Llandrindod Wells scored three to secure their second league win and Brecon Corries were knocked off the top of the Ardal League South East following defeat at Risca United.
ARDAL LEAGUE NORTH EAST
Llandrindod Wells notched only their second win of the season in the Ardal League North East by beating Llansantffraid Village 3-0 on The Broadway. It was a much needed three points for the Spa men who went ahead on 17 minutes with Liam Hall netting a twice taken penalty after being brought down. Llandrindod created other chances but that solitary goal separated the sides at half-time.
Playing up the slope in the second half, Llandrindod had most of the play and Gavin Rowlands hit the bar from distance but it was not until late in the day that they secured the points. With three minutes remaining, good work from Tom Durant set up Kieran McCarley to fire home from the edge of the box and then in stoppage time, substitute, Oliver Belfield pounced on a loose ball to net on his first team debut.
Radnor Valley are starting to rediscover some of last season’s form and drew 2-2 with Brickfield Rangers at The Bypass. Rangers arrived as league leaders with a 100 per cent record but goals from Dale Richards and Charlie Beaumont saw Radnor twice come from behind to earn a much deserved point.
The visitors looked a very good side and went ahead through Andrew Vale but Dale Richards, making his first start of the term, headed an equaliser from close range when Callum Matthews hooked the ball back in following a corner. With half-time approaching Radnor would have settled for a 1-1 scoreline but Brickfield regained their lead a minute before the break. The lively Jay Richardson was brought down by returning keeper, Otto Jones and Vale converted the resulting penalty.
Radnor were far more in the game in the second half and Charlie Beaumont rifled home their second goal from the edge of the box just before the hour mark. Richardson fired into the side netting for Brickfield and then hit the bar twice in a matter of seconds but Radnor could have snatched it themselves late on with Geraint Lloyd heading wide following a cross from fellow substitute, Dan Powell who screwed another effort off target.
Builth Wells, who began the day second in the table, slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Penycae where they ended the game with eight men with Ryan Powell, Lee James and Danny Ives all sent off in the closing minutes.
Penycae edged the first half and led at the break with Thomas Edwards scoring from the penalty spot following a trip by Cormac O’Byrne. Builth got on top in the second half and topscorer, Tommy Rowlands levelled with a penalty after a cross was handled. Builth then had chances through Connor Bird and Rowlands before Penycae regained the lead from another penalty against the run of play on 84 minutes. The ball hit Ryan Powell in the stomach from point blank range and the referee controversially pointed to the spot giving handball with Edwards again converting for the hosts as Powell picked up two yellow cards for protesting his innocence.
Penycae got a third goal through Zac Davies although Builth felt Adam Farmer was clattered in the build-up and Lee James saw red for remarks to the referee while a frustrated Danny Ives was also shown two yellows in quick succession.
Bow Street might be without a manager but are the new league leaders after winning 4-1 at Kerry with Rhys Hughes bagging a hat-trick and Steff Davies scoring the other Bow Street goal.
Llanidloes Town Town lost 3-2 at Chirk AAA on Sunday with Lorne Scane giving them the lead before Niall Freeman and Harry Jones turned it around for the home side. Goalkeeper, Aaron Warwick looked as if he had salvaged a draw for Llanidloes with their second goal on 83 minutes but Tom Freeman scored for Chirk four minutes later to give them their first points of the season which moves them off the bottom.
Llanfair United pulled off an excellent 1-0 win at Llangollen Town thanks to Nyasha Mwamuka’s 66th minute strike.
Dolgellau beat Rhos Aelwyd 4-1 with goals from Gethin Evans, Dennis Bates, Paul Lewis and Osian Morris while Llanuwchllyn swept to an impressive 5-1 victory at Cefn Albion. Meilir Williams completed a hat-trick with Gwydion Ifan and Ilan Hughes completing the nap hand.
