The New Saints returned to winning ways in style with an emphatic 6-1 victory away to Newtown on Friday night.
Following back-to-back league losses for the first time in five years, the Saints wasted no time at Latham Park as Danny Davies volleyed home in the 10th minute after the hosts failed to clear Sion Bradley’s corner.
Bradley scored twice himself – both clinical first-time finishes – either side of a first TNS goal for new arrival Aramide Oteh, who was played in superbly by Danny Redmond, as Craig Harrison’s side earned a 4-0 advantage after 70 minutes.
Newtown captain Shane Sutton netted his first goal in over two years as he turned in Zeli Ismail’s deep corner with his knee in the 75th minute, but substitute Declan McManus and Jack Bodenham both scored headers in the final 10 minutes as TNS boosted their confidence ahead of their UEFA Conference League trip to Fiorentina on Thursday.
Haverfordwest County moved up to third in the JD Cymru Premier with a 1-0 home win over Cardiff Met on Friday night.
Owain Jones struck the crossbar with a 30-yard effort in the first half, before he found the winning goal 10 minutes after the break by clinically finishing first time from Lee Jenkins’ low delivery into the box – condemning Met to only a second loss of the campaign.
The Archers’ defeat allowed Penybont to move three points clear at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bont grew into the game and eventually found the breakthrough on 71 minutes when Owen Pritchard sent a fierce effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to finish a neat team move.
Rhys Griffiths’ side had the chance to double their advantage in stoppage time when Jasper Jones was fouled by Harry Owen in the box, but Bont captain Kane Owen saw his penalty saved by Silkmen goalkeeper Jack Flint.
Caernarfon Town claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they triumphed 3-1 over Connah’s Quay Nomads at The Oval on Saturday.
Paulo Mendes opened the scoring against his former club as he pounced on a loose ball to net from the edge of the box in the 19th minute, before Cofis captain Darren Thomas doubled the lead in first half stoppage time by robbing the ball from John Disney, driving forward and unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner.
It was game over 11 minutes into the second half when Zack Clarke smashed the ball home after from a header from Mendes struck the post.
Nomads skipper Disney got his side a goal back from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, but it is now just one point from five matches for Billy Paynter’s side.
Briton Ferry Llansawel made it three games unbeaten with a 2-2 draw with Bala Town at Old Road on Saturday.
Bala made a dream start as they took the lead inside just three minutes when an unmarked Ross White headed home from Nathan Burke’s free-kick delivery, but Ferry scored twice in the closing stages of the first half to lead at the break.
Captain Alex Gammond coolly scored from the penalty spot in the 41st minute after Tom Walters was brought down in the box, before Jasper Payne completed the turnaround with a composed finish in stoppage time.
Gammond was again involved as Bala equalised in the 53rd minute, turning the ball into his own net from Christian Norton’s low cross.
Both sides had chances to snatch a win, but Bala forward Joe Malkin was unable to get an all-important touch on Aeron Edwards’ through ball, while Payne was denied a second goal of the afternoon as his shot flew narrowly wide of the post.
Barry Town United condemned Aberystwyth Town to a seventh straight league defeat as Ollie Hulbert’s late goal secured a narrow 1-0 win for the Linnets at Jenner Park on Friday.
Aber goalkeeper Dave Jones starred between the sticks for the majority of the game, with a superb double save to deny Eliot Richards and Sam Snaith being a highlight, but Barry eventually found the breakthrough in the 84th minute.
Ieuan Owen cut the ball back on the byline for Hulbert, whose initial effort struck the post but he turned the ball home on the rebound to clinch the three points.
Weekend results in full:
Barry Town United 1-0 Aberystwyth Town
Haverfordwest County 1-0 Cardiff Met
Newtown 1-6 The New Saints
Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-2 Bala Town
Flint Town United 0-1 Penybont
Caernarfon Town 3-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads
