Holywell Town suffered their first league defeat of the season as JD Cymru North leaders Airbus UK Broughton secured a 2-1 victory over Johnny Haseldin’s side on Saturday.
Cymru Leagues veteran Gareth Evans put Holywell ahead after 18 minutes, but Airbus levelled the scoreline through Jordan Evans a minute later and the same player completed the turnaround in the 27th minute with a low effort into the bottom corner.
The Wingmakers’ defence held firm in the second half, with Holywell’s Myles Hart sent off late on, as Mark Allen’s side secured a fourth consecutive league victory to go nine points clear of their title rivals.
Second-place Flint Town United are now the only unbeaten side left in the JD Cymru North this season after they stormed to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Porthmadog on Friday night at the Essity Stadium.
Both sides required a response after being knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup last weekend, but it was the home side who came out on top thanks to goals from Joe Williams, Josh Jones and Harley Brindley-Peagram.
Toby Gallagher-Keenan stole the show at The Rock as his hat-trick saw Gresford Athletic ease to their first league win since October in emphatic style as they thrashed bottom of the table Chirk AAA 6-0 on Friday night.
Gallagher-Keenan opened the scoring after just six minutes before Charlie Mann and Haci Ozlu made it 3-0 at the interval.
Mann added a fourth straight after the restart and the evening went from bad to worse for the Colliers when Tom Freeman was shown a straight red card just six minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Gallagher-Keenan then found the net in the 71st and 73rd minute to complete his treble and round off a much-needed victory for Eddie Maurice-Jones’ side.
Ruthin Town were also big winners this weekend, defeating Llanidloes Town 6-1 at The Memorial Playing Fields on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Jones and Luke Molmans had the hosts two goals to the good at the break before Gwion Owen’s double, Tom Dyer’s penalty and Keyni Mills’ late goal had Ruthin in dreamland. Rhys Evans scored a late consolation goal for Llanidloes.
A stoppage-time header from substitute Craig Whelan saw Bangor 1876 claim a narrow 2-1 victory over Guilsfield at Nantporth.
Corrig McGonigle netted his fourth goal in three league games to bring Bangor level after Andy Evans had opening the scoring for Guilsfield in the first half.
In a tense second half which saw four yellow cards shown, it was the hosts who found a late winner as Craig Whelan’s downward header across goal from Joe Culshaw’s delivery found its way past Robbie Williams.
Mold Alexandra continued their fine run of form after ending Denbigh Town’s four-game Cymru North winning streak with a 2-0 victory at Alyn Park.
The match remained goalless up until the 64th minute when Danny Warren’s cross from the byline was steered home by Jake Roberts for his 13th league goal of the season, seeing him move joint-top of the division’s scoring chart with Bangor’s Corrig McGonigle.
The attacking duo combined again for Mold’s second of the afternoon on 77 minutes, but this time it was Roberts providing and Warren scoring. Roberts spotted Warren in a pocket of space, allowing the substitute to fire home into the bottom corner.
The only draw of the weekend’s JD Cymru North fixtures came at Latham Park as Caersws drew 2-2 with Buckley Town in an entertaining encounter.
The Bluebirds got off to the dream start as Rhys Hesden returned to the scoresheet for the first time in almost two months by netting inside two minutes. Buckley’s in-form striker Connor Littler equalised soon after before Asa Hamilton’s men completed the turnaround after the interval thanks to Liam Driscoll’s effort.
However, the Bucks were unable to hold on to what would have been a first league win since October as Neil Mitchell rescued a point for Caersws with his stunning strike in the 74th minute.
JD Cymru North results
Flint Town United 3-0 Porthmadog
Gresford Athletic 6-0 Chirk AAA
Bangor 1876 2-1 Guilsfield
Holywell Town 1-2 Airbus UK Broughton
Mold Alexandra 2-0 Denbigh Town
Ruthin Town 6-1 Llanidloes Town
Caersws 2-2 Buckley Town
