Builth Wells ran out convincing winners in Wednesday night’s Ardal League North East local derby on The Lant Field with a dominant display against their arch rivals.

The Bulls bounced back from their first defeat of the season at Llanuwchllyn with goals from Tommy Rowlands (2), Adam Farmer and Lyndon Jones. 

Team news saw key defender, Ashley Jones return for Llandrindod from a one match suspension while Builth were without injured midfielders, Danny Ives and Alex Hicks withdefender, Joe Wozencraft also facing a spell on the sidelines after cracking his ribs at Llanuwchllyn.  

Kieran McCarley headed narrowly wide from a Stuart Williams cross for Llandrindod before Builth took a 14th-minute lead. Tommy Rowlands chased a hopeful long ball forward from Lee James and nicked the ball over keeper, James Barker to slot home. Llandrindod were hampered by the loss of midfielder, Daryl Nicholls, who was stretchered off on the half hour mark, and Builth added a second on 39 minutes. Again central defender, Lee James got the assist as his header from a Lyndon Jones free-kick was tipped onto the post by Barker and Adam Farmer slammed home the rebound.

Llandrindod responded three minutes later with the returning Ashley Jones scoring with a looping header from McCarley’s cross which Builth keeper, Kham Steventon could not claw out. That might have given Llandrindod momentum but the half-time whistle possibly came too soon for the Spa men and it was Builth who made the better start after the break. 

Six minutes into the second half, The Bulls were awarded a penalty when Gavin Rowlands brought down the hard working Jamie Evans but Adam Farmer uncharacteristically shot wide from the spot. Lyndon Jones almost immediately spared Farmer’s blushes when he finished well at the near post after being slipped in by Danny Hall.

Rowlands went close after cutting in from the left following a quickly taken short corner and Evans was denied by Barker while Rowlands fired a free-kick straight at the ‘keeper. Llandrindod never stopped trying to play football but found it difficult to make any inroads against a strong Builth defence in which Cormac O’Byrne made his full debut at right back. The visitors had a couple of free-kicks in decent positions but Ashley Jones fired over while McCarley’s effort was saved by Steventon.

Aeron Powell went close following a good Builth move before Tommy Rowlands rounded off the win with a fourth goal on 88 minutes. Home captain, Chris Roff, who was my man of the match, although there were several other contenders, dispossessed Zak Baker. And Rowlands rounded Barker to complete a good night for Builth who have further signalled their title ambitions by announcing the signing of striker, Connor Bird, who has spent the past five seasons with Llanidloes Town.