Day of shocks across North Wales football – read all about them!
No disrespect to any of the teams which did so well today against the odds, but it is fair to say that before kick-off any half-decent bookmaker would have made each surprise package second favourites.
It was quite a day of surprises in North Wales football!
Not many would have predicted the Cymru North’s top two, Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United, would fail to win today, but that is exactly what happened.
Undefeated Flint needed a 59th minute equaliser from Elliott Reeves to share the points with perennial dark horses Guilsfield at the Essity Stadium.
Jamie Hyne gave the Powys visitors a 28th minute lead and the Silkmen were unable to turn the tables.
Meanwhile, leaders Airbus required two very late goals to escape with a 3-3 draw at Caersws.
Craig Harris and Neil Mitchell put the Bluebirds two-up after 22 minutes before George Peers hit back for the Wingmakers on 33.
Rhys Hebden nudged the seventh-place hosts 3-1 ahead five minutes into the second half and a shock was on the cards before Tyler McManus reduced the arrears on 88 and Craig Lindfield levelled eight minutes into stoppage time.
The big winners of the weekend were third-place Holywell Town, resounding 5-0 victors at Gresford Athletic last night.
The top three now has Airbus on 46 points from 20 games, Flint 45 from 17 and the Wellmen 41 from 16.
In Ardal North West, next-to-bottom Bethesda Athletic claimed just their second league win of the season as they took the honours 2-1 at Llannefydd.
Pesda had lost six on the bounce in the league and failed to win in 10, but in a strange case of irony, they ended their barren run by edging past the side they recorded their only previous victory against this term, having whipped Llannefydd 6-1 at Parc Meurig last August.
Scott Hughes and Daniel Hughes bagged the goals that mattered for the Ogwen Valley men, Sam Jones replying late on.
Ardal North West leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879, 4-2 losers at Nantlle Vale seven days ago, were expected to bounce back at Pwllheli, but the Llyn side upset the odds with a 3-0 win over Gareth Thomas’ table-toppers,
Ashley Ainsworth (2) and Carl Jones bagged the Pwll goals, while Rhyl had Alex Jones red-carded on 47 minutes. Lilywhites manager Thomas and assistant Steve Jones were also dismissed, as was Pwllheli coach Carl Machin.
Rhyl still head the table by five points, but second-place Nantlle Vale, who won again, have two games un hand.
North Wales’ longest 100 percent record was shattered as CPD Gronant went down 3-2 at home to Rhydymwyn in the North East Wales League Championship.
Gyorgy Szabo and Luke Elden were on target for Gronant, who had Liam Rowland-Jones red-carded, but veteran sub Daniel Jones won it for Rhyd in the 90th minute after previous strikes from Connor Davies and Harry Watkin.
North Wales Coast East Division One side Bow also lost their 100 percent record after being held 3-3 in a cracker at Llysfaen.
Having lost a number of players to Prestatyn Town, Bow nonetheless had a strong squad on call at the Bananabeau.
Captain Stuart Roberts plundered an equaliser for the hosts four minutes into added time to grab a point.
Joel Massam and Sean Sheridan also struck for the home side, Kyle Robb (2) and Adam Williams with Bow’s responses.
The visitors led three times, but were unable to hold on.