Aberystwyth Town moved off the bottom of the JD Cymru Premier table with a crucial 3-1 win over Newtown at Park Avenue on Friday night.
Niall Flint gave the Seasiders the lead after just 14 minutes as his curling effort from outside of the box trickled through the hands of Robins goalkeeper Samuel Ussher. It was 2-0 before the half hour mark, thanks to a stunning free-kick from Rico Patterson which dipped brilliantly into the top corner.
Newtown, led by interim manager Callum Mackenzie after Scott Ruscoe’s departure, pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when Josh Lock poked home from Zeli Ismail’s corner, but Aber clinched victory with seven minutes remaining as Jonathan Evans squeezed the ball in from close-range.
The Seasiders are now just a point adrift of safety and will hope to have a new permanent manager in place before their next game against Cardiff Met in a fortnight’s time.
Barry Town United strengthened their place in the top six with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Connah’s Quay Nomads at Jenner Park on Saturday.
An early injury to the league’s top scorer Ollie Hulbert threatened to put a dent in Barry’s attack, but his replacement Kayne Mclaggon found the net just three minutes after coming onto the pitch as he finished off a neat team move.
Rhys Hughes equalised for the Nomads just before the hour mark as his first time finish found its way through a number of bodies into the bottom corner, but Barry substitute Ieuan Owen restored the hosts’ lead in the 74thminute when he turned in Rhys Kavanagh’s pass from close range.
Hughes brought the Nomads level again with just five minutes remaining, this time with a stunning free-kick into the top corner, but Owen proved to be the hero for Barry three minutes later when he broke away and evaded multiple challenges before calmly finishing past George Ratcliffe.
It was a fourth win in five league games for Steve Jenkins’ side who remain fifth in the table, while the eighth-place Nomads are now five points adrift from a place in the top six.
There was also an entertaining encounter at Cyncoed, where Cardiff Met and Bala Town shared the points in a 3-3 draw on Saturday evening.
Met took the lead inside just three minutes as Bala defender Kieran Lloyd turned Jake Morris’ low ball into his own net, but the Lakesiders levelled 10 minutes before half-time when Joel Torrance’s long ball upfield was flicked on by Joe Malkin to Osebi Abadaki who clinically fired into the roof of the net.
Bala took control of the game with two goals in two minutes early in the second half as Nathan Peate poked in Lassana Mendes’ corner at the back post before Malkin bundled home from close range after Eddie Clarke saw his effort saved.
But Met were not ready to accept defeat and halved the deficit on 62 minutes when Torrance could only parry Adam Roscrow’s strike and Jake Morris fired in the rebound.
Morris was involved again as the Archers equalised six minutes later. The 20-year-old’s volleyed attempt from the edge of the area fell kindly into the path of Tom Vincent, who rounded Torrance and slotted into an empty net. Met remain fourth in the table, while Bala are now three points adrift of a top half spot.
A clinical first half performance proved enough to earn league leaders Penybont a 3-1 home win over Flint Town United on Saturday.
James Crole broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when he coolly dinked the ball over Jack Flint, before Mael Davies and Chris Venables both scored in first half stoppage time to effectively put the game to bed. Davies headed home from Kane Owen’s corner, before Nathan Wood crossed for Venables to turn in from close range.
Flint captain Harry Owen headed in from Jake Phillips’ corner to reduce the deficit early in the second half, but it was not enough to stop his side falling to a fourth consecutive league defeat.
The New Saints remain four points behind Penybont with two games in hand after they came from behind to beat Haverfordwest County 2-1 at Park Hall on Sunday.
The Bluebirds hoped to exploit the Saints who had played less than 72 hours earlier in the UEFA Conference League and Tony Pennock’s side took the lead in the 18th minute when Ben Fawcett poked home from Corey Shephard’s teasing low cross.
TNS drew level nine minutes before half-time through Josh Pask, who met Ryan Brobbel’s free-kick with a neat finish at the back post.
The Saints’ winning goal came seven minutes into the second half as Josh Daniels crossed for Ash Baker to head in his third goal in three league games. It is now six consecutive JD Cymru Premier wins for Craig Harrison’s side.
Caernarfon Town ended their five-match winless run in all competitions as Darren Thomas’ second goal of the season proved enough to secure a 1-0 win away at Briton Ferry Llansawel on Saturday.
The decisive moment came seven minutes before half-time when Ferry could only clear Paulo Mendes’ cross as far as Thomas who lashed a ferocious half volley past Will Fuller.
The Cofis held firm in the second half to earn back-to-back clean sheets away from home in the JD Cymru Premier for the first time in over six years.
Weekend results in full:
Aberystwyth Town 3-1 Newtown
Barry Town United 3-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-1 Caernarfon Town
Penybont 3-1 Flint Town United
Cardiff Met 3-3 Bala Town
The New Saints 2-1 Haverfordwest County
