Aberystwyth Town ended a run of nine straight defeats in the JD Cymru Premier with a 4-1 victory away to Caernarfon Town on Tuesday night.
Aber scored three times in a remarkable 11-minute period in the first half, with Jonathan Owen opening the scoring in the 23rd minute as he controlled Iwan Lewis’ long ball before slotting into the bottom corner for the opening goal.
The lead was doubled just before the half hour mark when Louis Bradford headed home from Niall Flint’s free-kick, before Flint found the net himself soon after with a close-range finish from Zac Hartley’s low ball. It was the first time Aberystwyth had scored three goals in the first half of a game since April 2022.
Seasiders midfielder Lewis received a straight red card midway through the second half for a foul on Adam Davies inside the penalty area, but the Cofis striker blazed the resulting penalty over the crossbar.
The moment of the match came in the 82nd minute where Flint intercepted Paulo Mendes in midfield and sent a stunning effort beyond goalkeeper Hari Thomas from distance.
Zack Clarke headed home Matty Jones’ cross for a Caernarfon consolation goal in stoppage time, but the night belonged to Aberystwyth who claimed their first away win in the league since March in style.
Victory saw the Seasiders climb off the bottom of the table, with Briton Ferry Llansawel now at the foot of the standings after they 2-1 defeat at home to Haverfordwest County.
The Bluebirds made the perfect start in the 11th minute as Owain Jones’ effort from Jacob Owen’s square pass squeezed through the legs of Ferry goalkeeper Will Fuller, making his first competitive start for the Reds.
Ferry got themselves back on level terms in the 31st minute thanks to an impressive acrobatic volley from Kian Jenkins on the edge of the area, but the visitors restored their lead shortly before the hour mark as Lee Jenkins headed home from Owen’s corner.
Ferry captain Alex Gammond was sent off for a second bookable offence with 11 minutes remaining, and his dismissal ultimately ended the home side’s chances of a comeback.
Barry Town United staged a sensational second half comeback to triumph 4-2 over Newtown at Latham Park.
Zeli Ismail played in Aaron Williams to give the Robins the advantage after 12 minutes, before Ismail’s corner cannoned off Callum Sainty into his own net to double the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Following some stern words from Steve Jenkins at the break, Barry came out firing in the second half. Ollie Hulbert headed in Robbie Willmott’s cross in the 54th minute, before Harrison Bright equalised four minutes later with a cross-turned-shot which outwitted Alex Swindell.
The turnaround was complete in the 69th minute when Sam Snaith latched on to Willmott’s over the top pass and dinked the ball over Swindell, while Keenan Patten wrapped up the win with 10 minutes remaining with composed one-on-one finish.
The result saw Barry climb into the top half, while a third consecutive home defeat for Newtown means they drop down to eighth.
League leaders Penybont dropped points for the first time in four games as they drew 1-1 with Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus.
Owen Pritchard scored his third goal in four games to give Bont the lead after just six minutes, sending a sweetly struck volley low beyond Alex Lang.
Pritchard’s goal remained the difference for the majority of the match, but Met found an equaliser three minutes from time when Tom Vincent fired home the rebound from Jac Clay’s initially blocked shot.
The New Saints moved up to third in the table with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Flint Town United at Park Hall.
Craig Harrison’s side took just six minutes to find the breakthrough as Remi Oteh’s square ball was steered home by Jordan Williams, before Oteh doubled the advantage eight minutes later when he volleyed home the rebound after Jack Flint had saved Ben Clark’s initial effort.
The champions made it three shortly before the break as Dan Williams produced a clinical first time finish into the bottom corner from Jordan Marshall’s low cross.
Oteh completed his brace just before the hour mark, rounding Flint to tap into the empty net, before Adrian Cieslewicz wrapped up the win with a powerful header at the back post from Josh Daniels’ cross in the 72ndminute.
There was nothing to separate Bala Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads in a goalless draw at Maes Tegid.
The best chance of the match fell to Lakesiders skipper Nathan Peate, who was left unmarked from Nathan Burke’s corner, but he could only guide his header wide of the target.
Bala are now winless in their last four matches, while the Nomads have just one win to their name in their last eight.
Midweek results in full:
Bala Town 0-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Briton Ferry Llansawel 1-2 Haverfordwest County
Caernarfon Town 1-4 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff Met 1-1 Penybont
Newtown 2-4 Barry Town United
The New Saints 5-0 Flint Town United
