Caernarfon and Cardiff Met progress in JD Cymru Premier play-offs

Caernarfon Town's Louis Lloyd completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot during the JD Cymru Premier Playoff fixture between Caernarfon Town and Barry Town United at the Carling Oval, Caernarfon, Wales

Louis Lloyd scored four goals as Caernarfon Town won 5-2 over Barry Town United in the JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off quarter-finals on Saturday.

Barry entered the play-offs as the form team with five wins in their last six games of the regular season and took the lead after just six minutes at The Oval as Eliot Richards turned home Owen Cuddihy’s cross with a deft backheel.

Lloyd drew Caernarfon level on 23 minutes by coolly firing past Liam Armstrong after being put through by Adam Davies, before the turnaround was complete in first half stoppage time when Morgan Owen played a clever free-kick to Lloyd in the box and he provided the finishing touch.

The Cofis wasted no time in extending their lead after the break as Lloyd turned provider with a superb trivela pass to Davies, who fired home inside the first minute of the second half.

Format explained

European Play-Off Semi-Finals

Callum Sainty’s foul on Davies in the box allowed Lloyd to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot just before the hour mark, while his fourth goal and Caernarfon’s fifth arrived on 73 minutes as he arrived at the back post to tap in Davies’ pass across goal.

Richard Davies’ side were safely through to the semi-finals, but Barry got a late consolation goal as substitute Kayne Mclaggon scored on his final appearance for the club – the Linnets legend heading home Ieuan Owen’s cross on 88 minutes.

Later in the day, Cardiff Met moved a step closer to European qualification for the first time in six years as Ryan Reynolds scored a stoppage-time winner to earn 1-0 victory over Bala Town at Cyncoed Campus.

Cardiff Met's Ryan Reynolds scores and celebrates 1-0 during the 2024/25 JD Cymru Premier League European Play-Off fixture Between Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C & Bala Town F.C at Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus, Cardiff, Wales

Clear cut chances were at a minimum in the first half, as Eliot Evans dragged a shot wide for the hosts while Bala duo Osebi Abadaki and Joe Malkin both saw shots from distance easily saved by Kelland Absalom.

The Lakesiders were inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 79^th minute when Callum Edwards’ curling effort clipped the crossbar, before Kieran Lloyd had the ball in the net a minute later but the goal was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.

Just as the contest looked set to be heading for a penalty shootout, Met snatched victory in the 93^rd minute when Tom Vincent headed the ball back across goal for Reynolds to finish and spark pandemonium for the home side.