Connah’s Quay Nomads’ JD Cymru Premier title hopes were dealt a blow as they conceded in stoppage time to draw 2-2 away at Colwyn Bay on Saturday evening.
The Nomads were two goals up at half-time as Jacob Cook nodded in from Rhys Hughes’ corner just five minutes before Callum West controlled Noah Edwards’ cross and sent a clinical low drive into the bottom corner for his seventh league goal of the season.
However, Bay were much improved after the break and halved the deficit four minutes into the second half as Jordan Davies’ cross from the left sailed beyond everyone, including Nomads goalkeeper Kit Margetson, and nestled into the far corner.
Despite plenty of pressure, the Seagulls’ equaliser did not arrive until the 97th minute when debutant Ryan Astles – who had only come off the bench two minutes earlier – poked home George Hughes’ corner to spark wild celebrations amongst a packed Blue Turtle Arena.
The official attendance of 1,612 meant that the fixture attracted the largest crowd for a non-play-off game in the JD Cymru Premier for over 14 years.
JD Cymru Premier
Dropped points for the Nomads meant that The New Saints moved seven points clear at the top of the table with a 1-0 victory over Barry Town United at Park Hall on Saturday.
The decisive moment arrived just seven minutes into the game as Jordan Williams latched onto Dan Williams’ long pass and produced a deft backheel to Ryan Brobbel, who clinically sent a first-time effort past George Ratcliffe.
TNS came close to doubling their lead late in the first half as Isaac Jefferies’ strike from close range was denied by a crucial block from Will Richards. Rory Holden saw his low drive flash inches wide of the far corner moments after the restart, but Brobbel’s early goal proved enough to give Craig Harrison’s side a third straight win.
Flint Town United climbed out of the relegation zone with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Bala Town at Maes Tegid on Friday night.
Lassana Mendes scored after just 10 seconds when the two sides met earlier this month and he opened the scoring again here, this time after 11 minutes when he fired into the bottom corner after Sam Billington scuffed his initial effort.
However, Flint were gifted an equaliser in the 18th minute after a mix-up between Bala duo Nelson Digbeu and Joel Torrance allowed Darren Stephenson to capitalise and convert into an empty net.
The Silkmen completed a quickfire turnaround and took firm control of the contest as Ben Wynne produced a stunning strike into the top corner from distance on 22 minutes before he crossed into captain Harry Owen to head home his fourth goal of the season six minutes later.
Wynne rounded off an emphatic first half display from the visitors minutes as he steered the ball beyond Torrance from Jake Phillips’ low corner just after the half hour mark.
Bala netted twice in three minutes midway through the second half, as Cameron Ferguson headed home Billington’s cross before Liam Higgins rounded Torrance to score, but the Lakesiders could not complete a comeback as they slipped into the bottom two.
Haverfordwest County moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory away at Cardiff Met on Friday night.
Met were awarded a penalty just seven minutes into the contest after Haverfordwest captain Dylan Rees fouled Joel Edwards inside the area, but Adam Roscrow saw his spot-kick saved by Ifan Knott.
The game remained goalless for over an hour, but the Bluebirds found the breakthrough on 74 minutes when Rhys Abbruzzese cut inside from the left flank, drifted past Sam Jones and curled beautifully into the bottom corner.
Met’s hopes of an equaliser were dashed in stoppage time when debutant Toby Raison was shown a straight red card for bringing down Owain Jones when the Haverfordwest substitute was through on goal.
The Bluebirds sealed victory moments later as Ben Ahmun went on a sublime solo run before squaring the ball to Shephard, who tapped into an empty net. Tony Pennock’s side are now just a point behind seventh-place Met.
Briton Ferry Llansawel are level on points with the Archers following their 3-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at The Renewable Centre Stadium on Friday night.
Ferry took the lead with 33 minutes on the clock when an unmarked Tom Price headed home Mitchel Bates’ cross at the back post, before Ricky Lee-Owen nearly doubled the advantage shortly before half-time but his curling effort rattled the crossbar.
Llanelli equalised just a minute into the second half as a long ball from debutant Luc Owen sailed all the way through to Danny Williams, who clinically finished beyond Will Fuller at the near post. However, Ferry restored their lead soon after the hour mark as Kian Jenkins poked home from close range after Tom Walters’ shot was blocked.
Sam Snaith, who came on as a substitute for his first appearance in over four months following injury, made sure of victory just one minute after his introduction as he capitalised on Sean Cronin’s miscued clearance and slotted into the far corner. Ferry have now won three consecutive games in the top-flight for the first time ever.
Nothing could separate third-place Penybont and fourth-place Caernarfon Town in a goalless draw at the DragonBet Stadium on Saturday.
Caernarfon came closest to finding the breakthrough on two occasions in the second half as new signing Rio Owen saw his volley at the back post blocked on the line by Billy Borge before Sion Bradley sent a deft lob over Luke Armstrong from close range, only to be denied by the crossbar.
It was a first league clean sheet on home turf for Penybont since September, but Rhys Griffiths’ side remain nine points adrift of second-place Connah’s Quay Nomads. Caernarfon sit four points further back.
Weekend results in full:
Bala Town 3-4 Flint Town United
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-1 Llanelli Town
Cardiff Met 0-2 Haverfordwest County
Penybont 0-0 Caernarfon Town
The New Saints 1-0 Barry Town United
Colwyn Bay 2-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
