Brecon Corries strike late to end Town's title hopes

A dramatic finale at the Rich Field saw Caerphilly Athletic crowned Elite Stands UK Ardal South East champions after Brecon Corries netted an 85th-minute equaliser against title-chasing Cwmbran Town in a 2-2 draw.

The visitors thought they had opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but Alex Davies's close-range effort was deemed not to have crossed the line by referee Paul Walters.

Corries responded three minutes later when Joel Evans headed wide of goal from a deep free-kick played into the penalty area.

Abdul Ibrahim drove into the hosts' penalty area in the 14th minute, but saw his attempt on target blocked before Corries' Kai Saurin's close-range effort was blocked.

Kristian Wharton went close with a24th minute free-kick from just over 30 yards prior to Jamie Williams breaking into the Cwmbran penalty area and seeing his shot blocked.

Dan Prichard fired an effort narrowly over the crossbar before Sam Davies's header from a 34th minute corner was deflected behind for another corner to the Monmouthshire outfit.

Damien Daniels' charges ended the first-half strongly as Cwmbran appeared to be showing some nerves. Dale Evans' 25-yard free-kick was comfortably saved by Callum Brain before Conor Acton's close-range attempt was deflected over the crossbar.

Following a goalless opening 45 minutes, Corries broke the deadlock six minutes after the interval when skipper Dale Evans curled a low 20 yard free-kick around the defensive wall and inside Brain's near post.

Home keeper Steve Price was forced to punch away Ibrahim's 25-yard free-kick two minutes after the restart.

Harry Grinham's header was saved by Price prior to Luke Roughley's 25-yard piledriver being turned over the crossbar by Brain on the hour mark.

Sam Davies directed a header wide of the far post from a 63rd-minute free-kick delivered from out on the left flank before Eliot Taylor's close-range effort was cleared off the line eight minutes later after free-kick into the penalty area was not cleared by the hosts.

The Crows were back on level terms in the 73rd minute when Alex Davies raced on to a through ball from substitute Christian O'Donnell before rounding Price and scoring into an unguarded net.

The visitors nearly went ahead nine minutes later as Blake Tovey moved around the advancing Price, but played the ball wide of goal.

However, the travelling Cwmbran supporters were in dreamland with six minutes of normal time remaining when substitute Jack Pwetner forced the ball over the line from close-range after O'Donnell's low 25 yard free-kick had come back off an upright.

The joy was soon dampened within 60 seconds of the restart when Corries substitute Mitchell Davies chased a long ball played forward, which was not cleared by the Crows' defence, and fired into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors pushed for a winning goal, but were unable to make the breakthrough, with Alex Davies being denied by Price from close-range in stoppage-time, and the celebrations could begin for Caerphilly Athletic.

Cwmbran will have a second opportunity to secure a place in JD Cymru South via the promotion play-off, while Brecon Corries could finish in fifth position with a victory in one of their two remaining fixtures.