The weather had been fairly wet over the preceding days and it certainly rained goals at Bryn-y-Castell on Saturday afternoon.

Knighton Town returned to winning ways in the MMP with Norman Lloyd Central Wales League (South) following an 8-2 victory over Aberaeron Town.

The Radnor Robins opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Jack Hoyle converted Jack Davies’ low cross from the right from close range.

This was moments following Connor O’Connell striking the woodwork after Kieran Dovey had driven into the Aberaeron Town penalty area. Llewelyn Lloyd struck the side netting for the Seasiders in the 10th minute before Hoyle was denied by Simon Tinney in the visitors’ goal three minutes later after Callum Stead headed a cross from the left into the striker’s path.

The hosts only had to wait until the 18th minute before doubling their lead when Dovey broke free from midfield before withstanding a challenge from an opponent and sliding the ball past the advancing Tinney.

The Ceredigion club looked to respond three minutes later when Caio Carruthers drilled an inviting cross goalwards three minutes later but none of his team mates could apply a crucial touch.

Dafydd Roberts went close with a 25 yards free-kick for the visitors after 26 minutes but the same player halved the deficit in the 29th minute when his low shot beat Bird at his near post.

However, the hosts regained their two-goal advantage just two minutes later when the ball was moved across the edge of the Seasiders’ penalty area and Stead fired home a first-time effort inside Tinney’s near post.

The Radnor Robins moved further ahead three minutes later as Dovey was on hand to apply the finish to a flowing move to hand his team a healthy buffer.

Rhys Jones drove into the Knighton Town penalty area in the 37th minute but fired across goal before the hosts struck the side netting through Stead moments later in their next attack.

The opening period concluded with Dovey nearly scoring his third in the 44th minute but his shot went narrowly wide of the far post after another trademark run into the penalty area.

The Radnor Robins were in a healthy position at the interval but manager Phil Stokes would not want his team to let their standards drop and ensure they went away with all three points.

His team made the perfect start when Dovey completed his treble in the opening minute of the second-half as he was on hand to convert Stead’s cross following a surging run down the right flank.

Hoyle nearly extended the lead in the 52nd minute when he rounded Tinney but could only find the side netting from a tight angle. However, Knighton Town added a sixth goal just two minutes later when substitute Dan Farmer was on hand to turn the ball into an empty net after Stead’s shot had come back off an upright.

Hoyle was unable to keep his close-range effort on target in the 56th minute following good work by Jack Bright on the left to deliver a teasing cross towards the near post. It appeared to be a case of damage limitation for Aberaeron Town in the final 30 minutes but they continued to push forward when the opportunity arose. Carruthers headed wide of the near post from a 62nd minute corner but it was the Robins who extended their advantage two minutes later when Jack Davies headed home at the near post from a corner Knighton Town went close again moments after the restart when O’Connell saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Tinney at his near post.

Aberaeron Town reduced the deficit in the 69th minute courtesy of an individual effort from the impressive Carruthers when he netted from a tight angle and the Seasiders had another goal ruled out before the final whistle by an offside flag.

Farmer struck the Seasiders’ crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the 73rd minute before Carruthers went close with a free-kick just a minute later. The youngster was causing the Radnor Robins’ defence some headaches when he had the ball and nearly netted again in the 77th minute after Knighton Town were caught by a swift counter-attack.

The scoring was completed with nine minutes remaining on the clock when Stead netted his second of the match after being played through on goal and sliding the ball past Tinney.

The Radnor Robins can now look forward to a busy Easter programme with some optimism following this convincing victory.