SPAR MID WALES LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Radnor Valley maintained their recent form to topple Spar Mid Wales League first division leaders, Welshpool Town with a 1-0 victory at School Lane. For the second week in a row, Joey Price grabbed the only goal, this time from the penalty spot midway through the second half. In a game of few chances, Price struck after Callum Matthews was brought down. Without Ieuan Price, Elliot Morris and Liam Jones this was a fantastic result for Radnor who again kept a clean sheet against another of the top sides with Matt Croose and Elliot Williams, who have formed a useful partnership, outstanding in the heart of their defence.

Llandrindod Wells went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home against Llanrhaeadr who as a result move to within three points of Welshpool and they have four games in hand. Tommy Evans grabbed the only goal for the Tanat Valley side with a stunning volley with ten minutes remaining. Llandrindod manager, Pete Williams felt his side, without four key players, had done enough to deserve a point. He said “Llanrhaeadr certainly had more possession but we defended like Trojans”. The Spa had their chances with Ryan Sims and Stuart Williams going close while Gareth Jones hit a fierce long range effort which went straight at the ‘keeper but it was not to be.

Llanidloes Town move above Carno into third spot despite dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Aberaeron. Matthew Savage headed The Daffs into a second half lead but Ianto Evans equalised for Aberaeron who themselves are now unbeaten in seven.

Goals were in a short supply on Saturday with the four games in Division One producing just four goals as Machynlleth and Borth United, the league’s bottom two, played out a goalless draw.

SPAR MID WALES LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Builth Wells maintained their five point lead at the top of the Spar Mid Wales League second division with a 2-0 victory at Montgomery Town. Builth were seeking to avenge their only defeat of the season – they lost at Montgomery in the Division Two ER Jenkins Cup – and they did so with a brace from midfielder, Joel Metcalf stretching their unbeaten league run to an impressive thirteen.

Metcalf broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time after Adie Jones and Jamie McIlroy combined and added his second on the hour with a cracking 20 yard volley from Richie Powell’s cross. To be fair ro Montgomery they tried to get back in the game and put Builth under pressure hitting the post and putting a number of balls into the box but the league leades stood firm.

Apart from Builth, there was little joy for the other local sides on second division duty with Newbridge, Penybont, Presteigne and Talgarth Town all suffering defeats. Presteigne welcomed Llansantffraid Village to Llanandras Park and crashed to a 5-0 reversal as the visitors, unbeaten in the league, kept the pressure on Builth at the top. One goal separated the teams at half-time but Llansantffraid stepped up a gear in the second half. There were two goal each for Nathan Prodger, the second division’s topscorer, and Callum Williams with an own goal completing Llansantffraid’s nap hand.

Penybont, who had won against Talgarth Town last time out, gave a decent showing before losing 2-0 at Dolgellau who scored through Dennis Bates and Dominic Thomas while Talgarth’s dismal run continues. Talgarth have now lost nine in a row after being beaten 3-0 at home by Abermule and last picked up a point on September 1. Dave Anthony, Charlie Humphreys and Will Denham shared the Abermule goals on Saturday.

Newbridge took the lead in their game at Aberystwyth University with a goal from Kyle Morgan and The Villagers could and possibly should have been further ahead at half-time. A mistake allowed Dion Roberts to level for the students on 70 minutes and as Newbridge pushed to go ahead again, they were punished with Matthew Roberts and Tom Spicer sealing the win for the College side.

CENTRAL WALES CHALLENGE CUP

Knighton Town stormed into the 4th Round of the Central Wales Cup with a convincing 4-1 home success over Spar Mid Wales league first division rivals, Berriew. Topscorer, Connor Bird and Gareth Mansell each scored twice as The Radnor Robins maintained their recent winning streak to reach the last sixteen. Bird gave Knighton an interval advantage scoring midway through the first period from a Tom James cross. Mansell added a the second soon after half-time with a low finish from Adam Worton’s corner and the same tweo players then combined with Mansell heading home another Worton flag kick.Bird completed his brace with a good finish from just inside the box and Tom James missed a couple of chances and Chris Roff hit the bar before Marc Jones gained Berriew’s consolation with virtually the last kick of the game.

In Round Four, Knighton will play hosts to Tywyn Bryncrug who defeated a depleted Hay St Marys 6-0 at the week-end. Aled Jones scored twice for the Gwynedd side with Nick Williams, Aston heath, Ryan Jenkins and an own goal copleting hay’s misery.

Brecon Norhcote were desperately unlucky as they slipped to a 5-4 extra-time defeat at Dyffryn Banw but head coach, Anthony Thornley was not too disappointed as it was Northcote’s first game in six weeks. Banw forged a two goal lead but Northcote hit back through Craig Evans and Corey Evans who netted a penalty just before half-time. Liam McInally put Northcote ahead in the first minute of the second half and Joel Evans again put them ahead but the hosts replied on each occasion before bagging the winner in extra-time. Aled Jones was a hat-trick hero for Banw whose other goals came from Tom Foulkes and Aled Davies.

