The New Saints moved six points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier with an emphatic 6-2 victory over second-place Penybont at Park Hall on Saturday.
Jordan Williams opened the scoring in the 14th minute as he tucked away the rebound after Luke Armstrong saved Danny Davies’ header, while Gabe Kircough’s foul on Williams inside the box allowed Ryan Brobbel to double the lead from the penalty spot on the half hour mark.
It was 3-0 just one minute later when Dan Williams’ clearance upfield was received by his namesake Jordan, who produced a sublime lob over Armstrong.
Dan Williams slammed the ball home for TNS’ fourth goal in the 54th minute after Brobbel’s shot was blocked, before Jordan Williams completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark by cutting inside from the left and releasing a shot that deflected into the net.
Penybont substitute Owain Warlow sent a thunderous finish in off the crossbar to get his side on the scoresheet in the 65th minute, but Jack Nadin made it 6-1 with a ferocious effort of his own – his first goal for TNS – with five minutes left of regular time.
JD Cymru Premier
James Crole received Warlow’s cut back and fired home in the box in stoppage time, but the damage had long been done for the visitors as TNS secured an eighth consecutive league win.
Third-place Caernarfon Town are now winless in their last four matches after being held to a 2-2 draw by Barry Town United Jenner Park on Saturday.
Eliot Richards put Barry ahead in the 17th minute as he bundled home a loose ball after Robbie Willmott’s cross ricocheted off Ollie Hulbert, but Phil Mooney equalised for Caernarfon five minutes before half-time when he headed home from Sion Bradley’s corner.
Iwan Lewis found the bottom corner with his first-time strike from just inside the area to complete a turnaround for the Cofis just before the hour mark, but Barry levelled the contest once again in the 79th minute when Callum Sainty received Mikey George’s cut back and fired past Hari Thomas.
Connah’s Quay Nomads secured a third consecutive win as Harry Franklin’s nine-minute hat-trick earned a 3-0 victory away at Briton Ferry Llansawel on Saturday.
After a goalless first half, Franklin was brought on at the break and had found the net inside six minutes as he latched onto Ben Nash’s long ball, raced into the area and squeezed an effort past Will Fuller at the near post.
Marco Fregapane robbed the ball off Dan Jefferies and squared it to Franklin to finish into an empty net in the 56th minute, before the substitute sealed his hat-trick on the hour mark by tapping home from Rhys Hughes’ ball across the face of goal.
It is three clean sheets in the last four games for the Nomads, who are now only behind third-place Caernarfon on goal difference.
Flint Town United returned to winning ways as Elliott Reeves’ hat-trick inspired a 4-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at the Essity Stadium on Saturday.
Reeves struck twice in the first half to put the Silkmen in control as he tapped home from Jake Phillips’ ball across goal before picking out the top corner with a clinical strike in the box.
Jake Canavan’s drilled finish into the bottom corner from outside the box gave Flint a three-goal cushion on 66 minutes before Reeves completed his hat-trick – his second treble against Llanelli this season – in the 81stminute with a powerful shot in off the crossbar from Phillips’ low cross.
Haverfordwest County secured back-to-back home wins with a 2-0 victory over Bala Town at Ogi Bridge Meadow in Friday’s sole fixture.
Both sides had glorious chances to take the lead in the first half as Bala forward Hussein Mehasseb was denied by Luc Rees from close range, while Dan Hawkins and Corey Shephard saw efforts fly inches wide of the target for the hosts.
However, the breakthrough eventually arrived for Haverfordwest eight minutes into the second half as Greg Walters brought down Shephard’s clipped pass into the box and fired past Joel Torrance for his first league goal of the season.
Ben Ahmun doubled the lead in the 68th minute when he met Rhys Abbruzzese’s pinpoint cross and guided a header into the net. A first clean sheet at home since February made sure of a vital three points for the Bluebirds.
Nothing could separate Colwyn Bay and Cardiff Met in a goalless draw at The Blue Turtle Arena on Saturday.
Bay striker Jordan Davies came agonisingly close to scoring in the first half when his close range header from Jamie Cumming’s cross was denied by the crossbar.
Met goalkeeper Sam Seager made saves at full stretch to deny Ethan Roberts and Lewis Sirrell, before the hosts were frustrated by the crossbar again as Aaron Williams’ header rattled the woodwork.
Despite their best efforts, Michael Wilde’s were forced to settle for a point and a third consecutive clean sheet, while Met extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Weekend results in full:
Haverfordwest County 2-0 Bala Town
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-3 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Barry Town United 2-2 Caernarfon Town
Colwyn Bay 0-0 Cardiff Met
Flint Town United 4-0 Llanelli Town
The New Saints 6-2 Penybont
