JD Cymru Premier round-up | Bala Town confirm European spot as Colwyn Bay boost survival hopes

Bala Town secured their place in next season’s UEFA Conference League first qualifying round after their 1-1 draw with Newtown at Maes Tegid on Friday night. 

Lakesiders captain Kieran Smith opened the scoring in the 17th minute as he volleyed home after Newtown failed to clear Luke Wall’s corner.  

However, Smith handed the Robins a route back into the game just before half-time as he fouled Dom Smith in the box and Louis Robles converted the resulting penalty. 

A point was enough to seal Bala’s return to Europe as fourth-place Caernarfon Town were outclassed 7-1 by champions The New Saints at Park Hall. 

TNS stormed into a four-goal lead inside the first 22 minutes as Declan McManus, Ben Clark, Adrian Cieslewicz and Danny Redmond all found the net. 

Cieslewicz headed home his second of the evening four minutes into the second half, before McManus also completed a brace by converting from the penalty spot. 

Louis Lloyd got Caernarfon on the scoresheet with a cool finish into the bottom corner, but the champions restored their six-goal cushion in stoppage time as Blaine Hudson guided his header from Cieslewicz’s corner beyond Josh Tibbetts. 

Second-place Connah’s Quay Nomads earned their first win in five league games as they triumphed 3-0 away at Cardiff Met. 

First half headers from Josh Williams and Jordan Davies set Neil Gibson’s side on course for victory, before Michael Wilde came off the bench for his first appearance in two months and marked it by tapping home the third goal from Harry Franklin’s low ball with four minutes left on the clock. 

Colwyn Bay moved off the bottom of the table and boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 home win over Pontypridd United on Saturday. 

The decisive moment came in the 19th minute as Harry Owen steered home Jamie Cumming’s low ball at the front post, which proved enough to earn three crucial points for the Seagulls.

Ponty are now bottom of the table one point behind the Bay, who in turn are just one point from safety and 10th-place Aberystwyth Town. 

The Seasiders were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Park Avenue by play-off chasing Penybont on Saturday evening. 

Ryan Reynolds continued his remarkable goalscoring record against the Seasiders as he sent a crisp first time effort into the bottom corner to get things rolling for Bont in first half stoppage time. 

It was 3-0 by the hour mark thanks to Chris Venables’ quickfire double at the start of the second half. The veteran striker rounded Dave Jones to finish into an empty net before he tapped home from Kane Owen’s squared pass following Zac Hartley’s error. 

Aberystwyth travel to Pontypridd on Tuesday night in what should be a crucial encounter in the relegation battle. 

Penybont remain three points behind Play Off Conference leaders Haverfordwest County, who came from behind to win 2-1 against Barry Town United at Ogi Bridge Meadow on Friday night. 

After goalless first half in Pembrokeshire, the breakthrough came in the 56th minute when Barry defender Curtis McDonald lashed a strike beyond Zac Jones for his first goal of the season after the hosts failed to deal with a corner. 

However, the momentum of the game switched over the next 20 minutes as Barry’s Aiden Lewis was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Martell Taylor-Crossdale, before Lee Jenkins equalised for Haverfordwest when he prodded home from close range. 

The Bluebirds winner came in bizarre fashion with just two minutes remaining, as Corey Shephard’s chipped ball into the area looked destined to be dealt with by Barry but somehow trickled past bemused goalkeeper Mike Lewis. 

It was a calamitous end to the game for Jonathan Jones’ side, but results elsewhere over the weekend confirmed their survival in their first season back in the top-flight. 


JD Cymru Premier results 

Bala Town 1-1 Newtown
Haverfordwest County 2-1 Barry Town United
The New Saints 7-1 Caernarfon Town
Cardiff Met 0-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Colwyn Bay 1-0 Pontypridd United
Aberystwyth Town 0-3 Penybont

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