to the contest and led 2-0 inside the first 20 minutes thanks to Liam Griffiths’ back post header and a tap in from Lewis Reed. An own goal from Celtic defender Lloyd Perkins put Garry Taylor’s side firmly in control shortly before the break. 

Isaac Powell set up Josh Gibson to pull a goal back for Celtic on the stroke of half-time, but Dylan Richards’ close-range finish early in the second half made sure of victory for Lido. Celtic remain bottom of the table without a point so far. 

The only other side without a point to their name from three games is Cardiff Draconians, after Caerau Ely earned the bragging rights in Saturday’s Cardiff derby with a 1-0 win at Lydstep Park. 

There was an early turning point in the 12^th minute as Dracs defender Jon McMenemy was shown a straight red card. 

Caerau Ely eventually capitalised on having a man advantage four minutes before half-time when Harrison Lewis scored his first goal since last September. A clean sheet in the second half ensured the Young Guns continue their unbeaten start to the league campaign. 

Pontypridd United got their first point of the season as Aberystwyth Town dropped points for the first time in an entertaining 0-0 draw at Park Avenue on Saturday. 

Both goalkeepers starred, with 17-year-old Tomos Evans particularly impressive on his first Aberystwyth start, while Ponty’s Dave Vincent and Aber’s Ben Davies both saw efforts cleared off the line. The visitors came closest to taking all three points late on when Taylor Marsh’s strike hit the post. 

Llantwit Major also got off the mark with a point in a 0-0 draw at home against Carmarthen Town on Saturday. 

Chances were limited at Windmill Lane, with Carmarthen having perhaps the best of the opportunities only to be denied by Llantwit goalkeeper Kane Draper. 

The third goalless draw on Saturday afternoon came in the Rhondda as Ynyshir Albions and Ammanford played out a stalemate. 

The hosts dominated the early proceedings as Ammanford goalkeeper Luke Martin was called into action on multiple occasions, while the visitors grew into the game with chances late on but neither side could find the breakthrough. 

JD Cymru South Weekend results in full:

Cwmbran Celtic 1-4 Afan Lido
Trethomas Bluebirds 0-5 Cambrian United
Aberystwyth Town 0-0 Pontypridd United 
Cardiff Draconians 0-1 Caerau Ely 
Llantwit Major 0-0 Carmarthen Town 
Treowen Stars 1-3 Trefelin 
Ynyshir Albions 0-0 Ammanford
Baglan Dragons 3-3 Newport City