Colwyn Bay and Penybont played out the highest scoring game in the JD Cymru Premier this season as the Seagulls triumphed 5-4 in a frantic encounter at the Blue Turtle Arena on Saturday.
The opening nine minutes set the tone for the contest, as Jamie Cummings’ composed finish in the box was cancelled out by James Crole’s header before Sol Forde immediately restored Bay’s lead with his close-range strike.
Jordan Davies scored twice in nine minutes to give the Seagulls a 4-1 lead by the half hour mark, curling home a superb strike while off balance before meeting Aron Williams’ cross with a back post header.
Mael Davies tapped into an empty net from just two yards out to give Bont hope of a comeback in first half stoppage time, but Bay’s three-goal lead was restored when Jordan Davies completed his hat-trick just three minutes after the break. The forward raced onto Williams’ long ball, rounded Archie Matthews and finished clinically from a tight angle outside the box.
That ultimately proved decisive in earning victory for the hosts, as Bont substitute Ioan Phillips scored twice in stoppage time to make the scoreline closer than the contest had been. The teenager met Owen Pritchard’s cross with a looping header into the net, before diverting a Pritchard shot past the wrong-footed Alex Brown.
Defeat for Penybont means that The New Saints are now 12 points clear at the top of the table following their 2-0 victory over Caernarfon Town at Park Hall on Friday night.
The Cofis kept the league leaders at bay for the majority of the contest, as Connor Roberts made numerous saves against his former club – including a remarkable diving stop to tip Dan Williams’ effort into the post.
However, TNS finally found the breakthrough in the 82nd minute when Ben Clark controlled Jordan Williams’ lay off in the six-yard box and calmly poked the ball home into the bottom corner.
Williams then sealed victory with the final kick of the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time as he received Adrian Cieslewicz’s through pass and fired beyond Roberts for his 17th league goal of the season.
JD Cymru Premier
Barry Town United climbed back into the top six with an impressive 4-0 victory over Haverfordwest County at Jenner Park on Friday night.
The hosts took the lead after just 10 minutes as Robbie Willmott’s corner struck Haverfordwest goalkeeper Luc Rees and trickled into the net, while the lead was doubled on 23 minutes when another Willmott corner was headed back across goal by Callum Sainty and Ben Margetson nodded home from just three yards out.
Margetson turned provider for Barry’s third goal on 75 minutes as his whipped delivery from the right flank was met in the area by a clinical first time flicked finish from Ieuan Owen.
Owen then won his side a penalty just two minutes later as he was bundled over in the box by Kyle McCarthy, with Ollie Hulbert stepping up to score from the spot and seal the win.
Haverfordwest are now back in the relegation zone after Flint Town United climbed out of the bottom two thanks to a 2-2 draw away at Briton Ferry Llansawel on Saturday.
Kian Jenkins opened the scoring for Ferry in the 14th minute as he slotted home from Ryan George’s cross, but Flint equalised just three minutes later when Mikey Burke delivered a dangerous low ball into the box and Ben Wynne provided the finishing touch.
Ferry were in front again only five minutes later as Jenkins’ free-kick from the left found the unmarked Alex Gammond who clinically fired home first time in the box, but Flint equalised once more in first half stoppage time as Isaac Lee headed in the rebound after Alec Mudimu’s effort struck the crossbar.
Connah’s Quay Nomads climbed up to third in the table as they came from behind to triumph 2-1 against bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at the LHP Stadium on Saturday.
Llanelli took the lead on the half-hour mark as Jac Norris sprinted in behind the Nomads defence, latched onto Nelson Sanca’s long ball and finished powerfully beyond Kit Margetson for his second goal in as many league games.
However, Noah Edwards equalised five minutes before half-time, as his volley from the edge of the box deflected past Alex Pennock – the midfielder’s first goal since February.
The Nomads dominated proceedings in the second half and eventually completed the turnaround on 74 minutes as substitute Callum West pulled the ball back for Harry Franklin, who fired in a neat first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Nothing could separate top six chasers Bala Town and Cardiff Met in a 2-2 draw at Maes Tegid on Saturday.
Bala were gifted the advantage in the 18th minute when Met goalkeeper Samuel Seager parried Louis Hall’s corner into his own net, but the Archers turned the game around to lead at half-time as Lewis Rees tapped home Jasper Payne’s square ball before Matt Chubb produced a sublime first-time finish into the top corner for his third goal in four games.
Bala were level seven minutes into the second half though, as John Owen headed home at the front post from Nathan Burke’s corner.
The Lakesiders were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark when Olamide Ibrahim was shown a second yellow card for his foul on CJ Craven, but Steve Fisher’s side held on to claim a point.
Weekend results in full:
Barry Town United 4-0 Haverfordwest County
The New Saints 2-0 Caernarfon Town
Bala Town 2-2 Cardiff Met
Briton Ferry Llansawel 2-2 Flint Town United
Colwyn Bay 5-4 Penybont
Llanelli Town 1-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
