Welsh League Division Two

Ammanford 2 Caerleon 3

Ammanford added new signing Ashley Richards, who transferred from Garden Village in midweek, to the starting line up Saturday and welcomed the return of 100-goal Luke Fayres to their ranks, but it was not enough to secure the win.

Fayres returned on the bench for the start of this crucial match against Caerleon, currently just above Ammanford in the league, but with two games in hand.

In treacherous weather and with Ammanford playing into a gale, the first half soon had the visitors at full stretch, having to defend three corners in the opening 15 minutes.

A pinpoint Chris Hyde cross and an Owen James effort were somehow kept out, but Ammanford had their reward on 35 minutes when they were awarded a penalty when a defender handled on the goal line. However, in spite of all expectations, he escaped a red card.

New boy Richards stepped up to drill home the spot-kick and give Ammanford a deserved lead.

They almost increased the advantage on 40 minutes when James went round a defender, but his shot hit the side netting.

With the wind now in Ammanford’s advantage, it dampened down significantly, and Ammanford deservedly went 2-0 on 60 minutes through a James goal, but there it all ended.

Caerleon players took complete control of the match, firstly scoring direct from a freekick on 70 minutes. They levelled on 75 minutes.

The final nail in the coffin came on 85 minutes, when they claimed the winner and left Ammanford teetering on the brink of a relegation battle.

Ammanford must now win at least half their remaining games to secure second division football next season, but the addition of Richards and Fayres should certainly help.

On Saturday Ammanford travel to Dinas Powys. Their next home game is February 8 against promotion chasing Cardiff Metropolitan University.