Andy Vale scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Brickfield Rangers moved five points clear at the top of the Novira Cymru North with a 3-2 victory over Rhyl 1879 at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides made a fast start as Vale put Brickfield ahead inside the first minute by dispossessing Reece Fairhurst and slotting past Luke Riley, only for his strike to be cancelled out in the 19th minute by Dan Cockerline who rose highest to head home from Morgan Murray’s cross.
Riley produced an excellent double save to deny Vale later in the first half, but Brickfield eventually restored their lead 10 minutes after the restart as Lewis Wynne cut inside and clinically picked out the far corner. However, Dan Apantaku brought Rhyl back on level terms four minutes later after he tucked away the rebound from Ben Lightfoot’s blocked cross.
Rhyl substitute Max Moore nearly bagged a late winner for his side as his effort struck the post. There did turn out to be late drama, but it was not in Rhyl’s favour as Vale once again intercepted Fairhurst and fired past Riley to seal yet another statement victory for Gareth Wilson’s side, who have won their last six games in all competitions.
Iwan Smout’s stoppage time strike salvaged a point for Caersws in a 3-3 draw with Bala Town at the Caersws Recreation Ground.
Caersws took the lead in the 26th minute as a foul on Callum Francis-Jones inside the area allowed Rhys Hesden to calmly convert from the penalty spot. Okera Simmonds made it one apiece shortly before half time though, as the Bala forward headed home from Osebi Abadaki’s cross.
Francis-Jones restored the Bluebirds’ advantage with 20 minutes remaining with a neat finish after meeting George Mitten’s through ball, but once again Bala hit back as Simmonds sent a thunderous strike into the top corner.
The Lakesiders thought they had snatched all three points in the first minute of stoppage time through John Owen, but Caersws had other ideas and rescued a draw as Rhys Williams parried out Mitten’s cross into the path of Smout, who fired home his third goal in two games.
There was even more stoppage time drama at the MKH Stadium as Hanoch Boakye’s late goal gave Newtown a 2-1 victory away to Mold Alexandra.
Newtown put the ball in the net shortly before half time, but the goal was disallowed for the foul throw that started the attack. The Robins were not to be denied at the start of the second half though, as Issa Kargbo went on a magnificent solo run and planted his effort into the bottom corner.
Mold levelled the contest through defender Lucas Gregson, who headed in from a corner for his fourth goal in as many league games, but the hosts were soon reduced to 10 players as Gregson’s fellow Connah’s Quay Nomads academy graduate Luca Hogan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Mold thought they were going to hold on for a point, but Boakye popped up in the 94th minute to snatch all three points and send the Robins up to second in the table.
Porthmadog climbed up to fourth in the table with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bangor 1876 at Y Traeth.
Dylan Summers-Jones scored the game’s decisive goal on 17 minutes as he haunted his former club Bangor by sending a looping volley over Josh Davies after Cai Jones’ header fell kindly to the forward, who scored his first home goal of the season.
Summers-Jones was denied his brace when he was tackled at the last second after rounding Davies, while Jones also saw a header cleared off the line near the hour mark. However, Summers-Jones’ early strike was enough to give Port their third consecutive win as new Bangor manager Huw Griffiths suffered defeat in his first league game in charge.
Holyhead Hotspur came from two goals down to earn a thrilling 4-2 victory over Denbigh Town at Central Park in Friday’s sole Novira Cymru North fixture.
Denbigh seemed to be in dreamland with just nine minutes on the clock as Sion Jones and Toby Gallagher-Keenan produced clinical finishes past Guto Hughes. However, Holyhead talisman Connor Owen quickly pulled a goal back and then clinched his brace to bring his team back on level terms early in the second half.
The visitors completed their turnaround on the hour mark as Owen set up 18-year-old Codie Holland, who scored his first goal for the club before substitute James Phillips ensured Holyhead took home all three points late on. Darren Garmey’s side are now level on seven points with Denbigh, but are still in the bottom three via goal-difference.
Gresford Athletic continued their resurgence with a 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Penrhyncoch at Cae Baker.
Gresford’s winning moment arrived in the 61st minute as Tyler Berry met Joe Bennett’s cross to score for the third consecutive league game. A first away win of the season for Anthony Weaver’s side takes them six points clear of Penrhyncoch and closer to moving out of the relegation zone.
Novira Cymru North
Guilsfield secured back-to-back wins and clean sheets as Jake O’Donnell’s strike proved enough to seal a 1-0 victory over Llanuwchllyn at Clos Mytton.
After Llanuwchllyn had their appeals for a penalty waved away, Guilsfield broke up the other end as Callum Bromley drove forward and squared the ball for O’Donnell, who finished at the back post fifth goal in four games in all competitions to put the hosts ahead on 11 minutes.
Llanuwchllyn had the ball in the net from a corner following a fingertip save from Guilsfield goalkeeper Mike Jones, but a foul in the midst of a crowded area meant the goal was ruled out. Jones made more crucial saves throughout the contest to ensure the Guils strengthened their place in the top half.
Buckley Town extended their unbeaten Novira Cymru North run to four matches as Caleb Afful scored late to salvage a 1-1 draw against Ruthin Town at The Globe.
Ruthin took the lead nine minutes before half time as Buckley defender Dan Burgess turned the ball into his own net. However, Afful stepped up to rescue the Bucks in the 88th minute as he skipped past three defenders and slotted beyond Dan Goldston.
Ruthin finished the match with 10 players after James Smith was shown a straight red card in stoppage time for his foul on Afful. Buckley remain ninth in the table, while Ruthin climb up to 12th-place with just their second point on the road this season.
Weekend results in full:
Denbigh Town 2-4 Holyhead Hotspur
Porthmadog 1-0 Bangor City 1876
Buckley Town 1-1 Ruthin Town
Rhyl 1879 2-3 Brickfield Rangers
Caersws 3-3 Bala Town
Guilsifeld 1-0 Llanuwchllyn
Mold Alexandra 1-2 Newtown
Penrhyncoch 0-1 Gresford Athletic
