Lewis Reed’s four-goal haul inspired Ammanford to an emphatic 6-2 home win against Cwmbran Celtic on Friday night.
A defensive mistake allowed Tom Meechan to slot Celtic ahead inside just three minutes, but Reed brought Ammanford level almost immediately with a clinical finish. The forward then put his side ahead with a free-kick shortly before the half hour mark before he tucked away the rebound from Callum Thomas’ initially saved effort to complete his hat-trick in first half stoppage time.
A foul on Rhys Davies in the box allowed Reed to score his fourth of the evening from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, while substitutes Llywelyn James and Matthew Fisher added their names to the scoresheet in quick succession in the final 10 minutes.
Sam Powell scored a 90th minute consolation for Celtic, but Ammanford were already celebrating their fourth consecutive home win in the JD Cymru South.
Baglan Dragons captained Lewis Holmes scored a late equaliser for his side in a 2-2 draw with third-place Pontypridd United at Evans Bevans Playing Fields on Saturday.
Holmes had put Baglan ahead midway through the first half as he prodded home from Dylan Thomas’ deflected free-kick, but Ponty frontman Liam Eason made it one apiece early in the second period.
Teenage substitute Cole Mace was sent off for the visitors for a second bookable offence in the 76th minute, but it was Ponty who took the lead nine minutes later through Dan Griffiths.
Yet there was one more twist as Holmes found the net again in the 87th minute when he poked in after Thomas’ corner had been flicked on.
Second-place Cambrian United maintained their unbeaten run at home this season in a 2-2 draw with Caerau Ely on Friday night.
Liam Bishop, making his first start since August, opened the scoring for the Young Guns in the eighth minute before Tim Parker bagged his second goal of the season to equalise for Cambrian in the 20th minute.
However, the hosts were level for just one minute as Bishop restored the visitors’ lead with a clinical finish. Parker was involved again as Cambrian equalised for the second time midway through the second half, setting up Cameron Keetch to score his third goal since returning to the club.
Draws for Pontypridd and Cambrian allowed Trethomas Bluebirds to move three points clear at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory away at Goytre United on Saturday.
The Bluebirds took just five minutes to find an opener as Ethan Edwards bagged his seventh league goal of the season.
Jordan Edwards headed home from Keane Watts’ cross to bring Goytre level just before the hour mark, but Trethomas talisman Gareth Tedstone popped up in the 70th minute to secure a vital win on the road for his side.
Llanelli Town climbed to fourth in the table with a 5-0 win at home to Taffs Well on Friday night.
Bradley Gibbings’ brilliant solo goal gave the Reds a narrow advantage at the break, before Henry Jones curled a free-kick beyond Shaun Gardiner to double the lead six minutes into the second half.
The Reds took full control of the match in the closing stages as a quickfire brace from substitute Danny Williams made it four, while Scott Tancock also came off the bench to score his first goal for the club in stoppage time.
Penrhiwceiber Rangers moved three points clear of the relegation zone with an impressive 3-1 victory away to Newport City on Friday night.
Captain Warren Jones gave Rangers the breakthrough from the penalty spot on 14 minutes, but a simple finish from Calum Bateman brought Newport level shortly before the break.
However, a first Rangers goal for Jaymie Wearn in the 66th minute and a stoppage-time strike from Owyn Airey saw Dean Brown’s side claim their fourth win in five league matches.
Following three consecutive 1-1 draws, Llantwit Major returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Carmarthen Town on Friday night.
The decisive moment arrived with just eight minutes on the clock as Matty Kimmins sent a stunning strike into the top corner from distance for his fifth league goal of the season. The result was Carmarthen’s first league defeat at home since the opening day of the campaign, while Major are now unbeaten in eight league games.
Afan Lido picked up their first point under new boss Garry Taylor in a goalless draw with Trefelin at Princess Margaret Way on Friday night.
The best chance of the match came in the seventh minute when Lido captain Damon Thomas had his powerful strike from a tight angle saved by Aaron Jones, but neither side could find a breakthrough. The result saw Lido climb off the bottom of the table, while Tref extended their unbeaten streak to six matches in all competitions.
Weekend results in full:
Afan Lido 0-0 Trefelin
Ammanford 6-2 Cwmbran Celtic
Carmarthen Town 0-1 Llantwit Major
Llanelli Town 5-0 Taffs Well
Newport City 1-3 Penrhiwceiber Rangers
Cambrian United 2-2 Caerau Ely
Baglan Dragons 2-2 Pontypridd United
Goytre United 1-2 Trethomas Bluebirds