Cardiff Met’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Friday night as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Newtown at Latham Park.
Zeli Ismael registered his fifth assist of the campaign when he set up Josh Lock to open the scoring in the 27thminute, with the 20-year-old providing a deft flick to turn the ball past Alex Lang. George Hughes doubled the Robins’ lead with a stunning strike from distance with 15 minutes remaining.
After Eliot Evans had hit the post, Ryan Reynolds – fresh from being named the JD Cymru Premier Player of the Month for August – gave Met a late lifeline with his first time finish inside the box in stoppage time, but Newtown held on to claim all three points.
The Archers’ defeat meant that Penybont moved three points clear at the top of the table with a 1-0 victory at Connah’s Quay Nomads on Sunday.
It was a game of few chances at the Essity Stadium, with the decisive moment coming 14 minutes from time when the ball fell to Gabe Kircough in the area, who turned and fired emphatically beyond George Ratcliffe.
The Nomads had chances to equalise in stoppage time, but Bont managed to clear efforts from John Disney and Declan Poole off the line.
It has been a superb start to the season for Penybont, who face their toughest challenge yet when The New Saints visit the SDM Glass Stadium on Friday.
The reigning champions made it four wins from four games in the league this season as they triumphed 4-0 over Barry Town United at Park Hall on Saturday.
Jordan Williams opened the scoring on 26 minutes as he tapped home the rebound after Luc Rees could only parry Leo Smith’s effort, before Adam Wilson doubled the lead eight minutes in the second half when Danny Redmond’s delivery bypassed everyone to reach the forward at the back post who finished for his first goal since returning to TNS on loan.
The Saints sealed the three points late in final 10 minutes as substitute Ben Clark added a third goal with a sweetly struck half volley inside the box before Williams tapped home his second of the afternoon from close range.
Caernarfon Town earned their first home league win of the season as Zack Clarke’s hat-trick earned a 3-2 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel on Saturday.
Clarke scored twice in the opening 16 minutes with a ferocious strike into the top corner and a looping header which found the back of the net via the post.
Tyler Brock halved the deficit for Ferry by turning home Rio Dyer’s cross seven minutes before half-time, but Clarke completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes by finishing from close range after Adam Davies’ initial shot was saved.
Teenage Ferry substitute Ricky-Lee Owen scored Ferry’s second of the afternoon as his strike deflected past Stephen McMullan in stoppage time, but came too late for the visitors to get anything out of the game as they continue to search for their first point of the season.
Flint Town United climbed out of the relegation zone as Ben Hughes’ goal gave the Silkmen a 1-0 home win against Haverfordwest County on Saturday.
The goal came three minutes into the second half when Bobby Beaumont stole the ball off Ricky Watts on Flint’s right hand side and squared for Hughes to sweep home a first time finish into the bottom corner to earn his side a second consecutive victory.
Bala Town returned to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory at home to Aberystwyth Town on Friday night.
All three goals came in the first half as Aeron Edwards’ header from Alex Downes’ cross trickled over the line in the 22nd minute before summer signing Hussein Mehasseb tapped home from Osebi Abadaki’s low ball six minutes later.
Nathan Burke completed the scoring seven minutes before half0time when he produced a clinical finish from the edge of the area for his first goal since April 2023.
Weekend results in full:
Bala Town 3-0 Aberystwyth Town
Newtown 2-1 Cardiff Met
Caernarfon Town 3-2 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Flint Town United 1-0 Haverfordwest County
The New Saints 4-0 Barry Town United
Connah’s Quay Nomads 0-1 Penybont
