Ammanford win while others are sidelined
TITLECHASING Carmarthen Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Trostre Sports in the Premier division of the LTC Mobility Carmarthenshire League.
After going behind to a goal inside the first five minutes from Shaun Dafydd Williams, Trostre rescued a point when Corey Thomas equalised in the 89th minute.
In the remaining game in the division, Seaside twice let a lead slip in the 2-2 draw against visiting Dafen.
After having a fifth-minute goal from Owain Goddard cancelled out early in the second half, Seaside had striker Dai Hughes red-carded in the 55th minute before regaining the lead through Steve Stone 10 minutes later.
Both the Dafen goals were scored by Rhys Winnett.
The programme was badly affected by the weather and only a handful of matches were played.
All the games in division one, division two, reserve division two and reserve division 3B were postponed because of heavy rain.
Three ties survived in the Senior Cup, and in the second round a hattrick from Dan Anderson helped Penyfan United to a hard-fought 3-2 win at Llandovery Town.
After going behind to one of two goals from Chris Hyde, one of them a penalty, Anderson scored his first to equalise on the stroke of half-time.
A cracking 25-yard shot from Anderson gave the visitors the lead for the first time on 60 minutes, only to see the advantage cancelled out five minutes later when the referee awarded Llandovery a penalty. Hyde made no mistake with the spot-kick.
Penyfan were not to be denied, however, with Anderson grabbing the winner and completing his hattrick in the 70th minute.
Also in the second round, Pontlliw battled back to knock out visiting Llangennech 4-2 in a thrilling tie.
Trailing to a strike from Jack Yelland in the 10th minute, Pontlliw hit back immediately with two goals in seven minutes to take control.
James Howells netted twice and there were goals for Dan Smale and Dan McGhee to put Pontlliw 4-1 ahead early in the second half.
To their credit, the visitors battled to reduce the arrears and they scored in the 72nd minute thanks to substitute Chris Doran.
In the one third-round tie, striker Craig Frater grabbed a hat-trick for Ammanford Town Reserves in the 5-2 win at Burry Port. It was 2-2 at the break.
The only other game played was in reserve division one, and runaway leaders Evans & Williams suffered a first league defeat when going down 8-4 at home to second-placed Gorseinon Athletic Reserves.
Gareth Phillips scored five of the goals for Gorseinon, and it was 4-1 in their favour at half-time.
John Dixon netted twice for Gorseinon, the other goal scored by striker Nathan Logan.
Apart from being gifted an own goal, Max Borgessi, Shane Price and Stephen Banfield found the back of the net for Evans & Williams Reserves.
Despite the setback, Evans & Williams still hold a commanding 13-point lead and have a game in hand on Gorseinon Athletic at the top of the table.
On Saturday there are seven games scheduled in the Premier division, and for defending champions Bwlch Rangers it will be a last chance to shine before the crunch away tie against Giants Grave in the fourth round of the West Wales Intermediate Cup on February 2.
Loughor Rovers are their opponents this weekend, and Bwlch will be disappointed if they can’t claim the three points on home territory.
When the two teams played each other in Loughor in the league in Oc- tober, it finished in a 1-1 draw.
The only other survivors from the Premier division are Trostre Sports, and a maximum return from the clash against visiting Pwll Athletic will put everyone in good heart for the tough away tie against Plough Colts.
The game between Evans & Williams and visiting Gorseinon Athletic is too tight to call, as is Seaside against Carmarthen Stars. All four teams are involved in the title race.
Division one promotion contenders Johnstown are on a high right now, having surpassed expectations in the West Wales Intermediate Cup. A place in the quarter-finals will be up for grabs when they host Mumbles Rangers.
Before that happens Johnstown travel to play Kidwelly Town in a tricky league game.
As for the big game in the division, it is without doubt the one between Burry Port and visiting Pontlliw. It promises to be a cracker.
The top two in division two are away from home, and both are favourites to claim maximum points.
West End United and FC Carmarthen journey to Drefach and Hendy respectively, so at the end of 90 minutes there could be no change at the top of the table.