Penybont extended their lead at the top of the JD Cymru Premier table to seven points with a 3-0 win away to managerless Aberystwyth Town on Saturday.
It was the worst possible start for Aber, who accepted the resignation of Anthony Williams on Tuesday, as Bont took the lead with just 26 seconds on the clock when Mael Davies cut the ball back for Owen Pritchard to sweep home a perfectly placed first time effort into the bottom corner.
Chris Venables, making his first start in four weeks, doubled the lead against his former club in the 26th minute as he tapped in unmarked at the back post for his third goal in as many as games.
Nathan Wood replaced Venables at half-time and got on the scoresheet to wrap up the victory with two minutes left on the clock, lashing home inside the box after James Crole’s layoff.
Following their defeat to Caernarfon Town in midweek, The New Saints returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Cardiff Met.
Craig Harrison’s side were gifted the opening goal after just three minutes as Met defender Evan Cadwallader turned Ash Baker’s cross into his own net.
The reigning champions again had joy from out wide in the 21st minute, when Rory Holden’s dinked delivery was headed home by an unmarked Danny Davies.
Remi Oteh and Ryan Brobbel both had efforts ruled out for offside as TNS pushed for a third goal, which eventually came just after the hour mark when the ball fell kindly on the edge of the box for Oteh, who produced a clinical first time finish beyond Alex Lang.
Caernarfon failed to build on their midweek win at Park Hall as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Newtown.
Cofis teenage goalkeeper Hari Thomas was at the heart of the action, as he gave away a penalty in the 14thminute by bringing down Jason Oswell in the box but denied Zeli Ismail from the spot.
A minute later, Thomas came rushing out of his box to clear the ball but passed it straight to Josh Lock who finished into the empty net to give Newtown the lead.
The Robins doubled their advantage just before the hour mark as Callum Roberts sent a looping cross into the box which sailed over Thomas’ head as he faced pressure from Aaron Williams.
Caernarfon were offered a route back into the game four minutes later when Oswell handled the ball on Newtown’s goal line and the in-form Louis Lloyd converted the resulting penalty.
However, the Robins were able to hold on for all three points – largely thanks to the goalkeeping performance of Alex Swindell – and end the Cofis’ six-match unbeaten run in the league.
Newtown also moved into the top six with victory after Bala Town conceded a stoppage time equaliser to draw 2-2 with Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.
Sidi Fofana put Flint ahead in the 35th minute with his first goal for the club, slotting home the rebound from Florian Yonsian’s initially saved effort after a well-worked corner.
However, Bala turned the game on its head in the first six minutes of the second half as Hussein Mehasseb equalised from the penalty spot before a mistake from Flint goalkeeper Jack Flint led to Osebi Abadaki firing into the roof of the net.
That looked to be the winning goal for the Lakesiders, but Flint found an equaliser in the 96th minute when Yonsian drove down the right and played the ball in to captain Harry Owen, who squared it for Ben Hughes to finish coolly into the bottom corner.
Barry Town United extended their unbeaten run at Jenner Park to four matches with a 3-1 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Keenan Patten continued his bright form to give Barry the lead on 10 minutes, cutting in from the left and firing low into the far corner, but Ferry hit back instantly through teenager Ellis Sage, who capitalised on weak pass from Barry goalkeeper Luc Rees and finished into the bottom corner for his first top-flight goal.
Barry restored their lead in the 37th minute when Eliot Richards’ deflected strike from distance flew beyond Rhys Wilson, while Ollie Hulbert add his name to the scoresheet early in the second half by coolly finishing from close range from Patten’s cut back. The forward is now top of the division’s scoring charts with seven goals from 12 matches.
Barry remain two points behind a place in the top six, while Ferry are six points adrift of safety in the relegation zone – albeit with two games in hand over 10th-place Flint.
Second-place Haverfordwest County kept their fourth clean sheet in five games in a goalless stalemate with Connah’s Quay Nomads at the LHP Stadium.
Ben Maher, making his first league for the Nomads, came closest to breaking the deadlock when his powerful effort struck the post in the first half, while visiting goalkeeper George Ratcliffe starred as Haverfordwest looked for a breakthrough.
Weekend results in full:
Aberystwyth Town 0-3 Penybont
Barry Town United 3-1 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Caernarfon Town 1-2 Newtown
Flint Town United 2-2 Bala Town
Haverfordwest County 0-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
The New Saints 3-0 Cardiff Met