Rhun Garner snatched a stoppage time winner as Bow Street triumphed 2-1 at Carno whose manager, Chris Davies stepped down last week. Llion Jenkins had given Street the lead before Andy Evans put Carno back on level terms.

Churchstoke ran out 14-0 winners at New Quay with Joe Haycock netign no fewer then seven of the goals while Welshpool Town had produced the shock result of the round earlier in the week with a 3-2 home verdict over Penrhyncoch. In a tie played at Park Hall, Liam Lewis had handed Penrhyncoch an interval lead. Welshpool however stormed back after the break with Wil Thomas (2) and Ian Probert on target before Cledan Davies grabbed a second for the Huws Gray Alliance side. Welshpool will now by eyeing up another Alliance scalp as they travel to Caersws in the 4th Round. The revised draw for the Central Wales Cup 4th Round now reads:-

Bow Street v Newcastle Emlyn, Caersws v Welshpool Town, Churchstoke v Builth Wells, Knighton Town v Tywyn Bryncrug, Llanfair United v Kerry, Llanidloes Town v Guilsfiled, Radnor Valley v Llandrindod Wells, Waterloo Rovers v Dyffryn Banw

EMRYS MORGAN CUP

There were three teams from the Watson Financial Mid Wales League (South) in the last sixteen of the prestigious Emrys Morgan Cup going into Saturday’s 4th Round. Now just Newcastle are left to represent the league in the quarter finals as there were defeats for Builth Wells Reserves and Rhayader Town.

Newcastle staged one of the comebacks of the day to progress 4-2 at home against Llanrhaeadr Reserves. Despite looking the better side in the first half, the Shrosphire men conceded just before half-time and Llanrhaeadr added a second early in the second half. But that stung Newcastle to life and Carl Price reduced the deficit before Matthew Jones netted twice leaving veteran Jimmy Thomas to complete the fightback.

Rhayader Town’s hopes of a Cup run ended as they bowed out 3-2 at Ffostrasol where they had led 2-1 at one stage. The Red Kites fell behind early on but hit back through Jamie Evans and Alex Clarke only to concede two sloppy goals late on.

Builth Wells welcomed Felinfach to The Lant Field and it was the visitors who led 2-0 at half-time despite Builth missing a stack of chances themselves. Felinfach made it three five minutes into the second half before Dave Thomas pulled one back for Builth who rued their missed chances as the Costcutter League side netted a fourth. Alex Hicks grabbed a second for Builth whose hopes of a comeback were denied as George Wood saw a “goal” disallowed with most in the ground bar the referee feeling the ball was over the line.

WATSON FINANCIAL MID WALES LEAGUE (SOUTH)

Llandrindod Wells Reserves are finding their feet in the Watson Financial Mid Wales League (South) and reeled off a third straight league win on Saturday. Llandrindod were 3-1 winners at St Harmon whose Phil Ruell opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Ruell also hit the bar from distance but Llandrindod turned things around and led at half-time through Charlie Vermiere and Matt Goldsmith.St Harmon had chances in the second half but it was the visitors who sealed the points with a third goal from Jason Coles.

Presteigne Reserves kicked off the New Year with a 1-0 victory at Brecon Northcote Reserves - a result which takes them fourth in the table. Jordan McQueen bagged the only goal with a dipping 30 yard strike midway through the second half. Goalkeeper, Simon Hamer had made one excellent save early in that second period but Presteigne might well have added a second with new signing, Jamie Blythe twice going close from free-kicks.

Llanidloes Town Reserves moved three points clear at the top of the table following a 5-2 win at Hay St Marys Reserves. Rhys Evans led the way with a hat-trick with Dan Richards and Adrian Foulkes also on target while Harry Ratcliffe and Nathan Heighway replied for The Saints.

HAY CUPS

Host club, Hay St Marys have been drawn at home against Ewyas Harold in the quarter finals of this season’s Hay Senior Cup. Builth Wells are at home against Kington Town Reserves, Brecon Northcote host Wellington Rangers while Talgarth Town take on Orleton Colts.

The full draw for the Hay Senior Cup is:-

Brecon Northcote v Wellington Rangers, Builth Wells v Kington Town Res,

Hay St Marys v Ewyas Harold,

Talgarth Town v Orleton Colts

The draw for the Ron Ellis Cup was also made last week and is:-

Brecon Northcote Res v Kington Colts, Builth Wells Res v Ewyas Harold Res, Hay St Marys Res v Orleton Colts Res, Hay St Marys Sunday X1 v Wellington Colts