The JD Welsh Premier League title race was thrown wide open this weekend as both Connah’s Quay and Barry Town moved two points clear of The New Saints.
The two sides took full advantage after The New Saints crashed to a shock defeat at Aberystwyth on Friday night.
Four goals in 20 first-half minutes put Connah’s Quay firmly in the driving seat as they made light work of Llanelli, who continue to prop up the table.
Momodou Touray sealed Barry Town all three points for a second successive week, as they fought back against Llandudno.
“It was always going to be tough today, Llandudno did us up there last time so that was always going to be in the back of our minds,” said Macauley Southam-Hales.
A visit to Jenner Park where Barry have a 100 per cent home record this season was always going to be a tough ask for a Llandudno side looking for their first win in seven league attempts, but it was the visitors who took the lead.
Moments after John Owen struck the upright for Llandudno, Mike Pearson was on the receiving end of Toby Jones’ flighted free-kick to head Iwan Williams’ side in front.
After a good attacking spell from Barry, Kayne McLaggon marked his return to the starting line-up by restoring parity from the penalty spot, sending Shaun Pearson the wrong way after being felled in the box.
Barry thought they had taken the lead shortly after the break, but Jonathan Hood’s strike was chalked off with McLaggon adjudged to have been in an offside position as Hood had struck his volley in from the edge of the box.
Llandudno’s afternoon nosedived in the 50th minute when central defender Mike Pearson was shown a second yellow card. Five minutes later they fell behind Jordan Cotterill played through Touray to confidently score what would prove to be the decisive goal and seal Barry their sixth-straight home win.
“This is where we we’ve got our foundations being so strong at home and then get the job down away if you can. Everything comes from here, the fans – it all builds up, we’re trying to make this place a fortress and then kick on from there,” explained Southam-Hales.
“If we keep our home form as it is and get points away it’ll keep us in and around that top bunch.
“Day in, day out we’re working the right way. Gavin’s [Chesterfield] got the right philosophy and got us all playing the right way, and brought in good lads – when you’ve got a good changing room, it all takes on from there.”
Connah’s Quay route to the top of the table was a far more straightforward affair at the Deeside Stadium.
Struggling Llanelli battened down the hatches early on as Connah’s Quay started strongly, but their resolve was broke after referee Cheryl Foster awarded the Nomads a penalty for handball on 19 minutes, with Callum Morris duly converting.
A desperate scramble prevented Llanelli from immediately falling two goals behind when Andy Owens’ long throw found its way deep into the goalmouth with Connah’s Quay’s players unable to steer the ball home.
Michael Bakare’s close range finish on the half hour did give the Nomads a second-goal and Michael Wilde slotted in from point-blank nine-minutes later following a relentless spell of pressure as the Nomads created a clutch of chances.
A fourth goal before half-time essentially ended the game as a contest as Andy Owens headed in.
Another headed effort in the second period would give Owens his fifth of the season as the Nomads continued to press forward at will.
In the final minute, Wilde also claimed a second to complete a rout in which the Nomads could’ve easily had more.
Aberystwyth claimed the shock of the weekend when they beat The New Saints on Friday night for the first time in 11 years.
Aber, looking for their third win on the bounce, started brightly with Rio Ahmadi and Declan Walker both going close before Joe Phillips’ strike on the stroke of half-time was ruled out.
A 53rd minute corner saw 17 year-old substitute Lee Jenkins turn the ball home at the back post.
Ryan Brobbel should’ve done better for The New Saints when he shot wide after pulling the trigger on Simon Spender’s cross, and Chris Seargeant’s added time free-kick was unable to get the better of veteran goalkeeper Terry McCormick, who saved well to ensure Aberystwyth the points.
Bala Town scored twice in five second-half minutes as they saw off Cardiff Met to regain fourth spot while denting the Students’ top-six hopes.
The Lakesiders were on the front foot early on after Sean Smith fired past Alex Lang on nine minutes. Evan Horwood and Steven Tames sealed the win, scoring in close succession.
Cefn Druids seemed set for their first win in four but were forced to split the points after Luke Boundford levelled in the 90th-minute for Newtown.
The Ancients led at the break through Jamie Davies but Huw Griffiths men were forced to settle for a third-straight draw.
