Sam Johnson scored a hat-trick, which included a stoppage time penalty, as Newport City salvaged a point in a thrilling 4-4 Novira Cymru South draw with Pontypridd United at the Newport Stadium on Friday.
An evening of scoring fun began in the seventh minute as Pontypridd striker Gareth Tedstone received a low ball from Kofi Rowe and fired low past Alex Harris to put his team ahead.
Matt Driscoll’s side found themselves three goals to the good heading into half time as Newport defender Drew Heffernan turned Ethan Edwards’ low cross into his own net before Edwards met Jamie Veale’s delivery from the right and saw his effort deflect off Jake Wilson and into the net.
Newport did not surrender despite trailing by three goals, as Heffernan’s cross travelled all the way to the back post, where Jonah Williams squared the ball for Johnson, who tapped in to get the home side on the comeback trail. Pontypridd goalkeeper Ed King made a superb diving save to deny Johnson moments later, but there was nothing King could do about Rio Booth’s fierce low drive from Jak Carson’s cross on 79 minutes as the youngster set up an interesting finish.
Johnson completed a fantastic comeback from the Steelmen with three minutes of normal time remaining as he turned the ball home from Williams’ initial shot.
The late drama was only just getting started though, as Jack Jones thought he had won the game for Pontypridd with a clever free-kick under the Newport wall and into the bottom corner in the second minute of stoppage time, only for his teammate Clayton Farrah to handle the ball inside the area up the other end and allow Johnson to convert from the penalty spot for his eighth goal in three matches. Newport moved to within just one point of safety, while Pontypridd moved level on points with league leaders Pure Swansea.
Llantwit Major climbed out of the bottom three for the first time this season as they claimed a shock 2-0 win over Caerau Ely at Cwrt yr Ala Road.
Major opened the scoring on the half-hour mark courtesy of Cullen Kinsella, who scored his first goal since March by firing home from Connor Goldsworthy’s low cross.
Kinsella’s strike remained the difference for almost half the match, but a piece of brilliance from Tom Stokes put the game to bed on 74 minutes as the Major forward received a short pass from Tom Tweedy, cut inside and curled beautifully into the far corner beyond Harry Irving’s reach. Major saw out the closing stages to keep their first clean sheet away from home for over seven months.
Afan Lido returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at Stebonheath Park.
This match had extra intrigue as former Afan Lido General Manager Lee John departed the club to rejoin Llanelli on Tuesday, but it was still a struggle for the hosts as Liam Griffiths’ header put Lido ahead inside just seven minutes.
Griffiths had the chance to make it a quickfire brace when he stood over a penalty, awarded for a foul on Alex Giardelli inside the area, but Griffiths’ spot kick was beaten away by Luke Masrani before Giardelli fired wide from the rebound.
Griffiths made amends for his penalty miss in the 32nd minute though, as he set up Lido’s second goal by hooking the ball into Giardelli, who produced a clinical half-volley for his sixth goal of the campaign.
Johden De Meyer wrapped things up for the visitors 10 minutes into the second half as Llanelli failed to clear Griffiths’ header back across goal, allowing De Meyer to poke in from close range. Lee Surman’s side are now unbeaten in four out of their last five matches.
Novira Cymru South
Caerphilly Athletic produced a first half blitz to secure an impressive 3-1 victory away to Carmarthen Town at the LHP Stadium.
Caerphilly remarkably opened up a three-goal lead with just 22 minutes on the clock as a defensive mistake from Carmarthen allowed Fin Skiverton to put the visitors in front before Drew Perrett and Jac Evans also added their names to the scoresheet.
Lewis Reed headed home from Luke Cummings’ cross to give Carmarthen a glimmer of hope in the 64th minute, but ultimately the damage was already done early on as Caerphilly held on to earn back-to-back victories.
Trethomas Bluebirds climbed up to seventh in the table with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff Draconians at the CCB Centre.
The Bluebirds made a fast start as Norton Ferreira scored twice inside the opening 16 minutes to move clear at the top of the Novira Cymru South scoring charts.
Sam Cawley halved the deficit for the Dracs heading into the half time interval, but a stunning strike from Ben Taylor in the 58th minute restored the Bluebirds’ two-goal cushion and ultimately sealed all three points.
Weekend results in full:
Llanelli Town 0-3 Afan Lido
Carmarthen Town 1-3 Caerphilly Athletic
Newport City 4-4 Pontypridd United
Caerau Ely 0-2 Llantwit Major
Trethomas Bluebirds 3-1 Cardiff Draconians
Pontardawe Town P-P Ynyshir Albions
Baglan Dragons P-P Aberystwyth Town
Pure Swansea P-P Treowen Stars