ARDAL LEAGUE SOUTH EAST
Brecon Corries were knocked off the top of the Ardal League South East following a 4-1 defeat at Risca United on Friday night. It was Friday the thirteenth and Corries lost for the first time in the league this season with manager, Damien Daniels admitting it was a bad day at the office.
Corries controlled parts of the first half and Paul Keddle had a headed chance but they deservedly trailed to Callum Hutton’s effort on 25 minutes.
The Chisels made a bright start to the second period and topscorer, Craig Evans equalised when brother, Joel flicked on Jack Bain’s ball into the box.
But they were level for just four minutes before Jayden Bowgen restored Risca’s lead on the counter attack. Two goals in five minutes from Lloyd Oliver and Cole Greenhaf wrapped up the points for a bright young Risca although Corries were perhaps out of luck with Jack Biggs hitting the bar while the home keeper made a superb save to deny Joel Evans.
Corries’ night got worse when Luke Roughley harshly picked up a second yellow card for deliberate handball in the middle of the pitch and then in stoppage time Risca should have made it five when substitute, Adam Tebbitt brought down an attacker but Finlay Wood skied the penalty over the bar.
Brecon Corries Youth picked up a point in the FAW Youth League South East following a thrilling 4-4 draw at Abercarn Youth on Sunday. Corries twice trailed but Leo Davies and Nyle Slade put them back on terms. Captain, Davies and Oliver Powell then saw them lead twice but Abercarn levelled on each occasion.
MMP CENTRAL WALES LEAGUE
Knighton Town extended their lead at the top of the MMP Central Wales League (South) to six points with a routine 6-0 victory at a young Caersws Development side. Henry Shaw gave The Radnor Robins an early lead and Sam Sainsbury struck twice in the five minutes leading up to half-time. Sainsbury completed a hat-trick with a second half penalty when Callum Stead was brought down and Shaw grabbed his second before Stead completed the tally for Knighton, who have now won eight from eight in the league and emerged as firm title favourites.
Rhayader Town saw their five-match winning run ended as they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Bont who are starting to find their feet. It was virtually all over by half-time with Dion Davies and Garin Evans each scoring twice for Bont while Evans, who is now the division’s joint topscorer along with Mattie Davies and Taylor Watts, completed his hat-trick in the second half.
Dave Thomas plundered a second half hat-trick as Builth Wells Reserves beat Penybont United 4-3 on The Lant Field to claim their second win of the season. Penybont struck first with Alfie Stonefield heading in a Louis Davies corner but Alex Hicks, starting his first match of the term following injury, had Builth level by half-time. Thomas then took centre stage for The Bulls with his first two goals coming from the penalty spot. The striker then completed his hat-trick but Penybont refused to lie down and pulled a couple back through Louie Francis and Aled Williams to give Buith a few anxious late moments.
Bow Street Reserves are up to third following a 3-1 home success over local rivals, Penparcau forging a two goal interval lead through Joey Williams and a Neil Evans own goal. Player-manager, Mattie Davies pulled a goal back at the start of the second half but James Whitney restored Bow Street’s two-goal advantage before Penparcau saw Ben Sherbon sent off.
Llanidloes Town Reserves continue to find it hard going and lost 9-0 at home to Penrhyncoch Reserves on Friday night. Taylor Watts helped himself to five of the goals and Harley Lawton, Sion James, Cai Williams and Cai Thomas also netted for Penrhyn who have signed talented 17 year-old Ciaran Evans from Penparcau.
Llanrhaeadr moved three points clear at the top of the MMP Central Wales League (North) with a 5-1 victory at Meifod. Jacob Edwards, Gruff Evans and James Burgess saw them 3-0 ahead before Jac Roberts pulled a goal back from the penalty spot but a second half brace from Billy Clarke clinched the points.
Welshpool Town had lost ground in midweek, suffering their first league defeat beaten 5-1 at lowly Barmouth who led 5-0 at half-time. Daniel Thomas, a summer signing from Dolgellau, completed a hat-trick and Ryan Williams netted twice before Ethan Kinsey reduced the deficit.
