Flint Town United earned their joint-second biggest home win in Novira Cymru Premier history as they beat local rivals Holywell Town 5-0 at the Essity Stadium to move five points clear of the relegation zone.
Ben Hughes, who was making his 100th top-flight appearance for Flint, opened the scoring for the hosts inside just six minutes as he ran onto a loose ball and found the bottom corner from close range. Hughes missed a great chance from inside the six-yard box to double his tally later in the half, but he quickly made amends as he assisted Isaac Modi, whose low drive squeezed through the palms of Holywell goalkeeper Alex Swindell to put the Silkmen 2-0 up at half time.
Modi crashed a thunderous effort off the post just three minutes into the second half, but it was not long before Flint did extend their lead as Belgian striker Tunde Owolabi converted the rebound from Modi’s saved shot. South Sudan international Modi continued to torment the Holywell defence as he went on a magnificent solo run into the area and found the bottom corner with a powerful strike to add a fourth goal for Danny Holmes’ side.
Lassana Mendes wrapped up a five-star display from Flint with four minutes of normal time remaining as Hughes dispossessed Casey Bedford and played in Mendes, who rounded Swindell and tapped into an empty net for his third goal of the campaign.
The current Novira Cymru Premier top scorer George Peers scored yet another brace as Airbus UK Broughton secured an entertaining 3-2 over Caernarfon Town at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.
Airbus needed just eight minutes to take the lead in Flintshire as Oliver Lanceley got in front of Jordan Piggott to meet Jordan Evans’ cross and steer the ball into the net via the underside of the crossbar for his first goal of the season.
Caernarfon forward Harry Charsley then went to ground inside the area following a challenge on Evans and he originally received a yellow card for simulation, but a VAR check deemed that there was contact by Evans, allowing Sion Bradley to calmly convert from the penalty spot and bring the visitors level.
Despite being on the wrong side of that drama, Airbus restored their advantage just three minutes into the second half as Evans swung in a pinpoint cross into Evans, who guided his header past Connor Roberts. Peers quickly added a third for the Wingmakers four minutes later as he ran onto Oliver Calland’s through ball which carved open the Caernarfon defence and slotted into the bottom corner for his 16th league goal of the season.
Zack Clarke gave the Cofis a glimmer of hope in stoppage time as he headed home from Bradley’s corner, but a crucial save from Louis Fallon to deny Noah Edwards and a last-ditch block from Josh Stevenson to deny Paulo Mendes ensured Airbus extended their winning run in the league to four matches.
Penybont earned their biggest league victory in over a year as Tom Mehew’s hat-trick inspired a statement 5-0 win over Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Stadium.
Met had a glorious chance to take the lead on 24 minutes when Sam Snaith poked inches wide of the post from just six yards out. That missed chance came back to haunt the Archers as Penybont broke the deadlock five minutes later thanks to a moment of magic from Nathan Wood, who unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the area and watched his effort fly into the net at the near post.
Wood was involved once again just a few moments later as his cross was blocked but only as far as Mehew, who volleyed in the loose ball to make it 2-0 and bag his first of the afternoon. Tyler Walker also added his name to the scoresheet in emphatic fashion as he brought down Mael Davies’ chipped pass and fired into the roof of the net for Bont’s third goal in seven minutes.
Snaith nearly pulled a goal back for Met early in the second half as his looping header struck the crossbar, but Mehew’s neat finish through the legs of Arron Davies on the hour mark gave Bont more comfort. Mehew completed his hat-trick in style two minutes later as he ran onto Marinho Manga’s ball over the top and produced an exquisite first touch to get past Toby Raison before slotting home from a similar position to his second goal. Rhys Griffiths’ side are now seven points behind league leaders The New Saints with a game in hand.
Briton Ferry Llansawel moved six points clear of the relegation zone with an impressive 3-0 victory over Llandudno at The Renewable Centre Stadium.
Llandudno hit the post through Joe Faux early on and Kieran Smith’s low volley forced a crucial block out of Iestyn Jones, but it was Ferry who in fact took the lead in the 24th minute as captain Tom Price fired home the rebound from Corey Hurford’s saved effort.
