Briton Ferry Llansawel earned a crucial win in the JD Cymru Premier relegation battle on Saturday as they triumphed 4-0 over Aberystwyth Town at Old Road.
The Reds had not won at home all season going into the game, but took the lead in the 22nd minute when Luke Bowen met Ryan George’s cross with a looping header before Tom Walters doubled the advantage shortly before half-time as he tapped home Tyler Brock’s pass across goal.
Ferry were comfortable at 2-0 up and Aberystwyth rarely threatened to get back into the game, but teenager Caleb Demery came off the bench to score twice late on and wrap up the win for the hosts.
After driving into the box from the right hand side he calmly finished at the second time of asking in the 88thminute, before producing a clinical strike across goal into the bottom corner in stoppage time.
The win saw Ferry leapfrog Aber in the table – with the Seasiders now bottom of the standings – and Andy Dyer’s side are now only three points adrift of safety with two games in hand over 10th-place Flint Town United.
The Silkmen were beaten for the third successive game as they suffered a 4-1 defeat away to Haverfordwest County on Saturday.
Ben Ahmun gave the Bluebirds a fifth-minute lead when he converted from the penalty spot following a foul from Jack Flint on Owain Jones inside the area, while Greg Walters doubled the advantage 11 minutes later as he tapped home from close range for his goal since returning to the club.
Flint halved the deficit just after the half hour mark through Florian Yonsian’s cool finish, but a pair of clinical finishes in the second half from Haverfordwest substitute Ben Fawcett ensured that Tony Pennock’s came away with all three points and extended their unbeaten run in the league to eight matches.
League leaders Penybont returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as they triumphed 5-1 away at Caernarfon Town on Saturday.
It was a free-flowing move which got Bont up and running in the 22nd minute as James Crole squared for Chris Venables to slam home, while Crole was again the provider in first half stoppage time as his pass across goal was finished by Nathan Wood at the back post.
Crole and Wood combined again for the latter to score his second of the day with a one-on-one finish shortly after the hour mark, before Paulo Mendes denied Bont a clean sheet with a close range header three minutes later.
Gabe Kircough soon restored the visitors’ three-goal cushion with a header of his own, while Crole concluded a fine individual performance by getting on the scoresheet with a composed finish in the final 10 minutes.
The New Saints remain four points behind Penybont – with two games in hand – after their 4-1 win away at Barry Town United in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Barry kept the champions at bay for half an hour, but TNS then scored twice in the space of two minutes as Danny Davies’ low shot deflected past Luc Rees before Ash Baker rifled home from Jordan Williams’ corner.
Sam Snaith quickly halved the deficit when he managed to bundle in Robbie Willmott’s cross at the back post, but Declan McManus restored TNS’ two-goal cushion in first half stoppage time as he headed home from Danny Redmond’s inviting cross.
The best of the goals came midway through the second half when Leo Smith produced a superb first time finish from outside of the box which beat Rees via the crossbar. It was a seventh consecutive win in all competitions for TNS, who travel to Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
Connah’s Quay Nomads moved up to eighth in the table with a crucial 1-0 home win against 10-man Cardiff Met on Saturday.
After Archers centre-back Jac Clay had been sent off for two bookable offences, the Nomads broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Ben Maher’s superb first-time strike from the edge of the box flew beyond Alex Lang and into the top corner. Billy Paynter’s side are now only two points off a top six spot.
Newtown and Bala Town were left frustrated in their own battle for the top half as they played out a 0-0 draw at Latham Park.
Both sides had glorious chances in the first half as Bala forward George Newell fired way over from close range before a fierce effort from Robins full-back Callum rattled the near post.
Newell was shown a second yellow card in the 77th minute, but the 10-man Lakesiders were able to see off the hosts’ late pressure and earn a point.
Weekend results in full:
Barry Town United 1-4 The New Saints
Caernarfon Town 1-5 Penybont
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-0 Cardiff Met
Haverfordwest County 4-1 Flint Town United
Newtown 0-0 Bala Town
Briton Ferry Llansawel 4-0 Aberystwyth Town
