The New Saints moved top of the Novira Cymru Premier as Rhys Hughes’ late goal sealed a 1-0 win over Barry Town United, whose six-game winning run came to an end at Park Hall on Saturday.
Mikey George thought he gave Barry the lead inside just nine minutes as he finished a rebound from just a few yards out, but the defender was in a clear offside position, which cut the celebrations short. The visitors had the ball in the net once more as Elliott Dugan headed home from Callum Sainty’s header back across goal, but Sainty was deemed to have fouled Josh Lock when meeting Owen Brain’s free-kick and the goal was ruled out following a VAR check.
George made an outstanding tackle to deny Lock a goalscoring opportunity inside the area before George Ratcliffe made a vital diving save at the near post to deny Jordan Williams’ low drive.
However, Barry’s resilient defensive display was outdone in the most unfortunate circumstances in the 87th minute as Will Richards’ attempted clearance ricocheted back off Hughes’ boot and found the net via the underside of the crossbar to hand Craig Harrison’s side their sixth consecutive victory, which sends them top of the table.
Holywell Town and Trefelin are still awaiting their first Novira Cymru Premier win after both sides played out a 1-1 draw at Barton’s North Wales Stadium.
Trefelin took the lead shortly after the hour mark as Louis Phillips’ cross-turned-shot flew over everyone, including Holywell goalkeeper Alex Swindell, and nestled into the bottom corner. The visitors were left frustrated for failing to double their advantage 15 minutes later through two glorious opportunities as Jasper Jones struck a first-time effort straight at Swindell from seven yards out before Tyler Block blazed over the rebound with Swindell only just getting back to his feet.
Those missed chances proved costly for Tref as Holywell levelled the scoreline with eight minutes of normal time remaining as Connah’s Quay Nomads loanee Harvey Morris scored directly from a corner to salvage a first ever point in the top-flight for the Wellmen.
Airbus UK Broughton secured back-to-back Novira Cymru Premier wins for the first time in nearly 11 years after they beat Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-0 at The Renewable Centre Stadium.
Airbus found the breakthrough on the 20-minute mark thanks to a slick attacking move as George Peers smartly volleyed the ball out to Jordan Evans and made a darting run into the area, where the striker was able to tap home from Evans’ low ball for his third goal in as many games.
Ollie Calland forced a crucial diving save from Will Fuller and Joe Palmer fired over the bar from close range, but it was a slice of luck that saw Airbus double their lead three minutes into the second half as Peers played the ball into Calland, who scored his first goal for the club after his effort deflected off Tom Price and looped into the net, leaving Fuller wrongfooted.
Louis Fallon made a tremendous diving save to deny Luis Bates and ensure the Wingmakers earned their fourth win of the season and kept their clean sheet intact.
Zack Clarke scored twice as Caernarfon Town climbed up to fourth in the table with a 3-0 victory over Flint Town United at The Oval.
Caernarfon were kept at bay for the majority of the first half as Jack Flint made three tremendous diving saves to deny Sion Bradley’s free-kick and powerful efforts from Ryan Sears and Osian Evans.
Flint nearly took the lead against the run of play as Akeel Francis’ free-kick crashed off the post, but the Cofis survived that scare and finally found the breakthrough on the stroke of half time as Clarke received Jordan Piggott’s pass, cut inside and curled beautifully into the bottom corner.
Sears made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Isaac Modi from close range and keep the hosts’ clean sheet alive before Clarke quickly doubled his and Caernarfon’s tally for the evening by tapping in from Evans’ header back across goal.
Evans then scored his first Caernarfon goal since signing a new long-term contract and christening the club’s iconic number 10 shirt, last worn by club legend Darren Thomas, as the youngster received Noah Edwards’ lay-off and drilled home at the near post for his third goal of the campaign. Flint’s Charlie Wilson was denied by the post late on, adding more frustration for the Silkmen, who still await their first win of the season, meanwhile Caernarfon make it four wins from their last five games.
Cambrian United battled back from two goals down to rescue a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Stadium.
Jasper Payne volleyed inches wide and Fumpa Mwandwe had an effort cleared off the line by Josh Beecher as Met threatened for the majority of the first half. The Archers eventually opened the scoring in first half stoppage time through Spencer Dymond-Hall, who headed home from Jack Veale’s corner to open his account for the club.