Caernarfon Town were left empty handed from their visit to Carmarthen Town, despite Nathan Craig scoring a hat-trick.
Craig converted two penalties as Carmarthen ran out 4-3 winners, with Liam Thomas scoring twice to lift the Old Gold three points clear of the drop zone.
WPL WEEKEND SCOREBOARD
Friday: Aberystwyth 1-0 The New Saints, Cefn Druids 1-1 Newtown. Saturday: Carmarthen 4-3 Caernarfon, Connah’s Quay 6-0 Llanelli, Bala Town 3-0 Cardiff Met. Sunday: Barry Town 2-1 Llandudno.
Aberystwyth Town 1 Lee Jenkins 52′
The New Saints FC 0
Aberystwyth Town
1. Terry McCormick, 2. Wes Baynes, 3. Stefan Edwards, 5. Ryan Wollacott, 6. Jack Rimmer (15. Lee Jenkins 15′), 7. Geoff Kellaway (24. Ashley Ruane 90′), 9. Porya Ahmadi, 10. Declan Walker, 14. Ryan Edwards, 17. Matthew Jones, 27. Joe PhillipsSubs not used: 4. Alan Goodall, 18. Nashawn Blake, 20. Harri Rowe, 22. Niall Coleridge, 25. Carwyn Morgan
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Ahmadi 54′ Jenkins 84′
The New Saints FC
1. Paul Harrison, 2. Simon Spender, 3. Chris Marriott, 5. Benjamin Cabango, 20. Joash Nembhard, 4. Tom Holland (17. Dean Ebbe 55′), 6. Jon Routledge, 23. Aeron Edwards, 8. Ryan Brobbel (21. Kurtis Byrne 80′), 14. Jamie Mullan, 9. Greg Draper (7. Christian Seargeant 55′) Subs not used: 30. Lewis Dutton, 18. Josh Hmami, 22. Kane Lewis, 12. Blaine Hudson
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Nembhard 75′ Edwards 90’+3
Attendance: 589 Referee: Huw Jones
Cefn Druids 1 James Davies 32′
Newtown AFC 1 Luke Boundford 90′
Cefn Druids
1. Michael Jones, 3. Naim Arsan, 6. Nathan Peate, 7. Matty Owen, 8. Alec Mudimu, 9. Dean Rittenberg, 11. James Davies, 14. Ryan Kershaw, 15. Aaron Simpson, 22. Arkadiusz Piskorski (10. Jordan Evans 88′), 27. Alun Morris Subs not used: 5. Moussa Samassa, 13. Joel Thompson, 19. Fisnik Hajdari, 21. Ilan Ap Gareth
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Piskorski 83′ Simpson 86′
Newtown AFC
1. Dave Jones, 19. T.Craig Williams, 5. Kieran Mills-Evans, 4. Ben Bailey, 3. Callum Roberts, 23. Alex Fletcher, 6. Jay Denny (17. Sam Phillips 82′), 7. Neil Mitchell, 11. Joe Kenton (10. Steve Leslie 56′), 9. Luke Boundford, 8. Nick Rushton Subs not used: 20. Tom Goodwin, 24. Jake Cook, 13. Jack Perry (gk), 25. Will Evans
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Williams 80′
Attendance: 278 Referee: Kevin Parry
Carmarthen Town 4 Liam Thomas 20′ 45’+1 Declan Carroll 54′ Luke Bowen 73′
Caernarfon Town 3 Nathan Craig 10′ 67′(p) 88′(p)
Carmarthen Town
1. Lee Idzi, 6. Lee Surman, 4. Dave Vincent, 7. Declan Carroll, 8. Greg Walters, 16. Mael Davies, 3. Jordan Knott, 12. Jordan Vickers (14. Ceri Morgan 46′), 18. Liam Thomas (15. Lewis Baldwin 89′), 11. Tyrrell Webbe (5. Craig Hanford 75′), 9. Luke Bowen
Subs not used: 19. Jay Woodford, 17. Sean Hanbury
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Davies 60′ Walters 85′ Morgan 85′ Idzi 90′ Baldwin 90’+4
Caernarfon Town
1. Alex Ramsey, 2. Joe Williams, 3. Nathan Craig, 5. Gareth Edwards, 6. Rhys Roberts, 7. Gareth Evans, 8. Jamie Crowther (20. Cai Jones 57′), 9. Jamie Breese, 10. Darren Thomas (16. Kevin Roberts 80′), 15. Ben Maher, 17. Ryan Williams Subs not used: 18. Dion Owen, 22. Nick Bould (gk), 23. Ross Stephens
