Barry Town United won a seven-goal thriller on Friday night as they triumphed 4-3 against Briton Ferry Llansawel at The Renewable Centre Stadium in the JD Cymru Premier.
Andy Legg’s side led inside seven minutes when Owen Cuddihy played in Ollie Hulbert who coolly slotted past Will Fuller, before Cuddihy was the provider again in the 22nd minute when Ieuan Owen smartly volleyed home from his inviting cross.
A powerful, low, first time drive from Tom Walters from the edge of the box saw Ferry pull a goal back just before the half hour mark, but Barry restored their two-goal advantage early in the second half when a quick counter attack led to Owen playing the ball across the box for Ollie Hulbert to finish.
Andy Dyer made a quadruple substitution on 68 minutes and two of the new introductions combined nine minutes later when Ruben Davies glanced a header home from Caleb Demery’s cross.
A Reds equaliser then arrived with two minutes of 90 minute remaining as Ryan Bevan’s corner was headed in by Keiran Williams, but that was not the end of the late drama. Barry snatched victory in the third minute of stoppage time when Cuddihy’s corner sailed all the way through to Owen at the back post, with the teenager left with a simple tap in.
Defeat for Ferry means that they are now only above the JD Cymru Premier relegation zone on goal difference after Newtown earned a point in a 2-2 draw with Flint Town United at Latham Park on Friday night.
The Robins led on the half hour mark when Zeli Ismail fired home a loose ball after Calvin Smith’s corner was not dealt with by Flint, but the Silkmen drew level just before half-time as Salford City loanee Ben Collins bagged his first goal for the club with a curling strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Newtown edged back in front seven minutes into the second half when Ismail turned provider by playing in Rackeem Reid who produced a deft finish past Jack Flint, but the Robins were denied a first home win since September when Elliott Reeves equalised two minutes from time by turning in Josh Jones’ shot into the net.
- View images: Newtown 2-2 Flint Town United
League leaders The New Saints made it 10 consecutive league wins with a comfortable 5-1 victory over Haverfordwest County at Park Hall on Saturday.
A piece of good fortune gave TNS the lead on 19 minutes as Luke Tabone turned Adam Wilson’s cross into his own net, which opened the floodgates as Danny Davies slotted home first time and Remi Oteh finished off a neat team move to make it 3-0 by the half hour mark.
There was a glimmer of hope for Haverfordwest in the 34th minute when Owain Jones latched onto goalkeeper Zac Jones’ long ball and tapped in at the second time of asking after his initial strike hit the crossbar.
However, the hosts restored their three-goal advantage just after the hour mark when Jordan Marshall’s effort deflected past Jones and substitute Jordan Williams sealed victory on 76 minutes with a sweet strike from the edge of the area.
It looked as though TNS would have the chance to clinch a fourth consecutive JD Cymru Premier title against Caernarfon Town on Tuesday, but Penybont’s late 3-2 home win over Bala Town later on Saturday means that the Saints will have to wait a little longer.
- View images: TNS 5-1 Haverfordwest County
James Crole’s low first time effort in the 13th minute earned Bont the advantage at the break, but Bala were level six minutes into the second half when Joe Malkin tapped home the rebound from Louis Robles’ saved effort.
Owen Pritchard’s fierce strike from the edge of the area sailed through a number of bodies and deceived Joel Torrance to restore Penybont’s lead just after the hour mark, but Malkin again equalised in the 75th minute with a low drive in the box.
The hosts’ winning goal arrived in dramatic style in the sixth minute of stoppage, as Mael Davies’ cross was flicked on by Chris Venables to the back post where Crole was waiting to tap in to secure his side’s first victory of Phase Two.
Aberystwyth Town are edging closer to relegation following a 3-0 defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads at the Essity Stadium on Friday night.
Billy Paynter’s side led in the 14th minute when Rhys Hughes finished off a well-worked corner routine with a superb curling effort into the top corner – his 11th league goal of the campaign.
It was not until the 63rd minute that the Nomads doubled the advantage, when Olly Wright marked his first start for the club with a low shot from the right that squirmed under Dave Jones.
Substitute Jack Kenny wrapped up back-to-back league wins for the Nomads – the first time they have achieved that since August – with a sliding finish from Callum Bratley’s low cross in stoppage time. Aber are now eight points adrift of safety with just five games remaining.
- View images: Connah’s Quay Nomads 3-0 Aberystwyth Town
Cardiff Met leapfrogged Caernarfon Town into fourth place in the table with a 4-2 home win over the Cofis on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Reynolds worked his way past a couple of defenders before lashing past Ben Hughes at his near post to give Met the lead in the 24th minute, but Blaine Hudson levelled the contest just after the half hour mark by producing a towering header to meet Joe Faux’s corner.
Matty Hill’s first Caernarfon goal, as he fired into the roof of the net, put the visitors in front inside the first minute of the second half, before Met got back on level terms nine minutes later as Adam Roscrow set up Sam Jones to finish first time.
Lewis Rees scored the goal of the day by curling into the top corner from distance to edge Met back in front on 71 minutes, while Jones sealed victory eight minutes later with a thumping volley in the box.
JD Cymru Premier weekend results in full:
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-4 Barry Town United
Connah’s Quay Nomads 3-0 Aberystwyth Town
Newtown 2-2 Flint Town United
The New Saints 5-1 Haverfordwest County
Cardiff Met 4-2 Caernarfon Town
Penybont 3-2 Bala Town