Sam Jones added a second goal for the Archers just four minutes into the second half as he slid in to meet Harri John’s low ball and finish off a swift attacking move.
Cambrian did not lie down though and immediately halved the deficit as Alex John scrambled the ball home from Caleb-Grant Hughes’ low cross.
Dylan Edwards’ wicked volley from a tight angle and Frazer Thomas’ curling effort from distance both rattled the woodwork, but Cambrian did not have to wait much longer for their equaliser as Harrison Bright ran onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and sent a dipping strike over Arron Davies.
Met had the perfect opportunity to edge back in front late on as Jay Woodford’s foul on Mwandwe inside the area resulted in a penalty. Captain CJ Craven stood over the penalty, but his tame spot-kick was comfortably saved by Kelland Absalom, who ensured Cambrian took home a point. Liam Williams’ side are now unbeaten in five out of their last six matches.
Cammron Morris starred as Llandudno returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Ammanford at the Go Goodwins Stadium.
Morris provided the assist for Llandudno’s opening goal on 16 minutes as his pinpoint cross into the area was met by Nicholas Grogan, who headed into the bottom corner to bag his first competitive goal since February.
Niall Flint thought he had marked his Llandudno debut with a goal as he steered the ball beyond Oli Williams from Ross Weaver’s cross, only to see his goal disallowed after VAR confirmed he was offside.
Joe Hopkins nearly brought Ammanford level as his dipping shot clipped the crossbar before Flint had another goal ruled out at the start of the second half, with Morris offside this time when delivering into the striker at the back post.
Morris gave the Seasiders comfort in the 63rd minute as he received a through ball from Marc Williams, drifted onto his right foot and finished calmly to score his first ever Llandudno goal.
Liam Higgins was next to be denied by the woodwork as his curling effort from the edge of the area bounced back off the post. Llandudno held onto their two-goal lead regardless to secure a fourth straight home win this season.
Penybont maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a narrow 1-0 win over Colwyn Bay at the DragonBet Stadium.
Bont forwards Jonathan Leko and Ryan Hill were forced off the field with separate injuries in the opening 20 minutes. However, substitute Owen Pritchard, who replaced Leko, put the home side ahead in the 28th minute as he controlled Mael Davies’ cutback and placed his close range effort into the top corner.
Chris Venables nearly added a second goal for Bont 10 minutes before half time as he slid in to meet Ethan Vaughan’s free-kick, but was denied by the crossbar. Bont goalkeeper Dan Higgs made crucial saves to deny Ethan Roberts and Callum Bratley, while Lewis Sirrell and Sam Hart saw their shots fly inches wide late in the day as the Seagulls were condemned to a third consecutive away defeat.
Haverfordwest County claimed their first point away from home this season with a 1-1 draw away to Connah’s Quay Nomads at the Essity Stadium.
Connah’s Quay’s deadline day signing Jordan Hodkin had a glorious chance to put his side in the opening seconds of the contest as he was left unmarked when meeting Rhys Watson’s cross, but could only head over the bar.
Joe Ferguson made a crucial block to deny Ben Ahmun a sight of goal early in the second half, but Haverfordwest did not have to wait much longer for the opener as Jack Walker headed home from Rhys Abbruzzese’s corner to score his first goal for the club.
Iwan Murray then headed over the bar from just four yards out, but the Nomads eventually found a way past Luc Rees as Novira Cymru Premier Player of the Month nominee Callum West clipped the ball into Max Woodcock, who bundled home into the bottom corner to score his first domestic goal of the season.
Abbruzzese struck the crossbar with a dipping effort from out wide, while Corey Shephard thought he had restored Haverfordwest’s lead moments later, only for his goal to be ruled out for handball. Abdi Sharif and West were also denied by the crossbar for the Nomads, who were forced to settle for a point despite their pressure in the closing stages. John Disney’s side are unbeaten in their last six games, while Haverfordwest continue their resurgence.
Weekend results in full:
The New Saints 1-0 Barry Town United
Penybont 1-0 Colwyn Bay
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-2 Airbus UK Broughton
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-1 Haverfordwest County
Caernarfon Town 3-0 Flint Town United
Cardiff Met 2-2 Cambrian United
Holywell Town 1-1 Trefelin
Llandudno 2-0 Ammanford
