Llanelli Town suffered their first defeat since October as Ammanford won 1-0 away at Stebonheath on Friday night.
The decisive moment in the game came just after the half hour mark, as Reds defender Louis Caramella-Gerrard was sent off for a foul on Lewis Reed on the edge of the box before the Ammanford forward stepped up to beautifully curl the resulting free-kick into the back of the net.
Despite being a man down, Llanelli pushed for an equaliser throughout the second half, with makeshift striker Sean Cronin going close on multiple occasions. But the Ammanford defence held firm resolutely to seal all three points. Llanelli goalkeeper Scott Coughlin was sent off moments after the full-time whistle.
Defeat for the Reds meant that Trethomas Bluebirds reclaimed top spot in the table with a 1-0 home win over Caerau Ely on Friday night.
The all-important goal for the Bluebirds came in the 33rd minute as an unmarked Gareth Tedstone met James Young’s cross at the back post, heading in his 15th league goal of the season.
Mark Dunford’s side are now unbeaten in their last nine matches and are one point above Llanelli with both sides having just six games remaining.
Third-place Pontypridd United cannot be ruled out of the title equation either as they moved one point behind Llanelli – with a game in hand – after a 4-1 home win over Penrhiwceiber Rangers on Friday.
Ponty went in front six minutes before half-time as Taylor Marsh scored his first goal since October – also against Penrhiwceiber Rangers – before Dan Griffiths scored his fourth goal in as many games to double the advantage early in the second half.
Rangers teenage substitute Dilan Roberts scored his first JD Cymru South goal to half the deficit for the visitors three minutes later, but Ponty made sure of victory soon after as Luke Gullick came off the bench and scored within 60 seconds before turning provider for Jamie Veale to add a fourth goal.
Liam Thomas scored five goals, including a first half hat-trick, as Carmarthen Town triumphed 7-3 away at bottom-of-the-table Taffs Well on Friday night.
Thomas headed in from Jordan Vickers’ cross to open the scoring in the 14th minute only for Goncalo Ferreira to equalise for the hosts before the half hour mark, but Thomas would again meet a Vickers delivery to quickly restore his side’s advantage and then completed a hat-trick three minutes before the break by firing past Shaun Gardiner in the box.
Lewis Ellis halved the deficit for the Wellmen early in the second half, but a quickfire double from Noah Daley – a superb volley and dazzling solo goal – made it 5-2.
Ferreira grabbed his second of the night as Taffs Well refused to lie down, but their defence continued to be undone as Daley squared for Thomas to add his fourth of the game in the 67th minute.
The 33-year-old wrapped up a memorable evening with five minutes left on the clock, poking home from close range after Rio Booth’s low delivery was not dealt with. Taffs Well remain seven points adrift of safety with six games to play.
Cambrian United built on their historic JD Welsh Cup quarter-final victory last weekend by coming from behind to win 2-1 away at Afan Lido on Saturday.
Lido went ahead in the 21st minute as Jon Hood lashed home a first time strike into the bottom corner, but Cambrian levelled 10 minutes before half-time when Tim Parker latched onto Harry Treharne’s through ball and sent a delightful lob over Ben Haines.
The visitors’ winning goal arrived just after the hour mark, when a free-kick from the right was headed into his own net by Lido’s Cory Woods. A fourth defeat in five games for Garry Taylor’s side sees them remain two points adrift of safety.
Trefelin staged a superb late comeback from two goals down to triumph 3-2 over Goytre United at Ynys Park on Friday night.
Goytre were 2-0 up after an hour played, with Efan Fletcher providing assists for defenders Adam Robbins and Connor Smith, as they looked to earn three key points in the relegation battle.
However, Trefelin scored three goals in the final 12 minutes to turn the contest around in dramatic style. Substitute Jack Bevan netted three minutes after coming off the bench, before Lee Trundle provided the equaliser and January arrival Joseph Jones bagged the winner as Tref made it back-to-back victories.
Llantwit Major earned a third straight victory as goals from Matty Kimmins and Ioan Emanuel proved enough to overcome Cwmbran Celtic 2-1 at home on Saturday.
Kimmins scored for the third game in a row to open the scoring on 50 minutes, before Emanuel doubled the advantage in the 74th minute.
17-year-old Oscar Balkwill came off the bench to score his first senior goal for Celtic in stoppage time, but it came too late to salvage anything for his side.
Weekend results in full:
Llanelli Town 0-1 Ammanford
Newport City P-P Baglan Dragons
Pontypridd United 4-1 Penrhiwceiber Rangers
Taffs Well 3-7 Carmarthen Town
Trefelin 3-2 Goytre United
Trethomas Bluebirds 1-0 Caerau Ely
Llantwit Major 2-1 Cwmbran Celtic
Afan Lido 1-2 Cambrian United
