ARDAL LEAGUE NORTH EAST
Builth Wells moved back into the top six in the Ardal League North East with a 3-1 home success over Llanfair United. Jamie Evans, Danny Ives and Gavin Rowlands shared the goals as The Bulls, who played well within themselves, notched their first league win in five.
Evans deservedly headed Builth in front from a Tommy Rowlands corner 10 minutes before half-time and Rowlands should have added a second but delayed his shot and then fired over after rounding goalkeeper, Lee Andrew.
The hosts were caught napping at the start of the second half with player-manager, Karl Selierts putting his young Llanfair side level within a minute of the restart. T
hree minutes later Llanfair’s Matt Spencer picked up his second yellow card for a late challenge on Lyndon Jones and from the resulting free-kick Builth regained their lead. Llanfair failed to clear from Jones’ delivery and Ives pounced on the loose ball.
Moments later it should have been three but Jones blazed his penalty over the bar when Evans was brought down. Gavin Rowlands did wrap up the points with a third when he netted with a fine curling strike from the edge of the box - his first goal since returning to The Lant Field.
Rhayader Town slipped further into relegation trouble beaten 5-0 at Llanuwchllyn where player-manager, Dylan McPhee was sent off in stoppage time. Rhayader trailed by a solitary goal at half-time with Kyle Jones on target for the home team. But Llanuwchllyn stepped it up after the break with Will Owen completing a hat-trick while Iolo Jones was their other marksman.
Rhayader were well in the game in the first half but their lack of goals again proved costly but they capitulated in the second period with McPhee’s frustration boiling over at the end. The Rhayader boss did however single out young full back, Michael Walsh who had an outstanding debut for the first team.
Caersws tightened their grip on top spot coming from behind to beat Penycae 2-1 at home. Drew Wickens had given Penycae an interval lead but they saw Alex Rowlands sent off 12 minutes into the second half. Glynn Coney then missed a penalty for Caersws but he atoned by grabbing the winner after Scott Williams had levelled the scores.
Bow Street dropped points as they were held 1-1 at home by Llangollen Town whose Vinnie Cooke cancelled out a Rhydian Davies penalty for the home side.
Elsewhere Aryn Matthee grabbed a stoppage time winner for Welshpool Town who eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 home verdict over Corwen. Ryan Knott had given Welshpool a first half lead but Owen Cordiner equalised for one from bottom Corwen.
ARDAL LEAGUE SOUTH EAST
It is now eight without a win for Brecon Corries who were beaten 3-2 at home by lowly Croesyceiliog in the Ardal League South East. Corries yet again found themselves trailing when Luke Dyke gave Croesyceiliog a first half lead.
Andrew Hammett levelled ten minutes into the second half but two goals from Owen Llewellyn put the visitors, who are in the relegation places, in the driving seat. Paul Keddle gave Corries a fighting chance when he pulled one back on 86 minutes but it proved too little too late.
Corries were due to visit Tredegar Town last night (Tuesday) with Craig Evans returning from a one-match ban, although this was called off due to an unplayable pitch. They are in action again on Friday night with the return fixture at Croesyceiliog.
MMP CENTRAL WALES LEAGUE (SOUTH)
Penybont United were celebrating following a 2-1 victory in their MMP Central Wales Mid Wales League (South) basement battle against Presteigne St Andrews. The Polecats made it two wins in a row to move out of the bottom two for the first time this season.
Presteigne had manager, Corin Jones sent off for the second time in as many games before Jamie Blythe gave them the lead just before half-time. But Penybont had turned it around by the hour mark with two goals from topscorer, Alfie Stonefield which proved enough to earn the points.
Hay St Marys closed the gap at the top of the table to two points on leaders, Radnor Valley with a 4-0 home win against Knighton Town. With Radnor not playing as their match at Tregaron was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, The Saints cashed in with Matty Tong completing his second league hat-trick of the term against The Radnor Robins.