Elsewhere Llanfyllin Town made it back to back wins with Josh Norwood (2), Matthew Evans and Will Davies netting in a 4-2 verdict over Trewern United whose Gareth Mansell scored twice, the first from the penalty spot.
CENTRAL WALES CHALLENGE CUP
Builth Wells are through to the last 16 of the Central Wales Challenge Cup following a 1-0 midweek win at Newtown AFC Development. The only goal of the game came on 36 minutes when a Lyndon Jones free-kick took a deflection off Newtown’s Aidan McCann, in the defensive wall, to send keeper, Samuel Ussher the wrong way.
Tommy Rowlands had a couple of chances in the first half and Adam Farmer saw a header cleared off the line while at the other end, Builth Reserve team keeper, Jordan Jarvis made one decent save from distance.
Builth seemed content to sit on their lead in the second half and although a talented young Newtown side enjoyed plenty of possession were unable to really hurt The Bulls whose Rowlands came close to a second goal when his 35-yard lob beat the keeper but agonisingly landed on the roof of the net.
Hay St Marys and Presteigne St Andrews both bowed out of the Central Wales Cup at the weekend. Hay made the long trip to Ffostrasol where they knew it would be tough and were beaten 7-0 with Luke Evans scoring five of the home side’s goals.
Presteigne welcomed Felinfach, from the Ceredigion Costcutter League first division, to Llanandras Park and turned in a much improved performance from the previous week before going out 3-0 with Ben McEvoy, Cameron Miles and Rhys Williams sharing the goals for the visitors.
Two of the area’s three Tier Two sides are through with Caersws beating Llanrhaeadr 6-0 with all the goals in the second half from Rhys Hesden (2), Sam Phillips, Max McLaughlin, Ashley Harries and Callum Francis-Jones.
Guilsfield meet Llandrindod Wells next Tuesday night while Penrhyncoch eased past Forden United with Zac Davies, Eddie Rhodes, Dion Phillips and Daniel Owen securing a 4-0 away win.
Llanidloes Town were on the wrong end of a Cup shock beaten 2-0 at home by Four Crosses who scored through Tomos Otter and Ben Simms while Kerry needed a late strike from Fin Bellamore to see them through 1-0 at Berriew.
A late penalty from James Stovell saw Abermule edge out Bishops Castle 1-0 and Thomas Haynes and Carwyn Davies gave Llanilar an impressive 2-0 home verdict over Machynlleth.
Tom Ellis scored four times with Adam Gough and Owain Richards also on target as Waterloo Rovers thumped Montgomery Town 6-0 and Tywyn Bryncrug are in the hat for the third round after triumphing 4-3 at Borth United. Aled Jones grabbed a second half winner for Tywyn with Nick Williams, David Jenkins and Max Andrews getting their earlier goals while Courtney Perkins’ first half hat-trick proved to no avail for Borth.
Dyffryn Banw made it a disappointing week for Welshpool Town winning 5-4 on penalties after the sides were locked together at 2-2. A Duke Beesty own goal had given Bawn the lead but they needed a last gasp equaliser from Owain Jones to force the shoot out after Max Matthews and Ethan Kinsey struck for Welshpool.
Carno were handed a walkover with Llansantffraid Village conceding their tie on Sunday.
OTHER LEAGUES
Rhayader Town Reserves kicked off their campaign in the Aberystwyth & District League with a creditable 2-2 draw at Talybont. Two goals in three minutes in the first half from George Kibwota and Alan Samuel put The Red Kites in the driving seat but Ioan Joseph (pen) and Shane Gornall hit back for the hosts.
Hay St Marys Reserves lost 3-1 at home to Aberfan Rangers in the Merthyr League with club chairman, Gareth Ratcliffe netting a worldy for The Saints.
Brecon FC were involved in the South Wales FA Cup and went down 6-1 at home against Cardiff Bay with Owain Powell-Jones gaining their consolation.