Rory Holden scored a hat-trick as JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints moved 10 points clear at the top of the table with an emphatic 6-0 win over Penybont at Park Hall on Saturday.
The Saints took the lead with 22 minutes on the clock when Holden’s effort struck the post and fell straight into the path of Jordan Williams, who hammered home into an empty net from just a yard out.
Holden doubled the advantage just four minutes later as he controlled Dan Williams’ cross and clinically fired past Luke Armstrong and into the net via the crossbar. Ryan Brobbel added his name to the scoresheet early in the second half as his strike from distance deflected off Joe Woodiwiss and over Armstrong.
Holden made it 4-0 soon after by sending a powerful first-time effort into the net from a clever corner routine, before completing his first ever career hat-trick in the 79th minute as he received Adam Wilson’s threaded pass and found the bottom corner.
Ben Wilson marked his first appearance in over a month with a goal off the bench in the closing stages as he ran on to Holden’s low delivery and steered the ball into the far corner. It is now four straight wins and four consecutive clean sheets for Craig Harrison’s side.
JD Cymru Premier
Victory for TNS followed more dropped points for second-place Connah’s Quay Nomads on Friday night as John Disney’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Caernarfon Town at the Essity Stadium.
The Nomads were awarded a penalty just one minute before half-time as Phil Mooney brought down Callum West inside the area, with Rhys Hughes stepping up to bag his 12th league goal of the season from the spot.
Nomads goalkeeper Kit Margetson made key saves to deny Sion Bradley, Iwan Lewis and Mooney, while at the other end Declan Poole missed a glorious close-range chance from Abdi Sharif’s low ball.
However, for the second consecutive game in Phase One, the Nomads conceded a stoppage time equaliser. Jason Oswell’s foul on Adam Davies in the box saw Caernarfon awarded a penalty, and TNS loanee Bradley stepped up to score from the spot and boost his parent club’s title chances.
Haverfordwest County climbed to the top of the Play-Off Conference with a 2-0 win over Briton Ferry Llansawel at The Renewable Centre Stadium on Friday night.
The Bluebirds opened the scoring in the 58th minute when Ben Ahmun forced a defensive error from Jack Fanning, with Corey Shephard retrieving the loose ball and sliding in Dan Hawkins, who made no mistake finishing past Will Fuller when one-on-one with the Ferry goalkeeper.
Hawkins went extremely close to doubling his and Haverfordwest’s tally moments later, but he could only rattle the crossbar from three yards out when running onto Ahmun’s low cross towards the back post.
Ferry’s hope of finding a late equaliser suffered a blow when Mitchel Bates was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for dissent in the 89th minute. Haverfordwest took advantage of having an extra man and sealed the win in stoppage time as Hawkins’ low ball reached Ahmun at the back post, leaving the striker with a simple finish for his ninth league goal of the season.
Flint Town United moved three points above the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at Stebonheath on Saturday.
Reds goalkeeper Alex Pennock was on top form to keep the Silkmen at bay for the majority of the first half, but he was unable to keep out Elliott Reeves’ close-range header from Jake Canavan’s pinpoint cross shortly before the break – the striker’s seventh goal in three games against Llanelli this season.
Flint doubled their lead with 65 minutes on the clock as James Lester’s handball in the box allowed Darren Stephenson to fire home from the penalty spot for his third goal in three games in all competitions.
It is only the second time this season that the Silkmen have achieved back-to-back league wins, while Llanelli are now 19 points adrift of safety with eight games remaining.
Colwyn Bay earned their first victory of 2026 as Nathan Peate’s header proved decisive in a 1-0 win over Barry Town United at Jenner Park on Saturday.
Both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half as Bay goalkeeper Alex Brown made important saves to deny Ollie Hulbert and Ieuan Owen, while Seagulls duo Jordan Davies and Alex Moore both saw efforts from inside the area fly wide.
However, the breakthrough came in the 49th minute as Peate got in front of Keston Davies to meet Matty Hill’s long throw and head the ball beyond George Ratcliffe. Michael Wilde’s side saw out the remainder of the match to keep their first league clean sheet since October.
Nothing could separate Bala Town and Cardiff Met in a 1-1 draw at Maes Tegid on Saturday afternoon.
Met had a glorious chance to take the lead when Ryan Reynolds ran onto Sam Jones’ perfectly weighted lay-off, but Bala goalkeeper Joel Torrance made a fine save to keep out the Met midfielder.
Bala took the lead with 33 minutes on the clock as Cameron Ferguson scored his third goal in as many games since joining the Lakesiders by planting a diving header into the net from Sam Billington’s delivery.
However, Met levelled the scoreline shortly before the hour mark as Fumpa Mwandwe’s cross-turned-shot flew over Torrance and into the far corner.
Bala remain in the relegation zone and are now three points adrift of safety, while Met slipped to eighth in the table, but only one point behind seventh-place Haverfordwest County.
Weekend results in full:
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-2 Haverfordwest County
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-1 Caernarfon Town
The New Saints 6-0 Penybont
Bala Town 1-1 Cardiff Met
Barry Town United 0-1 Colwyn Bay
Llanelli Town 0-2 Flint Town United
