Newtown boosted their JD Cymru Premier survival hopes as Jason Oswell’s header secured a 1-0 win away at bottom-of-the-table Aberystwyth Town on Saturday – the Robins’ first victory since October.
Callum McKenzie’s side were dominant throughout the contest, with Rob Evans hitting the post with a stunning volley in the first half and Aber goalkeeper Seb Osment producing a number of saves to keep the score goalless.
However, the breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute when Calvin Smith’s delivery from the right hand side was headed home by Oswell, giving Osment no chance as the ball went in off the crossbar.
Aberystwyth’s woes increased six minutes later when captain Jack Thorn was sent off for a second bookable offence as he dragged down Oswell. The Seasiders remain eight points adrift of safety with just six games left to play.
Newtown remain in the relegation zone but are now just one point 10th-place Briton Ferry Llansawel, who lost 3-1 away at Flint Town United on Saturday.
Remarkably, Silkmen centre-back Harry Owen netted a hat-trick at the Essity Stadium, scoring three headers from similar set-piece situations.
The 21-year-old gave his side the lead inside nine minutes as he glanced home Ben Wynne’s impressive long throw into the box, before doubling the advantage in the 37th minute by meeting Jake Phillips’ corner with a bullet header.
Ferry came close to pulling a goal back early in the second period as Luke Bowen’s low effort was denied by the woodwork, but the veteran forward did half the deficit on the hour mark when he calmly converted from the penalty spot after Corey Hurford was fouled by Isaac Lee.
The Reds pushed for an equaliser, with Tyler Brock forcing Jack Flint into a strong save, but Owen completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute to seal a third win in four games for the hosts. It was almost a carbon copy of the first goal as he met Wynne’s long throw with a flicked header.
Connah’s Quay Nomads kept the play-off hopes alive with a 2-0 win away at bottom half leaders Barry Town United on Saturday.
Ollie Hulbert almost put Barry ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, but his fierce strike from just inside the area clipped the crossbar.
There was little else to report in the first half until Noah Edwards opened the scoring two minutes before the break, as he received a pass from Declan Poole before poking the ball past Liam Armstrong.
Max Woodcock almost doubled the lead for the visitors midway through the second half but his curling effort was denied by the post, while at the other end George Ratcliffe made a superb save to deny Barry substitute Ieuan Owen an equaliser.
Nomads new signing Sam Durrant had looked lively after coming off the bench and he clinched victory in stoppage time as he received the ball from Callum Bratley and skipped past two Barry defenders before clinically firing into the bottom corner. Billy Paynter’s side are now five points behind the Linnets.
Penybont’s winless run in Phase Two continued on Saturday as they were beaten 3-2 away at Caernarfon Town.
The Cofis took just seven minutes to open the scoring as Adam Davies headed home from Paulo Mendes’ clipped delivery into the box, while they also scored early in the second half when the ball trickled through to Davies and he calmly finished past Adam Przybek with 51 minutes on the clock.
However, Penybont responded in stunning fashion as James Crole – celebrating his 21st birthday – scored twice in six minutes to level the game just after the hour mark. The striker produced a low finish from Keyon Reffell’s cut back before lashing home a loose ball after Caernarfon failed to clear Kane Owen’s corner.
Rhys Griffiths’ side could not complete a comeback though and instead it was the Cofis won it when Matty Hill’s long thrown was turned in by Blaine Hudson.
Hudson’s parent club The New Saints now have a 12-point lead over Bont at the top of the table after they won 2-0 away at Bala Town on Friday night.
Craig Harrison’s side made a lightning start at Maes Tegid as Leo Smith turned home Jordan Williams’ cross from close range with just 13 seconds on the clock.
That remained the difference between the two sides until the 76th minute when Williams found the scoresheet himself, receiving Danny Davies’ pass and curling beautifully into the top corner beyond Joel Torrance as the Saints took another step towards a fourth consecutive league title.
Third-place Haverfordwest County moved just three points behind Penybont in the table after a win 1-0 over Cardiff Met at Ogi Bridge Meadow on Friday.
The Bluebirds started brightly in front of a crowd of over 1,000, with Ricky Watts and Lee Jenkins both firing wide before Kelland Absalom denied Iori Humphreys.
The decisive moment eventually came in the 67th minute when substitute Ben Fawcett brought down a long ball into the area and clinically fired past Absalom. Zac Jones’ 14th clean sheet of the season ensured that Haverfordwest held on to the three points.
Weekend results in full:
Bala Town 0-2 The New Saints
Haverfordwest County 1-0 Cardiff Met
Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Newtown
Barry Town United 0-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Caernarfon Town 3-2 Penybont
Flint Town United 3-1 Briton Ferry Llansawel