Luis Bates made an important goal-line clearance to deny Kai Edwards’ close range header and keep Ferry’s clean sheet intact before the Reds ultimately put the game to bed with eight minutes remaining through Ollie Anderson, who tapped into an empty net after meeting Tom Walters’ square ball.
Joe Lloyd rounded off Ferry’s biggest league win of the season in stoppage time by running onto Lowan Herdman’s through ball and slotting past Shaun Pearson for his second goal of the season. Andy Dyer’s side are now just a point behind Llandudno, who are winless in their last eight league games.
Barry Town United produced a first half blitz to claim a 3-0 victory over 10-player Trefelin and earn their first home win in the Novira Cymru Premier for almost two months.
Barry found an early breakthrough on the 15-minute mark as Dan Barton’s corner flew directly over Harlie Jones and into the net. Trefelin also found themselves a man down moments later as Jasper Jones was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball foul on Keston Davies, which also resulted in a penalty for the hosts. Elliott Dugan stepped up from the spot and confidently dispatched his effort down the middle of goal to double his side’s lead.
Noah Daley gave Barry even more breathing space nine minutes before half time as he brought down Dugan’s cross, shaped himself onto his right foot and clinically slotted into the net for the fourth game in a row. Barry’s lead was not threatened in the second half as Steve Jenkins’ side continue to sit in the top six.
Josh Williams and Callum Bratley both scored their first Colwyn Bay goals as the Seagulls triumphed 2-0 against Cambrian United at The Blue Turtle Arena.
Dan Roberts had a goal disallowed for Colwyn Bay in the eighth minute, but the hosts did not have to wait much longer for the opener as Williams picked out the top corner with a clinical effort after his initial shot was blocked by Josh Allen. Jack Kenny came extremely close to doubling Bay’s lead later in the first half as his header from Bratley’s cross bounced back off the post.
Bay eventually found their crucial second goal in the 57th minute though, as Kenny smartly flicked the ball through to Bratley, who raced through on goal and slotted past Kelland Absalom to join Williams in opening his account for the club. Michael Wilde’s side remain fifth in the table and are also still unbeaten on home soil this season.
Dylan Rees’ header and Ifan Knott’s penalty save saw Haverfordwest County secure back-to-back away wins with a 1-0 victory away to Ammanford.
Rees’ decisive goal arrived in first half stoppage time as Greg Walters did well to flick Knott’s long ball onto the Haverfordwest captain, who guided his header past Tom Wright for his first goal in over a year.
Ammanford were reduced to 10 players late in the evening as forward Jonathan Evans was sent off a second bookable offence following his late foul on Kyle McCarthy.
Ammanford did have a chance to level the scoreline against the odds deep into stoppage time though, as Dan Hawkins brought down Callum Thomas inside the area, which resulted in a penalty to the hosts. Thomas himself stepped up to take the penalty, but his spot kick was kept out by Knott, with Luc Owen only able to fire the rebound over the bar. A hard-fought win for the Bluebirds takes them a healthy seven points clear of the bottom three, while Ammanford are now five points adrift of safety.
Nothing could separate The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads as the current Novira Cymru Premier top two played out a goalless draw at Park Hall.
Both defences were on top form throughout the evening, although there were some great chances for both teams as Connah’s Quay Scotsman Max Woodcock had his fierce effort saved by Nathan Shepperd, while TNS forward Brad Young shot wide from just four yards out.
Shepperd came to his side’s rescue again with another diving save, this time to deny Alex Hughes, before Nomads goalkeeper Chris Renshaw pulled off two impressive stops of his own to keep out efforts from Young and Ben Clark. Saints remain six points clear of the Nomads at the top of the table as both sides continued their remarkable unbeaten runs.
Novira Cymru Premier results in full:
Airbus UK Broughton 3-2 Caernarfon Town
Ammanford 0-1 Haverfordwest County
Barry Town United 3-0 Trefelin
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-0 Llandudno
Colwyn Bay 2-0 Cambrian United
Flint Town United 5-0 Holywell Town
Cardiff Met 0-5 Penybont
The New Saints 0-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
