Airbus UK Broughton moved to the top of the JD Cymru North with a 2-1 victory over Gresford Athletic at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Friday night.
Gresford opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Paul Johnson bundled the ball into the net after Airbus failed to deal with Haci Ozlu’s low cross. The Colliers skipper has now scored in three consecutive away league games.
The visitors took their narrow lead into half-time, but Airbus were level eight minutes after the restart as George Peers controlled Kieran Evans’ teasing cross and fired home his 17th league goal of the season from eight yards out.
Dan Collins completed the turnaround 10 minutes later as he prodded the ball into the bottom corner from Blaine Hudson’s cushioned header for his first league goal in almost a year. A fourth consecutive league win for Airbus takes them a point above Llandudno, who now have two games in hand after their fixture away to Flint Mountain was postponed.
Third-place Holywell Town returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Mold Alexandra at Bartons North Wales Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides came close to scoring in the first half as Holywell duo Joe Sullivan and Jamie Breese had two shots each saved by Joe Smith before Mold captain Henry Nash stood over a free-kick which forced John Danby into a fine save.
However, Sullivan was not to be denied at the third time of asking as he broke the deadlock on 52 minutes by converting the rebound from his own saved effort. Mold’s task of searching for an equaliser was made difficult when Rhys Nash was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 69th minute.
Craig Lindfield wrapped up all three points for the Wellmen late on with a poacher’s finish into the bottom corner.
Johnny Haseldin’s side are now 11 points clear of fourth-place Newtown, who were beaten 1-0 by Denbigh Town at Central Park on Saturday.
Both sides found it tough to create any major opportunities, but Denbigh found the breakthrough two minutes before half-time as Dan Flanders’ header from Nathan Brown’s corner found the net via the post.
Newtown came agonisingly close to a stoppage-time equaliser through teenage substitute Scott Moncrieff, but his powerful strike was denied by the crossbar. Denbigh have now won three consecutive league matches for the first time in two years, while they are now just three points behind Newtown who are winless in their last six league games.
Tommy Rowlands scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point for Caersws in a 2-2 draw at home against Holyhead Hotspur on Saturday.
Connor Owen scored from Craig Whelan’s corner to put Holyhead in front seven minutes before half-time, which remained the difference for the majority of the second half, but Caersws found their equaliser in the 82nd minute thanks to Dillon Browne’s fourth league goal of the season.
There was late drama as Owen put the away side ahead once more with what seemed to be the winning goal on 92 minutes, but there was another twist as Rowlands popped up just seconds later to rescue a point for the Bluebirds.
January signing Ryan Knott scored twice as Guilsfield secured an entertaining 3-2 victory over Ruthin Town at Latham Park on Saturday.
Ruthin took the lead in the 34th minute as Tom Roberts’ low cross deflected beyond Luke Evans, but Guilsfield were immediately level as Kiran Russell knocked the ball down for Knott who tapped home from close range.
The Guils completed the turnaround 11 minutes into the second half as Spencer Parrish headed in from James Smallwood’s cross before Knott tucked away the rebound after Smallwood’s free-kick was saved.
A defensive mix-up allowed Joel Giblin to score into an empty net and give Ruthin a late lifeline, but Guilsfield were able to see out a nervy finish to strengthen their place in the top half.
JD Cymru North
Defeat for Ruthin saw them slip to the bottom of the table after Penrhyncoch leapfrogged them on goal-difference with a 1-0 win over Brickfield Rangers at Cae Baker on Saturday.
The Roosters’ winning moment arrived on the stroke of half-time as Ifan Burrell scored his second league goal of the season. Gari Lewis’ side held on to claim all three points and move out of the relegation zone.
Rhyl 1879 moved up to seventh place as they came from behind to win 2-1 over Buckley Town at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium on Friday night.
Brad Barnes continued his fine start to life in Buckley colours as the Connah’s Quay Nomads loanee found the bottom corner with a low drive from the edge of the area to put the visitors ahead after just five minutes. Rhyl levelled the scoreline on 26 minutes though, as Ben Lightfoot met Damase Kiwanda’s cross and lofted the ball over Seb Osment.
Jack Parry then completed the turnaround shortly before the hour mark as a mistake from Osment allowed the teenager to apply a simple finish beyond the Buckley goalkeeper. The Lilywhites have now won four of their last five league matches.
Weekend results in full:
Flint Mountain P-P Llandudno
Rhyl 1879 2-1 Buckley Town
Airbus UK Broughton 2-1 Gresford Athletic
Caersws 2-2 Holyhead Hotspur
Denbigh Town 1-0 Newtown
Guilsfield 3-2 Ruthin Town
Holywell Town 2-0 Mold Alexandra
Penrhyncoch 1-0 Brickfield Rangers
