New signing Jamie McDaid struck twice on debut as Llanberis romped to a 6-0 victory over shell-shocked Gwalchmai at Ffordd Padarn.
McDaid, 29, signed for the Darans in midweek from Porthmadog, having also previously played for Bangor City, Caernarfon Town, Holywell Town, Holyhead Hotspur, Aberystwyth Town and Llandudno – all in either the Cymru Premier or Cymru North.
A former youth with Crewe Alexandra, he has also represented Welsh Colleges and the Wales Under-18 semi-professional side.
Although Llanberis are two places above Gwalchmai in the Premier Division, few would have expected a 6-0 home win on Saturday, especially with the Anglesey visitors being unbeaten in 2023.
However, McDaid took just four minutes to make the breakthrough. Ifan Mansoor soon made it two on nine.
McDaid struck again in the 35th minute to make it 3-0 at the interval.
Cal Macdonald bagged a fourth for the hosts on 74, Mansoor delivered his second after 78 and Osian Glyn rounded off the scoring for Carwyn Jones’ impressive team.
One of the finest marksmen from the past 20 years in North Wales football broke the deadlock for leaders Bethesda in Saturday’s vital win at Cae Glantraeth.
It was 0-0 before after 70 minutes, 39-year-old front man David “Didi” Jones got on the end of an exquisite chip into the box from Tomos Eames to head beyond keeper Gwyndaf Owen in typical Gerd Muller poacher style.
Jones, a former Welsh Alliance League golden boot winner, has worn the colours of Nantlle Vale, Llanberis and Mynydd Llandegai in the past.
He has just returned to football to help Bethesda in their quest for the Division One title – and what a start he has made.
Another goal machine, Scott Hughes, made it 2-0 in the 90th minute when he ran clear to put away his ninth goal of the season.
Pesda have a seven-point lead in top spot, but Pwllheli in second have two games in hand.
Aled Llyr Jones (2), Glyn Hughes-Thomas, Jac Pearce Jones and Tirion Gruffudd shared the goals as Talysarn stayed among the title pack with an emphatic win at Amlwch.
Tomos Williams and Dan Jones hit back for the islanders.
Rhys Williams, Tomi Evans and Ifan Jones all found the target in a deserved success for Nefyn at Tan Parc.
Prolific marksman Kevin Lloyd bagged a hat-trick and Tomi Llywelyn added a single for Llanrug on a rewarding trip to Anglesey.
Teenager Alan Blankley and Matthew Morris were the Pentraeth net-finders.
It was a day for veteran strikers to shine in the Premier.
Kevin Lloyd and Didi Jones were among the afternoon’s net-busting heroes elsewhere and at the Recreation Ground another one did the necessary for Pwllheli – Carl Jones.
The former Cardiff City professional and ex-Bangor City forward, 33, is a Pwllheli player nowadays and he notched the only goal after 16 minutes in a win over Aberffraw.
Unfortunately for Jones, he did not see the game out as he was shown a second yellow card on 92 minutes.
Berffro’s Kyle Murphy also received his marching orders in the same minute.
Trearddur regained top spot on Saturday afternoon when they overcame a tricky hurdle at fourth-place Bontnewydd.
Straight from the off Bont applied pressure and after only a couple of minutes gave keeper Paul Pritchard some work to do.
Their good start and hard work paid off after 25 minutes when they found themselves ahead.
Some nice play down the right led to a superb first-time shot from Alex Kalafusz which had the beating of the keeper and nestled into the far side-netting.
The goal seemed to wake the visitors up and immediately they started to get some joy down the right with strikers Justin Williams, Asa Thomas and evergreen Melv Mcginness all testing the Bont back-line.
On the half-hour mark Bay found themselves level through centre-back Marcus Bell. A swung-in corner from Mike Edwards found itself through bodies and Bell at the back post made no mistake.
The game turned on its head seven minutes later when striker Justin Williams unleashed a ferocious half-volley which left the Bont stopper with no chance.
Half-time: 1-2.
After the break it was much of the same. As the Bay now had a foothold in the match they forced Bont to chase the game with some nice passing through the team and they always looked dangerous in behind from a ball off the away back-four.
On 56 minutes a lovely forward ball through from classy CB Luke Roberts found Mcginness in space and he punished the home team with a tidy right-footed finish into the corner to make it 3-1.
The three points were wrapped up on 77 minutes. Substitute Kaine Bentley earned a penalty which Asa Thomas converted for his 37th goal of the season.
Kieran Freeman-Jones’ 39th minute penalty put Rovers ahead, but Owain Roberts equalised on 65 and that ended the scoring.
Nathan Lewis salvaged a point for Cefni with a 94th-minute leveller after David Thomas’ goal on 22 put Llangoed in front.
Two goals in the closing minutes won the game for Gaerwen, who celebrated a fourth straight victory and made it 13 points out of a possible last 15.
Alan Owen (2) and Nathan Moore, crucial additions in the January window, delivered the goals for the visitors.
Craig Moore had edged Holyhead into a 33rd minute lead before Harbourmen goalkeeper Kieran Weeks was shown a red-card on 38 – undoubtedly a game-turning moment.
Guto Roberts and sub Darren Parry produced the second-half goals which sealed three points for Llanystumdwy.
Ben Davies struck first for Rangers on 48 minutes before Matthew Parry earned Arriva a point with the leveller after 64.
Stuart Cooke missed a penalty for the hosts in the 84th minute.
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