Afan Lido scored a late winner against local rivals Briton Ferry to put themselves top of the JD Cymru South.
Briton Ferry took the lead after just three minutes thanks to a well-taken goal from striker Luke Bowen. Afan Lido levelled from the spot just six minutes later with Liam McCreesh smashing home the penalty. Afan Lido then took the lead early in the second half as captain Liam Griffiths guided a header past the Ferry keeper.
Briton Ferry had a penalty of their own in the 56th minute. Bowen stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to get his second and level the game again.
It was late drama as Afan Lido took all three points thanks to a free-kick goal scored by substitute Christian Davies in the 94th minute.
The result sees Afan Lido sit top of the JD Cymru South and still unbeaten in the league. Briton Ferry drop to second in the table after six games played.
The game got off to a flying start as Briton Ferry took an early lead after just three minutes. A cross played in by forward Thomas Walters wasn’t dealt with by the Lido defence and bobbled to the feet of Luke Bowen, who spun and fired a shot low past the goalkeeper.
But Lido were gifted the opportunity to level from the spot after a soft penalty given for a push during a free kick. The penalty was smashed home to the bottom left corner by midfielder Liam Mccresh putting the game level on nine minutes.
The first card of the game came just a minute later as Ferry captain Alex Gammond picked up a yellow for a late challenge.
Walters was continuing to cause havoc for the Lido defence constantly running in behind. He found himself through on goal but was denied by Lido keeper Exauce Dimonekene, who did brilliantly to get out and stop the shot.
The fast-paced action continued as another Ferry cross fell this time to Declan Evans whose shot from the left side of the area was deflected onto the post.
It looked as though Ferry had a spot kick of their own after Connor Goldsworthy was played through by Bowen and taken out by Dimonekene. The referee felt that Goldsworthy went down too easily and he was booked for simulation.
The Ferry pressure continued as a cross from Ryan George found a towering Bowen at the back stick but he headed down just past the post.
A minute later it looked as though Lido had taken the lead as a free kick was headed towards goal by captain Liam Griffiths but Rhys Wilson in goal for Ferry managed to keep it from going over the line with his legs.
It looked as the missed opportunity would cost them as Ferry broke the other way. The ball was played up towards Tyler Brock who was cleaned out after finding a pass to Jack Hurley. The referee looked to play advantage as Hurley played a great ball into the box towards Bowen. Bowen controlled the ball down well before firing a shot towards goal, but yet again Dimonekene was there to deny him a second.
Another chance fell the way of Briton Ferry after a poor pass from Lido defender Babucar Sane. Brock played Harley down the right side as his cross was flicked towards goal by Walters before being deflected out for a corner. The resulting corner was headed towards goal by towering Ferry centre back Kris Evans but was cleared off the line. That was the final chance of an action-packed first 45 minutes.
The frantic action continued in the second half with both sides coming out of the blocks looking to gain the lead. Ferry fullback Ryan George was booked after a late challenge on Lido midfielder Ioan Evans.
And it was from the resulting free kick that Lido took the lead on the 48th minute. A long ball in to the box from Sacha Walters found Griffiths at the back post and he steered a header beyond the keeper.
Shortly after Lido defender Jackson Hall picked up a yellow after a penalty area scuffle from a corner. And it was this that led to Briton Ferry getting the opportunity to level from the spot. After a discussion between the officials, the referee pointed to the spot to the bemusement of most in the ground.
Ferry scorer Bowen stepped up and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way for his second of the game and level it again after 56 minutes. Lido manager Paul Evans was also booked for quizzing the referee on his decision to award the penalty.
Ferry almost took the lead just minutes later as Walters again played Hurley down the right and his cross found Brock unmarked but he headed over the bar.
As the clock ticked over 75 minutes the game looked to have opened up with tired legs over the field and both teams looking for a winning goal. The important substitution came in the 80th minute as Christopher Jones replaced Joshua Webber for Afan Lido.
As Ferry pushed for a route back into the game, goalscorer Bowen went in the book for simulation in the area after brilliantly beating two defenders on his way into the area before going down.
Then came the late drama as Briton Ferry keeper Wilson was shown a straight red card after handling the ball outside the area attempting to stop a Lido through ball over the top. Ferry substitute keeper Aaron Jones entered the pitch. His first action was to deal with the Lido free kick.
Afan Lido substitute Jones stepped up to smash the free kick towards the net, and a deflection from a teammate on its way through saw the strike trickle through.
Ten man Ferry pushed for an equaliser but it was in vain as the home side held on for all three points.
Afan Lido – Exauce Dimonekene (GK), Travis James, Matthew Beynon, Jackson Hall, Sacha Walters, Liam Mccreesh, Liam Griffiths, Ioan Evans (Norton Ferreira 74’) Joshua Webber (Christopher Jones 80’) Bradley Flay, Babucar Sauane
Goals: Liam Mccreesh 7, Liam Griffiths 48, Christopher Jones 90+4
Yellow Cards: Liam Mccreesh 37’ Matthew Beynon 41’ Jackson Hall 52’ Sacha Walters 55’ Liam Griffiths 83’
Briton Ferry Llansawel – Rhys Wilson (GK), Declan Evans, Alex Gammond, Kris Evans, Tyler Brock (Jasper Payne 63’) Jack Hurley, Thomas Walters (Josh Bull 74’) Luke Bowen, Connor Goldsworthy ( Cameron Berry 63’) (Aaron Jones (GK) 90+2’) Ryan George, Joseph Jones
Goals: Luke Bowen 3’ 56’
Yellow Cards: Alex Gammond 10’ Connor Goldsworthy 32’ Ryan George 49’ Kris Evans 52’ Luke Bowen 86’
Red Cards: Rhys Wilson (GK) 90+1’
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