Trefelin earned their ninth consecutive JD Cymru South win with a statement 4-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Ammanford at the Rec on Friday night.
Trefelin were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute when Luke Bowen was fouled by Luke Sylvester inside the area. Bowen saw his spot-kick saved by Luke Martin, but Tyler Brock reacted quickly and tucked away the rebound to find the breakthrough.
Bowen had the chance to convert from the penalty spot again seven minutes later when Babucar Sauane’s dangerous challenge inside the area resulted in a straight red card for the Ammanford defender. Bowen stepped up and this time made no mistake, firing into the bottom corner and sending Martin the wrong way in the process.
Things got even better for the visitors on the stroke of half-time as Roan Piper finished off a swift counter-attack by slotting past Martin just moments after Euros Griffiths, who was making his 500th appearance for Ammanford, saw his header remarkably saved by Scott Coughlin.
Tref captain Jordan Davies put the game to bed just after the hour mark as his corner flew directly into the far corner. It brought an end to Ammanford’s nine-match unbeaten streak at home in the JD Cymru South, although they do still remain in third place.
Trefelin remain five points adrift of top spot, but do have two games in hand on leaders Cambrian United, who continued their stellar form with a 2-0 victory over Newport City at the M&P Group 3G on Friday night.
The contest was goalless at the break, but Cambrian captain Kyle Jones found the breakthrough for his side four minutes after the restart.
Alex Bonthron, making his first start for the Cam Army since joining from Llanelli Town earlier this month, doubled the advantage in the 77th minute to seal all three points for Liam Williams’ side, who now have six straight league wins and three consecutive clean sheets.
Zach McKenzie scored a 97th-minute winner as Aberystwyth Town climbed up to fifth in the table with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cardiff Draconians at Park Avenue on Saturday.
Both sides made a fast start in mid-Wales as Aberystwyth forward Jonathan Evans turned home Rackeem Reid’s cross inside just three minutes, only for Luke Davies to bring the Dracs level with a free-kick from the edge of the area.
Substitute Tom Mason, who replaced the injured Ben Davies, scored his first senior goal to restore Aber’s lead shortly before half-time as the youngster received Reid’s lay-off and fired into the bottom corner.
Harry Treharne’s low volley from Craig Wilcox’s cross looked to have salvaged a point for the Dracs in stoppage time, but there was more drama to follow as McKenzie headed home from Dylan Downs’ corner to give Aber all three points.
Dan Griffiths scored a hat-trick as Caerau Ely moved to within three points of the promotion places with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Trethomas Bluebirds at the CCB Centre on Friday night.
Caerau opened the scoring in the 19th minute as George Sheppard’s low cross found its way through to Griffiths, who poked the ball into the bottom corner. Brandon Griffiths equalised for the Bluebirds against his former club with a clinical effort from inside the area, but Dan Griffiths restored Caerau’s lead with his second of the evening as he nodded home from Sheppard’s corner.
The hosts were awarded a penalty early in the second half only for Elliott Jones to deny Tom McLean from the spot, but Griffiths completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes by receiving Conor McNamara’s through ball and calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
Luke Gullick and Ollie Redhead both produced clinical lobs over Jones to round off a five-star performance from the Young Guns, who secured their first away win in the league since the start of October.
JD Cymru South
Carmarthen Town ended their seven-match winless run in the JD Cymru South with a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Afan Lido on Friday night.
The decisive moment arrived with 76 minutes on the clock as Liam Thomas haunted his former club by tapping home from Toby Jones’ cross. The Old Gold are now up to sixth in the table, while Lido dropped down to 15thplace, but still seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Baglan Dragons kept back-to-back league clean sheets for the first time this season after playing out a goalless stalemate away to Ynyshir Albions on Saturday.
Both sides created few chances in tough conditions at the Ynyshir Oval, although some crucial late defending from the Dragons ensured they went home with a point. The result sees the Buns climb up to 14th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone, while the Dragons are up to 10th.
Weekend results in full:
Afan Lido 0-1 Carmarthen Town
Ammanford 0-4 Trefelin
Cwmbran Celtic P-P Pontypridd United
Cambrian United 2-0 Newport City
Trethomas Bluebirds 1-5 Caerau Ely
Llantwit Major P-P Treowen Stars
Ynyshir Albions 0-0 Baglan Dragons
Aberystwyth Town 3-2 Cardiff Draconians
