CATCH-UP: JD Cymru North – Bay make it 24 wins in row, 17-year-old saves three pens in shoot-out, but team still loses
JD CYMRU NORTH – REPORTS MARCH 4
Cefn Druids 1 Porthmadog 3
A first league win in seven attempts for Porthmadog and three vital points in their battle against relegation.
This was Port’s sixth league victory on the road, with 19 of their 27 points picked up on away territory.
The visitors made the breakthrough at The Rock on 24 minutes.
A top-quality touch by Meilir Williams brought the ball under control on the right side of the box and he followed up his good work with a fine angled shot to beat stand-in goalkeeper Neil Ashton.
Port went further ahead on 34 minutes. Jason Banks, making his first start, was brought down just outside the box by Dean Clarke, an offence which resulted in the Druids player receiving a red card.
Ifan Emlyn inflicted an even greater punishment when he doubled Port’s advantage from the resulting free kick, lifting his shot into the top corner of the net.
Half-time: 0-2.
Craig Papirnyk made two substitutions at the interval with Gareth Jones Evans and Gruff Ellis replacing Gerwyn Williams and Ifan Emlyn, but just six minutes into the second half Port suffered a setback.
Druids reduced the arrears when Emmanuel Lawal found the net.
Despite the best efforts of the 10 men, Port remained in front, and Alex Boss, another returning from long-term injury, supplied the pass for the visitors’ added time decider.
His pull-back from the left found Meilir Williams in the centre of the box and the striker coolly netted his second of the night.
Colwyn Bay 2 Chirk AAA 0
Bay completed win number 24 in a row but were given a good battle by the warriors of Chirk.
The hosts took an 18th minute lead when Cai Owen’s great delivery into the six-yard box was finished off at the back post by Sam Hart.
In the 31st minute an inswinging corner from the left by Tom McCready was headed home unchallenged by the towering Kristian Platt.
Max McLaughlin went close to pulling one back for the Colliers before half time when his left foot rocket missed by inches.
Lewis Sirrell had a big chance to head in a third for the Seagulls, but miscued.
No goals in the second half, but Chirk so nearly halved the arrears when Bay keeper Jack Crichton failed to hold onto a high ball, Dale Davies pounced, but his shot from an angle was blocked on the line by Sam Downey.
Chirk bounced back on Tuesday with a magnificent 5-1 win at Prestatyn Town, while Ruthin Town and Mold Alexandra drew 1-1.
Conwy Borough 0 Mold Alexandra 1
Danny Warren’s 66th minute goal was enough to clinch the points for Mold at Y Morfa.
Warren, who is on 17 goals for the season, also missed a penalty.
Gresford Athletic 1 Prestatyn Town 1
Connor Whelan’s 39th minute strike gave Prestatyn a half-time lead at The Rock, but in the first game at their new home being shared with Cefn Druids, Toby Gallagher-Keenan’s equaliser on 74 salvaged a point for the Colliers.
Holyhead Hotspur 1 Penrhyncoch 1
The battle of the bottom two ended all-square – but a point was not of much use to either side.
Geoff Kellaway put Penrhyncoch ahead on 47 minutes, but Chris Jones levelled after 50.
Penrhyn had substitute Lewis James red-carded after the final whistle.
WELSH BLOOD SERVICE LEAGUE CUP (NORTHERN)
Guilsfield 0 Llandudno 0 (Guilsfield won 9-8 on pens)
No goals in Powys, but Guilsfield came out on top 9-8 in a tense penalty shoot-out.
On the plus side for Llandudno, 17-year-old goalkeeper Joe Angus, who came on for the injured Shaun Pearson in the second half, made THREE saves in the penalties contest, but still the Seasiders lost out overall.