Penybont FC reach the halfway point in their Welsh League First Division season on Saturday are are still unbeaten.
Manager Rhys Griffiths and his team are top of the table, two points ahead of Haverfordwest County with a game in hand, and are at home against Goytre FC this weekend (Saturday, 2pm).
In their latest fixture Bridgend-based Penybont had Kieran Howard sent off and fought back from behind twice against Afan Lido top earn a 3-3 draw at the Kymco Stadium.
“It feels as though I played, I am emotionally shattered,” said Griffiths. “Lido were much the better team in the first half and played really well. Credit to them.
Penybont audioboom post Afan Lido 3-3 draw. @RhysGriffiths9 https://t.co/EACSveUGBU
— Penybont FC (@PenybontFC_) January 13, 2019
“In contrast we were poor, although we did have chances. We were a man down, but I can’t argue with that decision.
“Thankfully, in the second half we were tremendous. I am over the moon with that 45 minutes.
“In the end I am content with a draw which extended our unbeaten League record.”
Luke Borrelli fired Penybont ahead after two minutes, running onto a defence splitting pass to score.
Lido went close when Lewis Holmes headed against the bar from a deep corner, but then Borrelli almost doubled Penybont’s lead with a shot which was saved by goalkeeper Rory McCreesh.
At the other end Mark Jones went for goal and forced a big save from Rhys Wilson.
Ben Thomas equalised for Lido when he headed a Craig Jones free-kick into the top corner.
The teams were locked on 1-1 at half-time, but Penybont had Howard dismissed for a second yellow card.
Afan Lido went ahead when Sasha Walters cut a low cross back from the byline and Mark Jones swivelled to fire home.
Borrelli made it 2-2 from a penalty after Kane Owen was brought by goalkeeper McCreesh.
Alex Gammons then headed Lido’s third goal from Walters’ corner to put them ahead again before Marcus Griffiths competed the scoring in a 3-3 draw.
Penybont: Rhys Wilson (capt), Adam Carpenter, Kane Owen, Kieran Howard, Oli Dalton, Sam Rodon, James Saddler, Cullen Kinsella, Curtis Hutson (Kostya Georgievsky), Luke Borrelli (Ben Symmons), Owain Warlow (Marcus Griffiths). Subs not used: Marcus Griffiths, Mackensie Kay, Rhys Griffiths.
Alan Lido: Rory McCreesh, Craig Jones, James Parry, Alex Gammond, Lewis Holmes, Liam McCreesh (capt), Jack Hurley, Mark Jones, Chris Hartland (Patrick Finneral), Sasha Walters, Ben Thomas (Jack Fleming). Subs not ued: Jack Todd, Carlos Indjai, Noah Daley.
Referee: Richard Harrington.
Only two points separate the top three in Division Two with Monmouth Town leading the way. Abergavenny Town and Croesyceliog are in close order and Monmouth have played more fixtures than either of them.
Trefelin BGC are top of Welsh League Division Three and on course for promotion.
The Nathaniel Car Sales Welsh League Cup holders, who defeated Llanelli 2-1 in last season’s final, lifted that trophy after missing out on promotion behind Swansea University and Bridgend Street.
Trefelin added 42-year-old former Swansea City goals ace Lee Trundle to their squad this month, but they slipped up 4-3 against Pontyclun in their latest fixture.
Trundle had scored 12 goals for Haverfordwest County this season, but moved on because of work commitments as a club ambassador for the Swans.
He netted 79 goals in two seasons for Llanelli before moving to Haverfordwest when the Reds earned promotion to Welsh Premier League football.
Trundle scored Trefelin’s first goal against Pontyclun from a penalty and then created the second when he whipped a ball in behind the defence and Jamie Latham finished superbly.
Trefelin led 3-2 thanks to a second goal by Trundle, who headed in a Damon Thomas corner, but poor defending let Pontyclun back in and they emerged 4-3 winners with a superbly struck free-kick.
Trefelin’s Thomas is top scorer in Division Three on 22 goals, while Trundle has netted three so far
Results, Welsh League Division One: Goytre FC v Haverfordwest County, postponed; Llantwit Major 0, Cwmamman United 1; Pontypridd Town 0, Cwmbran Celtic 2; Port Talbot Town 2, Briton Ferry Llansawel 1; Ton Pentre 0, Goytre United 2; Undy Athletic 2, Alan Lido 5; Ammanford v Taffs Well, postponed; Cambrian and Clydach v Penybont, postponed.
