Kyle Copp marked the reunion with his old club in style, a second-half brace the highlight as Pure Swansea beat Pontardawe Town 4-0 to stay top and unbeaten at Swansea Bay Sports Park.
The win, coupled with second-placed Pontypridd United’s 1-0 home defeat to Afan Lido, moves Jack Midwinter’s side three points clear at the summit of the Novira Cymru South.
Pure dictated the tempo from the first whistle, combining clinical attacking play with a rock-solid defence that limited Pontardawe to just two shots on target.
The hosts wasted no time. Jacob Lund opened the scoring just five minutes in, slotting home to put Pure 1-0 up.
After a competitive spell, the leaders asserted control after the break. Bradley Gibbings cut inside and smashed home to double the lead.
Then came the man the night was always going to be about. Copp, who scored 32 goals for Pontardawe last season before crossing to Sketty Lane, headed home his first in the 71st minute against the club he left in the summer.
Eight minutes later he linked beautifully with his teammates to stretch and poke home his second, sealing an emphatic 4-0 win.
The double vindicated Midwinter’s pre-match verdict on Copp, the manager having called him “like a bus”, a striker whose goals would come in a rush once his rhythm returned. Three in two before kick-off became five in three by the end.
A rivalry renewed from the Ardal South West
The meeting carried more than three points. Pure and Pontardawe were locked in a tense Ardal South West title race last season on their way to promotion to the second tier.
Pontardawe won the opening-day meeting 2-1, but Pure got their revenge with a 3-1 win in April that proved crucial to their league title success.
This time there was no doubt, the afternoon extending a difficult start to the season for a Pontardawe side still without a win since the opening day.
Pure are next in action away to fourth-placed Aberystwyth Town at Park Avenue on Thursday 25 September, the leaders looking to keep their unbeaten record intact.
Pure Swansea
Kane Draper, Harvey Chapman, Jacob Lund (Ricky Kerr 72), Jordan Lloyd-Evans (Philip Jenkins 80), Mason Kelly (Morgan Wright 64), Noah Osbourne, Zac Brown, Ollie Roberts, Bradley Gibbings (Jack Price 80), Kyle Copp, Casey Coughlin (Jack Williams 64).
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PURE SWANSEA: ‘They’re going to want to beat me’: Copp relishes Pontardawe reunion
The striker before facing his old club.
PURE SWANSEA: ‘He’s like a bus’: in-form Copp primed to haunt old club Pontardawe
Jack Midwinter’s preview of the reunion.
PURE SWANSEA: ‘The recognition is for the collective’: Midwinter on his award and the Wales trio
The manager and Coughlin take the monthly awards.
PURE SWANSEA: Eight-goal thriller as Pure and Pontypridd share the spoils
The 4-4 draw that closed out August.
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