PURE SWANSEA: Honours even as late Afan Lido equaliser denies Pure a sensational comeback in 5-5 thriller

A late Afan Lido equaliser denied Pure Swansea a sensational comeback win, as the Novira Cymru South leaders drew 5-5 at Princess Margaret Way on Friday night.

It was a breathless, end-to-end affair, with both sets of fans entertained in a great advert for Welsh league football.

Pure had conceded only six league goals all season before Friday. They let in five at Afan Lido and still came away unbeaten.

Alex Giardelli hat-trick puts Afan Lido 4-1 up

The first half was one for the neutral, with seven goals before the break.

Alex Giardelli opened the scoring in the 12th minute, slotting home a left-wing cross at the back post.

Ten minutes later his predatory instinct brought a second, firing in after a long-range effort had cannoned against the Pure crossbar.

Bradley Gibbings has rarely been out of the action since signing in the summer, and his slick first-time finish into the bottom left-hand corner reduced the arrears.

Lido’s long throws were causing problems in the Pure box, and they soon had their two-goal lead back. When the ball popped up at the back post, winger Brandon Roberts improvised a brilliant acrobatic volley past Kane Draper.

Giardelli completed his hat-trick in the 35th minute. A long ball from the back picked out his run, and he took a touch and slotted confidently past Draper for his fifth of the season.

Dan Ingram and Kyle Copp hit back before the break

Pure would not lie down. Full-back Dan Ingram supported the attack to finish off Kyle Copp’s lay-off with half-time approaching.

Copp then blasted in a penalty deep in stoppage time, and Pure went in only 4-3 down.

Copp and Coughlin turn the game on its head

Jack Midwinter’s side levelled after the break, with the prolific Copp adding his second of the night. It was his eighth league goal of the season, which makes him Pure’s top scorer.

Pure’s man of the match, Ollie Roberts, made a surging run from the halfway line before unselfishly teeing up the former Pontardawe Town man to slot home.

With Lido shell-shocked, Pure went in front for the first time. Casey Coughlin scored from the penalty spot, his seventh league goal of the season.

Sean Cronin snatches a point for Afan Lido

The lead lasted until the dying seconds, and Pure thought they had secured the three points.

But centre-half Sean Cronin squeezed a dramatic equaliser through a crowded defence to earn Lido a share of the spoils.

It is the second time this season Pure have shared eight goals or more in a league game, after the 4-4 draw with Pontypridd United.

Pure stay top as Pontypridd and Aberystwyth drop points

Pure remain top despite the draw, after second-placed Pontypridd United and Aberystwyth Town both dropped points.

A late Tobias Jones strike earned Baglan Dragons a 1-1 draw with Pontypridd at Evans Bevan Playing Fields on Saturday afternoon.

In-form Caerau Ely were the big winners of the day, making it five wins in a row to climb to fourth. George Sheppard’s second-half goal was enough to beat Aberystwyth 1-0 at Park Avenue.

Pure are not in action again for a fortnight. They host ninth-placed Treowen Stars at Swansea Bay Sports Park on Saturday, 24 October (2.30pm kick-off).

Pure Swansea team at Afan Lido

Pure Swansea: Kane Draper, Daniel Ingram (Noah Osbourne 91), Jacob Lund, Ollie Roberts, Zac Brown (Morgan Wright 91), Jordan Hughes (capt), Tom Johnston (Ricky Kerr 62), Mason Kelly (Dan Williams 62), Bradley Gibbings, Kyle Copp, Casey Coughlin.