Brendan Hackett gave Hay an early lead with his first goal of the season from a Jack Biggs through ball. Hackett then turned provider setting Tong up to lob Knighton ‘keeper, Jack Davies. Tong, the league’s leading goalscorer, scored his second and Hay’s third from another Biggs through ball to leave Knighton with a mountain to climb going into the second half.
Tong completed his hat-trick, taking his league tally to 31 for the season, with just over an hour played with a good finish from the left and Hay’s victory was marred only by a late red card for defender, Matt Venables, who picked up a second yellow, against his home town club.
Penparcau also kept up their challenge with an 8-0 romp against ten man Talgarth Town. Talgarth travelled a man short and were 6-0 down inside the first half hour with Mattie Davies bagging a hat-trick while Andrew Gittins, Ciaran Evans and Liam Jaques were also on target for the Min-y-Ddol side. To Talgarth’s credit, they managed to stem the tide and restricted Penparcau to just two second half goals which were scored by Gittins and substitute, Andrew Carree.
In the day’s other game, Llanilar and Machynlleth played out an exciting 3-3 draw. Osian Simpson-Jones converted two penalties and Tomos Garrero also netted for Llanilar while Calum Humphreys (2) and Dillon Browne replied for Mach who had led 3-1 at half-time but saw Daniel Roberts sent off in the second half.
WATSON FINANCIAL MID WALES LEAGUE (SOUTH)
Newcastle are through to the first ever Final of the Mid Wales (South)/Montgomery Inter League Cup following a 1-0 victory over Abermule Reserves. Huw Williams was the toast of Newcastle on Saturday night having scored the only goal, a near post header from a corner on 70 minutes.
Newcastle had the better of the first half with Abermule ‘keeper, Leon Williams producing a fine save from Craig Morris while the Shropshire men saw further chances go begging. Abermule improved in the second half but Newcastle saw the game out once Williams had broken the deadlock.
So having beaten Trefonen, Llanfyllin Town Reserves and now Abermule, Newcastle will meet either Waterloo Rovers Reserves or Llangedwyn in The Final.
Hay St Marys missed the opportunity to go above Newcastle in the Watson Financial Mid Wales (South) League table when their game at St Harmon was postponed due to an unplayable pitch but in the one league game that went ahead, Felindre triumphed 3-0 at Presteigne St Andrews Reserves. Tom Griffiths opened the scoring for The Millers who were denied further goals by Presteigne ‘keeper, Sezar Cakmak who made some outstanding saves. Despite seeing player-manager, George Morgan red carded for handling outside his box just before half-time, Felinde continued to dominate with Hywel Watson doubling the lead before James Reynolds fired a third goal from distance.
FAW NATIONAL RESERVE LEAGUE CENTRAL
Keegan Bradley scored a late winner as Rhayader maintained their recent form to beat Llandrindod Wells 2-1 in the FAW National Reserve League Central last Wednesday night.
Gareth Hughes had handed The Red Kites an early lead but Llandrindod looked to have done enough to secure a point when Taylor Bradley levelled on the hour. But the Spa men slipped to an eleventh straight defeat as Bradley kept his nerve to net from the penalty spot on 89 minutes to earn Rhayader the local bragging rights.
Rhayader were due to host Welshpool Town on Saturday but were left frustrated with the visitors unable to raise a team.
Llandrindod complete their league campaign this week with games at Penrhyncoch last night (Tuesday) and at home against Llanfair United on Saturday. Rhayader still have three to play while Builth Wells have six matches remaining with The Bulls, who have become increasingly frustrated, having now played just twelve league games in almost eight months.
There was one game in the FAW Reserve League at the weekend and Penrhyncoch moved up to fourth with a 3-1 victory at Llanfair United. Ryan Jervis gave Llanfair a half-time lead but The Roosters stormed back with goals from Harry Jones, Zac Davies and Meilyr Morys.