RHAYADER Town were sat proudly on top of the Spar Mid wales league first division on Saturday night after a third successive victory.

The new look Red Kites faced their stiffest test of the season to date but overcame Llanrhaeadr 2-0 in front of a decent sized Weirglodd crowd courtesy of goals from Mattie Lewis and Dane Griffiths.

Lewis pounced for the first when the Llanrhaeadr ‘keeper misjudged the bounce of a long clearance from opposite number, Joe Prosser. Rhayader were well worth that lead after dominating the first half but Llanrhaeadr began the second half brightly.

Joe Wozencraft saw red for a mistimed tackle but Prosser saved the resulting penalty from Iwan Matthews and Rhayader still threatened with 10 men and a fine solo effort from Dane Griffiths, who drove at the heart of the visitor’s defence and smashed home from a tight angle, clinched the points.

Rhayader had triumphed 3-1 at Berriew in midweek with two goals from Tom Bethell and one from Richie Powell. Bethell grabbed the only first half goal when Dane Griffiths laid the ball off for Bethell to cooly slot home.

Griffiths, who will be influential to Rhayader’s cause, set up the second goal just after half-time with an inch perfect through ball which Powell placed past the oncoming goalkeeper.

Berriew gave themselves a lifeline when Matt Mumford reduced the deficit but two minutes later a reckless challenge on the edge of the box resulted in a Rhayader free-kick which Bethell smashed home to put the game to bed for The Red Kites.

Llandrindod Wells had mixed fortunes in their opening two games starting with a 1-0 home success over Welshpool Town lastQWednesday night. The only goal came during the first half when Kieran McCarley’s free-kick was headed across goal by Ben Jones for Stuart Williams to nod in.

Llandrindod had chances to extend their lead but Welshpool did threaten on the break. In the second half, Robbie Nicholls had a couple of chances to secure the spoils but that one earlier goal was enough to give Gareth Jones and company a welcome opening night win.

Llandrindod then fell to a 4-0 defeat at Bow Street on the weekend with the hosts scoring twice in either half through Andrew Gittins (2), Tom Williams and Llion Jenkins.

Radnor Valleys’s first game in the first division saw Steve Pigott’s men collect a point in a 2-2 draw at Tywyn Bryncrug.

At one time it looked as if it would be a long journey home for Radnor who had trailed 2-0 to goals from Tom Alan davies and Aled Davies but Joey Price and Tom Lewis hit back to salvage a draw. Tywyn ended the game with nine men with James Morgan and Ed Powl Jones both sent off by referee, Nathan Bennett.