JD Cymru Premier round-up | Thorn pricks Briton Ferry twice in Aberystwyth Town win

Aberystwyth Town earned a lifeline in the JD Cymru Premier relegation battle as a brace from captain Jack Thorn helped secure a 3-2 win over Briton Ferry Llansawel at Old Road on Saturday. 

Thorn, whose previous goal came 10 months ago, put the Seasiders ahead inside just four minutes when he volleyed home after Louis Bradford had sent an overhead kick across goal. 

Keiran Williams produced a tidy finish from Caleb Demery’s low cross to draw Ferry level five minutes into the second half, but Thorn quickly restored the visitors’ lead by sending a clever looping volley over Will Fuller after the Reds goalkeeper had punched out Iwan Lewis’ corner. 

Jonathan Evans added a third for Aber on 70 minutes when Niall Flint flicked on Lewis’ cross into the forward’s path and he produced a composed finish into the bottom corner. 

Ferry substitute Jasper Payne reduced the deficit with a close-range header on 78 minutes, but Aber held firm late on to see out their first win in five games. Antonio Corbisiero’s side remain bottom of the table but are now within five points of safety. 

After seeing their game against Caernarfon Town postponed last weekend, league leaders The New Saints kicked off their Phase Two campaign with a 3-1 home win over Cardiff Met on Saturday. 

The Saints were in front inside two minutes at Park Hall as Ryan Brobbel’s superb defence-splitting pass played in Adam Wilson, who finished past Kelland Absalom for his fourth league goal of the season. 

Eliot Evans equalised for Met in the 16th minute with a composed finish past Connor Roberts after some neat footwork, but TNS edged back in front early in the second half when Dan Williams’ shot was parried and Remi Oteh struck home the rebound from close range. 

Danny Davies clinched a sixth straight victory for Craig Harrison’s side 10 minutes later with a first time finish from Josh Pask’s cut back.  

TNS are now three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand after second-place Penybont were held to a goalless draw by Haverfordwest County at the SDM Stadium on Saturday.

The Bluebirds came closest to finding the net when Ben Fawcett had his close-range header denied by the woodwork in the 18th minute, while Bont’s best chance also came in the first half as the ball deflected into Chris Venables’ path but he could only produce a tame effort straight at Zac Jones. 

There has now been just one goal scored in three league meetings between the two sides this season, perhaps unsurprising as they have the two best defences in the division. Penybont travel to TNS next weekend in a potentially decisive game in the title race. 

After announcing Andy Legg as their new manager on Friday night, Barry Town United made it two wins from two games in Phase Two as they triumphed 3-1 over Flint Town United at Jenner Park on Saturday. 

Keenan Patten finished off a sublime passing move from the hosts to break the deadlock after just three minutes, but Flint were gifted an equaliser midway through the first half when Barry goalkeeper Liam Armstrong tipped the ball into his own net from Jake Phillips’ long throw. 

However, the Linnets restored the lead seven minutes later as Callum Sainty tapped home on the line after Ben Margetson’s header struck the crossbar. Barry wrapped up victory in the second half courtesy of Patten’s second goal of the afternoon, a simple close-range finish after Evan Press’ cross had ricocheted kindly into his path. 

Legg’s side remain seven points clear at the top of the Play-Off Conference, while Flint are still three points above the relegation zone despite a seventh straight defeat away from home. 

Caernarfon Town claimed a third successive victory as Josh Lock’s brace inspired a 3-1 win over Bala Town at Maes Tegid on Friday night. 

Lock got Caernarfon off to a flying as he calmly slotted home from Matty Hill’s square ball with just seven minutes on the clock and the Cofis doubled their lead in the 14th minute when Adam Davies provided a simple finish from two yards out after Joel Torrance spilled Paulo Mendes’ cross. 

Caernarfon continued to threaten throughout the game – with Torrance denying them on multiple occasions – but Bala halved the deficit with 10 minutes remaining as Louis Robles flicked a header home from Osebi Abadaki’s cross. 

There was to be no late equaliser for the hosts though, with Caernarfon sealing victory in stoppage time when Lock’s shot from distance squirmed past Torrance into the bottom corner. 

Connah’s Quay Nomads earned their first win of 2025 as Jack Kenny’s first half strike proved enough to see off Newtown 1-0 at the Essity Stadium on Saturday. 

The decisive moment came in the 18th minute when Kenny, who returned from suspension to make his first appearance in over a month, slid home Declan Poole’s low ball. 

Billy Paynter’s side could have won by more were it not for Julian Schwarzer Garcia in the Newtown goal, with the Philippines international tipping over Rhys Hughes’ dipping free-kick and denying Ben Nash at point blank range. 

Weekend results in full:

Bala Town 1-3 Caernarfon Town
Penybont 0-0 Haverfordwest County
Barry Town United 3-1 Flint Town United
Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-3 Aberystwyth Town
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-0 Newtown
The New Saints 3-1 Cardiff Met

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