Bala Town picked up a key win in the race for the JD Cymru Premier top six as they triumphed 3-1 over Barry Town United at Maes Tegid on Saturday.
The Lakesiders came close to breaking the deadlock early on when Joe Malkin struck the post on the rebound from Lassana Mendes’ saved effort, before the opener eventually arrived in the 37th minute as a loose ball in the box fell kindly for Eddie Clarke who fired home for his first goal in Bala colours.
The lively Malkin did find the scoresheet in the second half as he doubled Bala’s lead in the 70th minute, poking home on the line after Nathan Peate’s header struck the inside of the post.
The win was wrapped up in the 89th minute when substitute Hussein Mehasseb produced a fierce low strike just inside the box, although a minute later Barry teenager Ieuan Owen denied Bala a clean sheet as he fired past Joel Torrance at his near post.
Victory saw Colin Caton’s side leapfrog Barry into fifth place, although both sides – along with Caernarfon Town – now sit on 28 points from 19 games.
Aberystwyth Town earned a vital three points in their fight for survival as they secured a 3-1 victory over Caernarfon Town at Park Avenue on Saturday.
Aber hit the post twice in the first 30 minutes before eventually finding the breakthrough in first half stoppage time, as Louis Bradford headed down Zac Hartley’s free-kick into the path of Niall Flint who provided a simple close range finish to score for a third consecutive home match.
Flint was involved again as the hosts doubled their lead on 72 minutes, superbly playing through Jonathan Evans who clinically finished past Hari Thomas.
Caernarfon had hope of a late comeback when Louis Lloyd smashed home the rebound from Joe Faux’s blocked effort in the 85th minute, but Evans found the net again only a minute later with a perfectly placed finish from just inside the box to make sure of victory for Aber.
It was a first league win for Antonio Corbisiero since his return Park Avenue and although the Seasiders remain bottom of the table, they are now within four points of safety.
Second-place The New Saints closed the gap on league leaders Penybont to just one point following a 5-2 home win over Briton Ferry Llansawel on Sunday.
Less than 72 hours after their final UEFA Conference League game away in Slovenia, TNS took an early lead when Ryan Brobbel fired home first time in the box from Adam Wilson’s lay off.
Teenager Caleb Demery got Ferry back on terms seven minutes later when he unleashed a stunning strike from distance which beat Connor Roberts via the post, but the Saints scored twice before half-time to lead 3-1 as Remi Oteh headed in from close range and Jordan Williams’ shot deflected past Will Fuller.
Williams’ low cross set up Wilson to score the Saints’ fourth goal of the afternoon just three minutes after the break before the two sides nullified each other for much of the second half.
Ferry would grab their second of the game in the 78th minute as Corey Hurford finished at the back post from Jasper Payne’s cross, but TNS responded four minutes later when Jordan Williams produced a clever back heel finish from Jordan Marshall’s corner – a 50th league goal of the campaign for the reigning champions.
Weekend results in full:
Aberystwyth Town 3-1 Caernarfon Town
Bala Town 3-1 Barry Town United
The New Saints 5-2 Briton Ferry Llansawel