Division One fixtures this weekend:
Friday: Ammanford v Haverfordwest County (postponed), Goytre United v Afan Lido (7.30pm).
Saturday: Cwmbran Celtic v Briton Ferry Llansawel (2pm), Penybont v Goytre FC (2pm), Pontypridd Town v Cwmamman United (3pm), Port Talbot Town v Ton Pentre (2pm), Taffs Well v Llantwit Major (2pm), Undy Athletic v Ammanford (2pm).
Welsh League clubs Haverfordwest County plus Cambrian and Clydach both play in the JD Sports Welsh Cup last 16 this weekend.
County entertain Bala Town, while Cambrian are at home against Rhyl.
JD Sports FAW Cup last 16:
Saturday, January 26: Bangor City v Caernarfon Town (7.30pm), Carmarthen Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads (2.30pm), Haverfordwest County v Bala Town (2.30pm), Barry Town United v Cefn Druids (2.30pm),Airbus UK Broughton v The New Saints (2.30pm), Cambrian and Clydach v Rhyl, Aberystwyth Town v Cardiff Metropolitan, Llangefni Town v Llandudno.
Welsh League Division One 2018-2019
| POS | NAME | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | |
| 1 | Penybont | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 14 | 36 | |
| 2 | Haverfordwest County | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 46 | 14 | 34 | |
| 3 | Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 15 | 33 | |
| 4 | Afan Lido | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 31 | 33 | |
| 5 | Cwmbran Celtic | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 31 | 34 | 27 | |
| 6 | Goytre United | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 16 | 25 | |
| 7 | Cwmamman United | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 19 | 25 | |
| 8 | Ammanford | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 30 | 22 | |
| 9 | Llantwit Major | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 21 | |
| 10 | Undy Athletic | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 30 | 19 | |
| 11 | Briton Ferry Llansawel | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 15 | |
| 12 | Port Talbot Town | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 32 | 15 | |
| 13 | Ton Pentre | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 41 | 14 | |
| 14 | Goytre | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 18 | 34 | 13 | |
| 15 | Taffs Well | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 28 | 11 | |
| 16 | Pontypridd Town | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 42 | 11 |
Welsh League Division Two 2018-2019
| POS | NAME | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | |
| 1 | Monmouth Town | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 49 | 26 | 37 | |
| 2 | Abergavenny Town | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 17 | 36 | |
| 3 | Croesyceiliog | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 40 | 29 | 35 | |
| 4 | Caerau (ELY) | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 16 | 32 | |
| 5 | Caldicot Town | 20 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 44 | 32 | 32 | |
| 6 | STM Sports | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 18 | 30 | |
| 7 | Bridgend Street | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 46 | 36 | 28 | |
| 8 | Swansea University | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 19 | 27 | |
| 9 | Pontardawe Town | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 27 | 24 | |
| 10 | Garden Village | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 35 | 35 | 22 | |
| 11 | Risca United | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 50 | 20 | |
| 12 | West End | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 61 | 18 | |
| 13 | Aberbargoed Buds | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 17 | |
| 14 | Dinas Powys | 21 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 25 | 50 | 17 | |
| 15 | AFC Llwydcoed | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 32 | 65 | 15 | |
| 16 | Aberdare Town | 20 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 20 | 86 | 5 |
Welsh League Division Three 2018-2019
| POS | NAME | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | |
| 1 | Trefelin Boys & Girls Club | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 55 | 20 | 42 | |
| 2 | Penrhiwceiber Rangers | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 12 | 34 | |
| 3 | Trethomas Bluebirds | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 41 | 23 | 33 | |
| 4 | Pontyclun | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 21 | 31 | |
| 5 | Tredegar Town | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 21 | 29 | |
| 6 | Penydarren BGC | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 9 | 24 | |
| 7 | Panteg | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 23 | 24 | |
| 8 | Ynysygerwn | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 26 | 23 | |
| 9 | Chepstow Town | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 46 | 18 | |
| 10 | Treharris Athletic Western | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 17 | |
| 11 | Newport City | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 27 | 39 | 15 | |
| 12 | AFC Porth | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 32 | 15 | |
| 13 | Treowen Stars | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 14 | |
| 14 | Albion Rovers | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 31 | 9 | |
| 15 | Ely Rangers | 17 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 25 | 53 | 7 | |
| 16 | Caerau | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 16 | 51 | 7 |