The New Saints moved six points clear at top of the JD Cymru Premier with a 4-0 victory over second-place Penybont at Park Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides had won one meeting each in Phase One courtesy of late goals on both occasions, but this was a convincing victory for TNS who took the lead after just 11 minutes as Danny Davies met Adam Wilson’s cross with a looping header over Mike Lewis in the Penybont goal.
Wilson was the provider again as the Saints doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half, as the Bradford City loanee crossed for Remi Oteh to provide a simple finish at the back post for his 11th league goal of the season.
Ryan Brobbel made it 3-0 just after the hour mark by picking out the top corner with a sweetly struck free-kick from the edge of the area, while victory was secured late on by substitute Ben Clark who twisted and turned past the Bont defence before firing past Lewis.
TNS still have a game in hand over Penybont, away at Caernarfon Town on Tuesday night, and another win at The Oval would open up a nine-point gap at the summit.
Flint Town United secured their fifth straight home win in the JD Cymru Premier with a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Aberystwyth Town on Friday night.
The Silkmen thought they had taken the lead in the first half as Izaack Lambert fired home from close range, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.
The breakthrough eventually came eight minutes into the second half when Josh Jones fed a perfect through ball into the path of Elliott Reeves, who slotted past Sebastian Osment for his first goal since October.
Lee Fowler’s side wrapped up the three points in the 77th minute as a swift counter-attacking move was finished off by Jake Phillips, who had time and space on the right hand side of the box to pick out the back of the net.
Flint are now five points clear of the relegation zone, while Aber are eight points adrift of safety after Briton Ferry Llansawel won 1-0 away at Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday.
The decisive moment came just after the hour mark at the Essity Stadium when the Nomads failed to deal with a long ball into the box and the loose ball broke for Ferry captain Alex Gammond who smashed it home.
The Nomads pushed for a late leveller, but goalkeeping heroics from Will Fuller ensured Ferry took home all three points as he made saves to deny Ben Nash, Declan Poole and Cameron Ferguson quick succession.
Defeat for Billy Paynter’s side allowed Barry Town United to move eight points clear at the top of the Play-Off Conference following their 1-1 draw away at Newtown on Saturday.
Ollie Hulbert put Barry ahead in the 17th minute as he met Robbie Willmott’s cross with a header at the back post for his 10th league goal of the season.
Newtown responded well, with Dom Smith hitting the crossbar before half-time, and eventually found an equaliser with 70 minutes on the lock as Aaron Williams bundled the ball home from Rob Evans’ corner.
Nonetheless, the Robins remain without a win since October and are now four points adrift of safety with seven matches remaining.
Nothing could separate in-form sides Caernarfon Town and Haverfordwest County in a 1-1 draw at The Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Bluebirds went ahead in the ninth minute as Ben Fawcett drilled home a deflected shot after receiving a pass from Iori Humphreys, but their lead would only last 16 minutes as Josh Lock played through Louis Lloyd who produced a deft chip over Zac Jones for his 11th league goal of the campaign.
Lloyd had a glorious opportunity to complete the turnaround for the Cofis in the second half but he was unable to convert after meeting Jake Canavan’s pinpoint cross, while at the other end Ben Hughes did well to tip over a Luke Tabone volley.
Caernarfon’s dropped points meant that Cardiff Met moved up to fourth in the table with a 2-1 win over Bala Town at Cyncoed Campus on Saturday.
It was a lively start to the game and Met took the lead in the fifth minute as Eliot Evans marked his 250thappearance for the club by coolly slotting the ball home from Tom Vincent’s lay off.
Bala levelled inside the first minute of the second half when George Newell headed home at the back post from Osebi Abadaki’s floated cross, but Met scored what proved to be the winning goal three minutes later as Ryan Reynolds sent a trademark rocket into the top corner from outside of the box.
Weekend results in full:
Flint Town United 2-0 Aberystwyth Town
The New Saints 4-0 Penybont
Caernarfon Town 1-1 Haverfordwest County
Cardiff Met 2-1 Bala Town
Connah’s Quay Nomads 0-1 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Newtown 1-1 Barry Town United
