Aberystwyth Town were relegated from the JD Cymru Premier for the first time in their history following a 1-0 defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel at Park Avenue on Friday.
Ferry goalkeeper Will Fuller produced two important saves in the first half as he got down low to deny Rico Patterson’s fierce strike and thwarted Jonathan Evans one-on-one. Evans continued to threaten after the break, putting wide from close range and seeing another effort stopped by Fuller, while he did have the ball in the back of the net as he headed home Abdi Sharif’s cross – but the offside flag was raised.
Aber would be made to rue those missed chances as Ferry broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, when Tom Price cut the ball back to Caleb Demery on the edge of the box and the teenager picked out the bottom corner to spark wild scenes of celebration among the away faithful.
That left the hosts shell shocked and confirmed the end of their 33-year stay in the Welsh top-flight. Victory for Ferry boosted their survival hopes, as they now sit three points above the relegation zone.
Newtown continue to occupy the other position in the bottom two following a 3-2 home defeat against Connah’s Quay Nomads on Friday.
Craig Williams’ foul on Noah Edwards in the box allowed the Nomads to take the lead on 20 minutes as Rhys Hughes scored his 14th league goal of the season from the penalty spot, while Jack Kenny doubled the advantage just before half-time as he controlled Declan Poole’s cross and produced a superb backheel past Samuel Ussher.
Newtown halved the deficit in the 56th minute when Desean Martin finished off a neat team move with a low drive into the far corner for his first Robins goal, but the Nomads had a two-goal cushion again just 10 minutes later when Ben Nash met Hughes’ free-kick delivery with a close-range finish.
The hosts were not giving though and found the scoresheet again in the 71st minute as Jason Oswell met Craig Williams’ cross with a perfectly guided header past George Ratcliffe, but the Nomads held on for their sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
Billy Paynter’s side are now just two points behind Play-Off Conference leaders Barry Town United, who were beaten 3-2 away at Flint Town United on Saturday.
Barry opened the scoring inside just seven minutes as teenager Ieuan Owen continued his impressive recent form by heading home from Robbie Willmott’s corner.
However, Flint turned things around to lead 2-1 at half-time as Ben Hughes equalised with a stunning strike from the edge of the box before Elliott Reeves capitalised on a defensive mistake from Josh Yorwerth to poke the ball past Liam Armstrong.
The Silkmen held the advantage for most of the second half, but were again undone by a Willmott corner in the 81st minute as this time the former Newport County man delivered for substitute Kayne Mclaggon to head in.
There was late drama to come though as Flint were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute when Okera Simmonds was fouled in the box by Ryan Kavanagh. Josh Jones stepped up and sent Armstrong the wrong way from the spot, clinching a seventh straight home victory for Lee Fowler’s side who now need just one more win to confirm their survival.
Penybont are only one point away from confirming a second-place finish after a 2-1 comeback win over Haverfordwest County at Ogi Bridge Meadow on Friday.
Bluebirds frontman Ben Ahmun opened the scoring against his former club as he rose highest to head home from Rhys Abbruzzese’s cross in the 20th minute, but the lead lasted just three minutes as Bont midfielder unleashed a superb first-time strike into the top corner as Kane Owen’s corner rolled out to him on the edge of the box.
The visitors’ winning goal came in the 70th minute when James Crole met Ben Morgan’s cross with a header that squirmed past Zac Jones at the goalkeeper’s near post. The former Cardiff City prospect has five goals in his last three matches, while Bont are now nine points clear of Haverfordwest in third.
Caernarfon claimed their biggest league win since December 2019 as they thumped Bala Town 5-0 at The Oval on Friday night.
The Cofis took the lead just after the half hour mark as Sam Downey slammed home his first top-flight goal after Matty Jones’ corner had caused pinball in the box.
Richard Davies’ side were gifted a second goal six minutes after the break when Bala defender Kieran Lloyd inadvertently turned the ball in from close range after Louis Lloyd had flicked the ball up in the air, while Downey completed his brace six minutes later with a fierce low drive from distance.
A nightmare spell for Bala continued in the 63rd minute when Lloyd raced onto Jones’ long ball and sent a clinical finish into the bottom corner, before the forward wrapped up victory on 75 minutes with a classy chip over Joel Torrance.
There was no let up from The New Saints after being crowned champions last week as Craig Harrison’s side won 6-0 away at Cardiff Met – their 16th consecutive victory in all competitions.
Adam Wilson scored twice in the first half at Cyncoed, sweeping home from Aramide Oteh’s pass across the box inside just five minutes before cutting in from the right and unleashing an unstoppable strike from distance in the 34th minute.
Oteh added his name to the scoresheet five minutes into the second half by capitalising on a defensive error to round Kelland Absalom and tap in, while Wilson completed his hat-trick two minutes later with a thumping finish into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
The scoring was rounded off by two substitutes. In the 67th minute, Zack Clarke latched onto Sion Bradley’s through ball and calmly finished past Absalom, before teenager Louis Phillips scored his first Saints goal on 79 minutes by tapping home the rebound after Bradley’s shot had been saved.
JD Cymru Premier Weekend results in full:
Caernarfon Town 5-0 Bala Town
Haverfordwest County 1-2 Penybont
Newtown 2-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Cardiff Met 0-6 The New Saints
Flint Town United 3-2 Barry Town United
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