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Trethomas Bluebirds were a minute away from making it five wins from five in the Cymru South, but had to settle for a draw after visitors Trefelin BGC scored a late equaliser to make it 2-2.

It was a superb match from start to finish, with quality on display all over the pitch at the Centre for Sporting Excellence under the floodlights on Friday night.

An Ethan Edwards brace made it 2-0 to the hosts who came into the match atop the table having won all four matches so far.

Swansea City cult hero Lee Trundle made it 2-1 before a Callum Saunders 95th minute dagger meant the points were shared.

The Bluebirds remain in first, and have a sharp turnaround to face Caerau Ely in another league game on Monday.

Kick-off

It was a fast and frantic start from both, but it was the Bluebirds who had the first chance.

A ball chipped into the channel found striker Gareth Tedstone who crossed first time to midfielder James Young in the box.

Young met the ball before goalkeeper Aaron Jones, who managed to block the shot before taking a clattering for his efforts. He stayed down for a couple of minutes but walked it off.

Trethomas kept the pressure up however, and had a string of dangerous corners before one met the head of Thomas Gameson who put the ball just over the bar to the groans of a crowd of 300.

Having weathered the early storm, Trefelin had a great chance themselves to go ahead.

A mix-up at the back saw captain Jordan Davies break free and get a good shot away. Keeper Harry Irving was equal to it though, and saved well down low.

Trethomas continued to threaten down the right, but it was Trefelin who had the next big chance when Charlie Crosby’s effort just crept wide of the post, with some away fans thinking it was in.

Any momentum either side had was killed when captain Davies was forced off through injury, shortly followed by the loss of danger man Tedstone who grabbed at his hamstring.

With winger Jack Jones now on, Leon Thomas shifted to the middle and Ethan Edwards took-up the left flank; a space he found plenty of joy in.

With Tedstone off, it was a case of find the wingers and cut inside. Something the very speedy Edwards did on several occasions, no shots really threatening though after 40 played.

One man who threatened finally for the first time shortly before the half-time whistle was Lee Trundle.

The 47-year-old barged his way between two defenders before blazing a shot over the bar to jeers from a few.

As was the standard of the match, it felt as though it might be a mistake that changed it, and keeper Jones’ miss kick to Edwards in the box did exactly that.

By far the liveliest player in the first-half, Edwards calmly settled himself and slotted away his fourth goal in as many league games.

Tegid Richards blew his whistle and it was a job well done for the Bluebirds, who were overall the better side in that half, and had a goal to show for it.

Second-half

Anything said at half-time from the coaching staff went out of the window when one minute in, Edwards was barrelling down on goal with no defender in sight.

From a Trefelin corner up the other end, the ball broke kindly to Thomas on the edge of the box who drove into the midfield with one defender in front of him, and Edwards sprinting past.

Thomas timed his pass just right, as Edwards was away with only the keeper to beat. He rounded Jones coolly to make it 2-0 as the place erupted.

With the fans now well-up for it, Trundle was getting some stick as he did his best to get Trefelin back in the game.

He was shut-out superbly by defender Andrew Evans though, who looked as though he could be playing a couple of divisions above as is his composure and football intelligence.

The Bluebirds looked determined to extend their lead further. Pressing high up the pitch, Trefelin were forced to play every pass perfectly to escape.

After 60 minutes played, it was Trethomas who were on top, but the visitors still posed a threat when getting forward as was proven shortly after.

Defender Lee Baldock was beaten down the right by substitute Keane Whitmore whose cross found Trundle in the middle.

He didn’t seem to know much about it, but the ball hit the former Swansea City man on the chest and found the back of the net to make it 2-1 and game on.

The rest of the match was a crazy but brilliant watch for the neutral. Both sides were going at it with great saves on display from both keepers.

The best chance for Trefelin probably fell to Roan Piper who after a neat bit of play between him and Trundle saw the forward get past Irving but leave the ball behind.

With less than ten minutes to go, the Bluebirds were just about hanging-on, when a shot from Piper was blocked off the line by Ryan Bolter before Whitmore missed the rebound from close range.

It was agonising for the fans who could tell this would be a statement win for Trethomas if they could see the game out.

After what felt like an age of injury time, Trefelin were awarded a free kick in what was almost the last touch of the match.

Callum Saunders stepped-up and curled a lovely ball in which in the end didn’t need a touch as it beat Irving and sent the Trefelin dugout into ecstasy.

Heartbreak for the Bluebirds, who although might have taken a point before the match, felt as though they’d lost it at the end.

There was a bit of pushing and shoving between a fan and some players after the match, which was intense from minute one, but overall it was a superb occasion which will live long in the memory.

The Bluebirds remain atop the Cymru South clear of Cambrian United, and are still unbeaten in all competitions.

They face another stiff test on Monday August 26 on the road against Caerau Ely.

Trefelin sit fourth but will almost certainly be contenders if that performance was anything to go by.

Reaction

After the match, Caerphilly Observer spoke to assistant manager Matthew Jones. He said: “On reflection it was probably a fair result. Both sides had chances with Harry [Irving] making some exceptional saves tonight to keep us in it.

“It’s life at this level. Each game we play is a tough test and after the start we’ve had we know sides will want to take points off us.”

With a quick turnaround of only a few days, Jones was asked how they’ll prepare: “It’s a tough one but I’ve always said we carry a squad of 18/19 players who can all perform at this level.

“We just have to make sure the recovery is right for the boys over the weekend before another test in Caerau on Monday.”