The New Saints could win the Dafabet Welsh League Premier title next weekend with eight games to spare after Craig Harrison’s men notched their 22nd league win of the season.
Alex Darlington’s coolly dispatched penalty sealed the champions elect a 2-0 win against Cardiff Met on Saturday. Pole Adrian Cieslewicz had earlier fired TNS ahead and Darlington sent Met keeper Will Fuller the wrong way after being brought down by Joel Letori midway through the second-half.
That victory allowed TNS to extend their lead at the top of the table to a huge 24-points – after Connah’s Quay began their Phase 2 campaign with a rare home defeat to in-form Carmarthen.
Despite the best efforts of John Danby who had denied Carmarthen for much of the afternoon, Carmarthen made the breakthrough on 76-minutes. Ceri Morgan received Matthew Thomas’ knockdown in space to fire past Danby, in what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Having ended Phase 1 in positive fashion, Carmarthen are very much a side in the ascendancy under Mark Aizlewood, who has turned a modestly assembled squad into one of the hardest working and efficient sides in the league.
Bala Town capitalised on Connah’s Quay’s misfortune moving level on points with the Nomads in second-place, after they overcame Bangor City in an enthralling encounter at Maes Tegid, not least for match official Tom Williams.
Bangor captain Gary Roberts failed to put his side ahead when a theatrical tumble from Henry Jones won his side a first-half penalty. Roberts duly blazed the resulting spot-kick wide before Bala Town then threatened, as Chris Venables’ superbly hit free-kick crashed against the crossbar. Venables made his mark on the game soon after, with a glancing header beating Connor Roberts to give his side the lead.
Bangor hit back within ten minutes of the restart through Daniel Nardiello’s scrambled effort – despite protests from Bala that Nardiello’s strike didn’t fully cross the line after it had been hooked away clear by Kieran Smith.
A moment of confusion from the referee then saw him mistakenly dismiss Bala defender Stuart Jones for a second bookable offence when the first caution was issued to fellow defender and namesake Stuart J. Jones!
Bala regained their lead when Anthony Stephens converted a penalty in fortuitous circumstances. Sergio Uyi was adjudged to have fouled inside the area when replays showed that the former Nigerian Under-21 international had won the ball.
With frustrations evidently growing in the Bangor side, Gary Roberts received his marching orders for a late challenge before Bala made it 3-1 as Stuart Jones headed home, with Rodrigo Branco’s cool Rabona-style finish a mere consolation for the Citizens.
In the tightly contested Play-Off Conference, just five points separate seventh-placed Llandudno from relegation candidates Rhyl.
First-half goals from Jason Oswell and Nicky Rushton allowed Newtown to move out of the relegation places, as the Robins earned an encouraging 2-1 win at Llandudno. Newtown leapfrog Rhyl, who fall into the bottom-two, following their 2-0 defeat to Cefn Druids.
The Druids recorded a welcome victory as Ashley Ruane’s solo-effort and well-taken finish sealed what could be a crucial three points come the end of the season.
Aberystwyth midfielder Luke Sherbon made amends for a missed penalty by scoring the only goal of the game against Airbus UK. That defeat leaves the Wingmakers with plenty of work to do in Phase 2 as they find themselves six-points adrift at the foot of the table.
Results: Bala Town 3-2 Bangor City, Connah’s Quay 0-1 Carmarthen Town, TNS 2-0 Cardiff Met, Aberystwyth 1-0 Airbus UK, Llandudno 1-2 Newtown, Rhyl 0-2 Cefn Druids.
Featured image courtesy of Naomi Jones / Bala Town FC / Dafabet Welsh Premier League