Second-place Newtown closed the gap at the top of the Novira Cymru North to just four points as the Robins secured a 2-0 victory over Buckley Town at Latham Park.
This match was the first ever fixture from the second tier to be broadcast live on Cymru Football TV, and the opening goal remarkably arrived inside the first minute as Luke Mariette’s tame back pass was intercepted by Hanoch Boakye, who was tackled by Bryn Owen, only for Josh Astley to retrieve the loose ball and strike into an empty net.
Newtown captain Kieran Mills-Evans came extremely close to doubling his side’s lead when he volleyed onto the post, but the hosts eventually put the game to bed in stoppage time as Astley squared the ball to his strike partner Jamie Hyne, who slotted home with a clinical first-time finish. Jay Owen’s side have now kept clean sheets in their last three home matches in all competitions.
Newtown are now just four points behind league leaders Brickfield Rangers, who dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Bala Town at Clywedog Park.
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Bala found the breakthrough deep into first half stoppage time as Okera Simmonds turned home Craig Lindfield’s delivery, but the leaders managed to rescue a point thanks to the league’s top scorer Andy Vale, who tapped in from Lewis Wynne’s low cross for his 12th league goal of the season.
Mold Alexandra also closed the gap on leaders Brickfield with a bittersweet 2-1 victory over Rhyl 1879 at the MKH Stadium.
Former Mold boss Barry Owen departed the club earlier in the week to take up the vacant managerial position at Rhyl, and it was Owen’s new side who took the lead with 11 minutes on the clock in Flintshire as Max Moore steered home from Josh Jones’ cross.
Moore’s opener was instantly cancelled out though, as Luca Hogan produced a clinical finish across goal to bring Mold level. Rhys Nash completed the turnaround for the Alex on 26 minutes and his second goal of the season proved to be enough for all three points as Mold, who are being led by former Rhyl manager Gareth Thomas on a temporary basis, made it three wins from their last four league games.
Defeat for Rhyl saw them drop into the bottom three after Ruthin Town leapfrogged the Lilywhites with a 2-1 victory over Gresford Athletic at Clappers Lane.
Tyler Berry put Gresford ahead after just 11 minutes played, but quickfire goals from Luka Graham and Ethan Davies saw Ruthin complete the turnaround later in the half. A goalless second period saw Colin Caton’s side hold on to claim their first away win since February.
Denbigh Town moved three points clear of the Novira Cymru North relegation zone with a thrilling 4-3 win over Llanuwchllyn at Village Hall on Saturday.
Both sides made a fast start as Denbigh took the lead through Ffranc Vaughan-Evans’ clinical finish one-on-one with Rob Dascalu, only for Llanuwchllyn to quickly equalise thanks to James Davies, who capitalized on a defensive mistake to slot past Ollie Farebrother.
The match remained all square at half time, but Tom Kelly bagged a quickfire brace with a sublime free-kick into the top corner and a poacher’s finish into the bottom corner to give Denbigh a two-goal cushion shortly after the hour mark.
Farebrother then spilled the ball into Ilan Ap Gareth Jones, who gave the home side a lifeline before Denbigh defender Sion Jones received a straight red card for a foul in midfield. That seemed to put Denbigh’s lead in jeopardy, but Fin Starkey-Jones slammed the ball home to restore the visitors’ two-goal lead against the odds.
Gwydion Ifan halved the deficit for Llanuwchllyn in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but it was too late for Sion Tudor’s side to stage a comeback as Denbigh made it consecutive away wins.
Holyhead Hotspur continued their bright form as they came from behind to beat bottom-of-the-table Penrhyncoch at The Yates Stadium and claim their first home win of the season.
Penrhyncoch left their opponents stunned as Rhydian Davies struck into the bottom corner with just 11 minutes played in Anglesey, but the hosts were back on level terms shortly before half time as Connor Owen headed home from Tomos Owen’s cross.
Corey Jones had a header ruled out for offside as Holyhead ramped up the pressure, but their frustration eventually went away midway through the second half as substitute Cory Williams scored with his very first touch by sending a looping header over Leigh Jenkins.
A well-worked free-kick from Holyhead ensured they collected all three points on 77 minutes as Sam Jones met Jake Roberts’ delivery from the left and fired in his first goal since joining the club from Bangor 1876. Holyhead are now three points clear of the relegation zone, while Penrhyncoch remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a league win.
Spencer Parrish scored a 95th minute equaliser to salvage Guilsfield a point in their 2-2 draw with Porthmadog at Clos Mytton.
Joe Haycock’s corner flew directly into the net as Guilsfield scored late in the first half to open the scoring, but it was Porthmadog who turned the game on its head with eight minutes remaining thanks to Osian Ellis’ thumping volley and Gruff John’s composed first-time finish.
It seemed Port were on course to take home all three points, but Parrish had other ideas as he squeezed the ball past Robbie Williams in the midst of a goalmouth scramble to help the Guils strengthen their place in the top half.
There was even more late drama on Saturday afternoon as Caersws’ Ashley Harries netted a late equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw against Bangor 1876 at the Caersws Recreation Ground.
Bangor opened the scoring with just five minutes remaining in mid-Wales as teenage substitute Sam Parry scored his first ever Novira Cymru North goal. Parry’s strike was immediately cancelled out though, as Harries’ equalised for Caersws three minutes later with a close range finish to extend the Bluebirds’ unbeaten streak to five league matches.
Novira Cymru North results in full:
Holyhead Hotspur 3-1 Penrhyncoch
Caersws 1-1 Bangor City 1876
Guilsfield 2-2 Porthmadog
Brickfield Rangers 1-1 Bala Town
Llanuwchllyn 3-4 Denbigh Town
Gresford Athletic 1-2 Ruthin Town
Mold Alexandra 2-1 Rhyl 1879
Newtown 2-0 Buckley Town
