Bala Town were relegated from the JD Cymru Premier in dramatic fashion after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel at Maes Tegid on Saturday.
The Lakesiders had to win to have any chance of survival and things were looking promising when Jacob Tarasenko, who had already missed two glorious opportunities from close range, fired the ball home from Tom Kelly’s corner to put the hosts ahead after 73 minutes played.
With 10th-place Flint Town United drawing away to Cardiff Met, Bala were set to pull off the great escape as things stood in the 89th minute, but a late collapse resulted in heartbreak for Steve Fisher’s side.
18-year-old Ricky-Lee Owen brought Briton Ferry level as his header from Corey Hurford’s corner crept past Joel Torrance and into the net at the near post to make it one apiece.
The visitors completed their turnaround just a minute later as Torrance saved Keiran Williams’ low drive, but cleared the ball straight to Sam Snaith, who had the simple task of slotting home from close range. Bala were unable to find two late goals, bringing an end to their 17-year stay in the JD Cymru Premier.
The result at Maes Tegid confirmed safety for 10th-place Flint Town United, who played out a remarkable 2-2 draw with Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Stadium.
Flint found an early breakthrough as Met goalkeeper Ewan Griffiths picked the ball up when receiving Tom Raison’s pass back, resulting in an indirect free-kick, which Jake Canavan slotted into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season. Osebi Abadaki nearly doubled the advantage, but his lob was tremendously cleared off the line by Joel Edwards.
A frantic final 20 minutes in the capital began with Jake Morris bringing Met level with his close-range header from Harri John’s cross.
Flint restored their lead in the 77th minute as Ben Hughes fired home from Harry Owen’s lay-off, but the Archers immediately found an equaliser as CJ Craven’s free-kick took a wicked deflection and wrongfooted Jack Flint. Craven’s goal had sent Flint into the relegation zone, but Ferry’s comeback at Bala settled the Silkmen’s nerves.
Owen and Hughes were both shown straight red cards for bringing down Jasper Payne and Fumpa Mwandwe respectively when both men were on the counter-attack, but Lee Fowler’s side held on to earn a point and maintain their top-flight status.
Haverfordwest County secured their spot in the European Play-Offs with a convincing 6-0 win over already-relegated Llanelli Town at Ogi Bridge Meadow.
Haverfordwest needed to avoid defeat to confirm top spot in the Play-Off Conference, and the Bluebirds were already in firm control inside 12 minutes as Dan Hawkins tapped home the rebound from Ben Ahmun’s saved effort before Ahmun received Kyle Kenniford’s pass and calmly slotted past Alex Pennock to open up a two-goal cushion.
Ahmun had the chance to make it three when he stood over a penalty following Pennock’s foul on Corey Shephard inside the area, but the striker’s effort crashed against the post, back off Pennock and away to safety. However, a clinical finish from Hawkins at the near post ensured the hosts went into the break with a three-goal lead.
Hawkins, who signed a new contract at Haverfordwest on Friday until 2028, completed his hat-trick in style five minutes after the restart as he spotted Pennock off his line and lobbed the Llanelli goalkeeper from out wide on the right-hand side.
Rhys Abbruzzese finished coolly when one-on-one with Pennock, while Panashe Makwiramiti scored in bizarre fashion as his clearance when sliding in to intercept the ball flew into the net from distance. Haverfordwest now travel to face Barry Town United in their European Play-Off Semi-Final on Sunday 26 April (17:00).
JD Cymru Premier European Play-Offs
Dates and kick-off times confirmed
Champions The New Saints concluded their stellar title-winning campaign with a 1-0 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park.
Barry thought they had taken the lead through star youngster Ieuan Owen, who headed home from Dan Barton’s cross, but Ben Margetson was in an offside position when Owen raced towards the back post and therefore the goal was ruled out.
Saints were the ones who found the opener though as Ryan Brobbel latched onto Dan Williams’ clipped ball and sent a low drive towards goal from a tight angle, which travelled straight past George Ratcliffe, who was left frustrated to be beaten so easily at his near post.
Ratcliffe denied the division’s golden boot winner Jordan Williams on three occasions, while Williams and Saints goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd both did enough to clear Callum Sainty’s close-range volley off the line as Saints secured their fifth consecutive away win.
Nothing could separate Connah’s Quay Nomads and Colwyn Bay in a 1-1 draw at the Essity Stadium.
The Nomads, who were finishing a JD Cymru Premier campaign on home turf for the first time in 10 years, took the lead with 35 minutes on the clock as Ethan Roberts’ foul on Harry Franklin inside the area allowed Callum West to step up and calmly convert his ninth league goal of the season.
However, Bay were level five minutes later with a penalty of their own as Jamie Cumming fired into the bottom corner from the spot following Max Woodcock’s challenge on Roberts.
The Seagulls enjoyed the better opportunities in the second half, but Nathan Peate and Issa Kargbo were both denied by diving saves from Kit Margetson, who marked the final game of his loan spell with the Nomads with an impressive display.
Bay now look ahead to their European Play-Off Semi-Final at home against Penybont next Saturday, 25 April (12:45pm KO).
Caernarfon Town ended their impressive season with three points as first half goals from Adrian Cieslewicz and Rio Owen secured a 2-0 win over Penybont at the Go Goodwins Stadium.
Cieslewicz, who scored in Caernarfon’s memorable JD Welsh Cup Final win over Flint Town United last weekend, put the Cofis ahead in the eighth minute as he latched onto a long diagonal ball, held off Jacob Jones and sent a deft lob over Luke Armstrong.
Cieslewicz was involved once more as his effort was saved by Armstrong, but straight into the path of Owen, who tapped home the rebound to double the advantage.
Bont’s afternoon went from bad to worse in the closing stages as Ash Baker was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Darren Thomas. Baker will now miss Bont’s European Play-Off Semi-Final away to Colwyn Bay.
Weekend results in full:
Bala Town 1-2 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Barry Town United 0-1 The New Saints
Caernarfon Town 2-0 Penybont
Cardiff Met 2-2 Flint Town United
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-1 Colwyn Bay
Haverfordwest County 6-0 Llanelli Town
