Flint Town United secured their JD Cymru Premier status for another season with a 2-1 win away at Aberystwyth Town on Friday night.
Aberystwyth’s relegation was confirmed last weekend and it looked like a pressure had been lifted off the Seasiders, who were the better side in the first half – Flint goalkeeper Jack Flint needed to make a triple save to deny them on one occasion.
But it was the Silkmen who took the lead against the run of play on 35 minutes, as Ben Wynne drove forward from his own half before unleashing a shot just inside the box which arrowed into the far corner for his first league goal of the campaign.
Flint’s second goal arrived in similar fashion just after the hour mark, as this time Elliott Reeves ran with the ball from the half way line before firing past Dave Jones from the edge of the area. Reeves had the ball in the net again shortly after from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
Aber halved the deficit in the 87th minute when Jake Phillips’ foul on Abdi Sharif in the box allowed Niall Flint to score from the penalty spot, but the Seasiders could not go on to find a late equaliser.
Briton Ferry Llansawel took a huge step towards safety themselves as they earned a 1-0 home win over Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday.
The decisive moment proved to be a double substitution for Ferry on 71 minutes when Luke Bowen and Corey Hurford joined the action, replacing Tyler Brock and Ellis Sage.
Within a minute, Jasper Payne superbly drove upfield and played in Brock down the right, who crossed for Bowen to turn the ball home and make a remarkable instant impact.
The Reds are now six points above the relegation zone with only two games left to play, with a significantly better goal difference than 11th-place Newtown too.
It leaves the Robins in severe danger of their first ever relegation from the top-flight, with Callum McKenzie’s side losing 2-1 away at Barry Town United on Friday night.
Barry led after 19 minutes as Owen Cuddihy’s cross was headed home by Ollie Hulbert for his 13th league goal of the season, while the advantage was doubled just before the hour mark when this time Cuddihy’s delivery was turned into his own net by Newtown winger James Rainbird.
The Robins pulled a goal back in the 90th minute when Jason Oswell flicked Calvin Smith’s cross into the path of Aaron Williams to finish from close range, but it was too little too late for the visitors who could have conceded again were it not for a wasteful shot from Hulbert in stoppage time.
Barry are now five points clear at the top of the Play-Off Conference and will secure their play-off spot if they avoid defeat away at Connah’s Quay Nomads in a fortnight.
Penybont confirmed a second-place finish with a 1-0 home win over champions The New Saints on Saturday.
The visitors had the better of the chances as Adam Przybek denied Adam Wilson in the first half before Leo Smith hit the crossbar from distance after the break, but it was a moment of quality from James Crole which won the game in the 73rd minute.
Receiving Gabe Kircough’s long ball forward, Crole controlled it with his chest before unleashing an unstoppable strike past Connor Roberts just inside the box. Bont could even have had a second soon after, when Crole delivered a low ball across the face goal but substitute Ioan Phillips was not able to slide it in.
A second victory over TNS this season secured a highest-ever league finish for Rhys Griffiths’ side, who will earn automatic European qualification if the Saints win the JD Welsh Cup.
Haverfordwest County and Caernarfon Town shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Ogi Bridge Meadow on Saturday.
After a goalless first half, Haverfordwest broke the deadlock seven minutes after the break when Ben Ahmun headed home from Jacob Owen’s corner.
However, straight from kick-off, Caernarfon went up the other end and won a penalty as Kyle McCarthy tripped Louis Lloyd – with the Cofi forward picking himself up to score from the spot.
It also finished level between Bala Town and Cardiff Met, who played out a goalless draw at Maes Tegid on Saturday.
Met defender Matt Chubb came closest to scoring as his close-range header struck the post in the first half, while Bala finished the game with 10 men after Dan Malone received two yellow cards in the space of nine minutes in the second period.
Weekend results in full:
Barry Town United 2-1 Newtown
Aberystwyth Town 1-2 Flint Town United
Cardiff Met 0-0 Bala Town
Briton Ferry Llansawel 1-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Haverfordwest County 1-1 Caernarfon Town
Penybont 1-0 The New Saints
