Welsh League Division Three

Ammanford 2 Newport YMCA 1

A Craig Frater brace was enough to ensure Ammanford overcame Newport YMCA 2-1 on Saturday at the Rec, writes Nick Davies.

The win saw Gruff Harrison’s men rise to fourth in the league with a hatful of games in hand on the sides above them.

The home side started on the front foot and their first real opportunity came after ten minutes when Ashley Richards headed over from a Frater cross.

The hosts did gain the upper hand when, after Brett Enoch was brought down on the left wing, Dayle Selvage whipped in a free-kick which Frater dragged away from goal before scoring on the angle.

Newport were nearly back on level terms straight from the restart as James Kirkwood in the Ammanford goal raced out of his area and was beaten by a deflected effort from the visitors, but Euros Griffiths was on hand to save his keeper’s blushes and clear the danger.

Three minutes later, the visitors earned a free-kick and when the set-piece was fired goalward, Newport’s claims of a handball in the box were dismissed by the referee.

The hosts found themselves under increasing pressure and when Rhys Owen lost the ball in his own area, he could count himself lucky when the shot fell just wide.

The Carmarthenshire outfit had an opportunity to double the lead on 33 minutes when Frater latched onto a defender’s mistake, but his shot ricocheted off one post and onto the other.

Frater had one more chance before the interval when Owen launched a long ball forward and the striker brought it down well but his shot was deflected wide.

After the break, the hosts almost got a quick goal when Rhys Fisher met a corner, but his header was caught. Then on 53 minutes, Enoch crossed for Frater but his volley attempt went wide.

Kirkwood’s diving stop denied the away side from a free-kick and Ammanford went up the other end, where Frater cut inside and played it to Alec Squires, but his shot was sent straight at the keeper.

Kirkwood again denied YMCA on 75 minutes, as they searched for an equaliser. But, Frater put his side two ahead when Enoch squared for Rhys Fisher, whose deflected shot fell for the frontman to tap in.

Almost immediately the Newport forwards dodged the whole Ammanford defence before reducing the deficit.

But, the hosts held on to maintain their 100 per cent league status and move within a point of second with six games in hand on the sides above them.