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Thomas 31′ Rh.Roberts 51′ K.Roberts 85′
Attendance: 334 Referee: Dean John
Connah’s Quay Nomads 6 Callum Morris 19′(p) Michael Bakare 30′ Michael Wilde 39′ 89′ Andy Owens 40′ 61′
Llanelli Town 0
Connahs Quay Nomads
1. John Danby, 2. John Disney, 3. Laurence Wilson, 6. Danny Harrison, 8. Callum Morris, 9. Michael Wilde, 10. Andrew Owens, 15. Danny Holmes, 16. James Owen, 17. Michael Parker (21. Rob Hughes 46′), 22. Michael Bakare (11. Nathan Woolfe 66′) Subs not used: 28. Jon Rushton (gk), 4. Jonny Spittle, 12. Declan Poole, 25. Dominic Elsey-McHugh
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: None
Llanelli Town
25. Oliver Davies, 14. Daniel Alfie, 15. Chris Thomas, 6. Scott Tancock, 8. Jordan Davies, 19. Jamie Owen, 28. Michael George, 24. Anthony Nelson, 7. Chris Jones, 18. Resat Islam Khaton (1. Kai Rees 54′), 22. Tristan Jenkins (only one sub named)
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Tancock 20′ O.Davies 30′
Attendance: 158 Referee: Cheryl Foster
Bala Town 3 Sean Smith 9′ Evan Horwood 71′ Steve Tames 76′
Cardiff Met University 0
Bala Town
1. Ashley Morris, 2. Andrew Burns, 3. Sean Smith, 4. Stuart Jones, 5. Stuart J Jones, 17. Danny Gosset, 7. Steven Tames (11. Kieran Smith 84′), 12. Evan Horwood, 8. Nathan Burke, 77. Henry Jones (9. Mike Hayes 84′), 25. Chris Venables (10. Ian Sheridan 74′) Subs not used: 6. Anthony Miley, 23. Vaughn Charles (gk), 22. Josh Jones, 20. Joe Edwards
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Venables 53′
Cardiff Met University
25. Alex Lang, 5. Emlyn Lewis (16. Guto Williams 77′), 22. Liam Black (21. Harry Owen 61′), 4. Bradley Woolridge, 3. Kyle McCarthy, 14. Joel Edwards, 7. Eliot Evans, 8. Chris Baker, 9. Adam Roscrow, 24. Sam Snaith, 11. Will Evans Subs not used: 15. Rhys Thomas, 20. Matt Neale, 33. Brad Flay, 18. Rhydian Morgan, 30. Max Manson (gk)
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Evans 83′
Attendance: 204 Referee: Rob Jenkins
Barry Town United 2 Kayne McLaggon 33′ Momodou Touray 55′
Llandudno FC 1 Mike Pearson 18′
Barry Town United
1. Mike Lewis, 21. Macauley Southam-Hales, 3. Chris Hugh, 4. Luke Cooper, 5. Curtis Watkins, 8. Troy Greening (39. Thomas Fry 78′), 6. Robbie Patten, 10. Jordan Cotterill, 9. Momodou Touray (29. Clayton Green 78′), 16. Jonathan Hood, 7. Kayne McLaggon Subs not used: 2. Paul Morgan, 15. Louis Gerrard, 11. Drew Fahiya, 25. Joseph Baker (gk)
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Southam-Hales 45′ Green 83′
Llandudno FC
1. Shaun Pearson, 6. Kai Edwards, 4. Mike Pearson, 11. Steve Thomas, 16. Ben Clark, 19. Zyaac Edwards, 8. Danny Hughes, 5. Leo Smith (18. Mark Connolly 54′), 9. John Owen, 10. George Harry, 21. Toby Jones (14. Alun Webb 58′) Subs not used: 7. Matthew Williams, 2. Ieuan Hewitt
Red Cards: M.Pearson 49′
Yellow Cards: M.Pearson 32′ & 49′ Z.Edwards 35′ Clark 45′
Attendance: 477 Referee: Gavin Townsend
