Holywell Town are one point away from being crowned Tier 2 champions for the first time in their history.
Runners-up in the Cymru North last season and second in its predecessor league the Cymru Alliance back in 1997-98, the Wellmen need just a draw from their final game, a rearranged fixture versus relegated Llanidloes on a date to be confirmed, to seal an inaugural title.
Johnny Haseldin’s side made it 17 league games unbeaten and 49 points collected from a possible last 51 with a three-goal success at Porthmadog on Friday night.
The result sent Port down to Tier 3, while Prestatyn Town survived after claiming a point at Gresford Athletic.
A crowd of 512 were at the Traeth to see two teams with very different objectives go into battle.
Before the start there was a minute’s applause for Colin Oliver, the long-time Holywell fan who sadly passed away after being taken ill during Town’s game with Llanidloes on Tuesday at the Achieve More Stadium.
The game was abandoned as a mark of respect and will be replayed. The players wore tribute T-shirts to Colin in the warm-up.
Holywell were made to work hard for their win on Friday, their closest early effort a looping attempt from Ryan Edwards which dropped just over the bar.
In the 18th minute, the visitors made the breakthrough.
A high delivery from the left was latched onto by Jamie Breese, who managed to back-heel into the path of Danny Andrews, and he caressed the ball home.
Both sides got into some promising positions in the remainder of the half, but goalscoring chances were very limited.
Holywell attacked with more vigour early in the second half, Andrews seeing his free kick from 20 yards brilliantly turned over the bar by Ollie Farebrother. From the resulting corner, there ensued an almighty scramble, but the Port goal survived.
Brilliant work by Breese released Beau Cornish through on goal in the 61st minute, but the 22-year-old skewed wide with just the keeper to beat.
A second away goal looked inevitable and it arrived in the 67th minute. Farebrother brought down Andrews in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Breese calmly slotted down the middle for his 16th goal in 15 matches for the Wellmen.
Port tried to rally, but there was no way past the league’s meanest defence which has conceded just 17 goals in 29 matches.
The icing on the cake for Town came in the first minute of added time when Ilan Ap Gareth rounded off a solo run into the box with a lovely finish.
Flint held onto top spot in the league on goal difference after finishing their fixtures with a 2-1 triumph at Denbigh.
Although the Silkmen are likely to finish second, their promotion to the Cymru Premier is already confirmed as they have attained a Tier 1 licence, something title rivals Holywell were unable to do.
Seeking a ninth straight league victory, Lee Fowler’s side grabbed the lead in first-half added time when Elliott Reeves pocketed his 33rd league goal of the campaign.
Captain James Owen doubled the away tally in the 65th minute.
A Daniel Harrison own goal on 76 gave Denbigh hope, but the black and whites held on for the win.
Tom Weir wrote himself into Prestatyn Town folklore after his 65th minute equaliser sealed the point which kept the Seasiders in the Cymru North.
Having lost five in a row and not won in seven starts, Town needed to better relegation rivals Porthmadog’s result on Friday evening to beat the drop.
With Port going down 3-0 at home to Holywell Town, the Bastion Gardens boys did just that by earning a share of the spoils at The Rock.
Luke Wiltshire’s goal gave Prestatyn a half-time lead, but the game turned on its head when a Dominic Deacon double after the break put Athletic 2-1 up. At that stage, Town were going down, but in no time Weir had levelled the match and the great escape was on again.
There were no further goals, so it was mission accomplished for the three-time Tier 2 champions from the North Wales coast.
Already assured of third place, having too many draws over the season cost Airbus their title dream.
Undefeated in 21 league games ahead of Friday’s trip to Powys, five draws in that sequence had edged the Wingmakers out of the promotion picture.
Nonetheless, it was a fine way to end the campaign for Mark Allen’s men, Kaiden Cooke and Nick Rushton’s 84th minute winner bagging another three points for the Broughton outfit, Iwan Matthews having given Guilsfield an eighth-minute lead.
According to the Cymru Football App, Flint Mountain Reserves beat Llanrwst Reserves twice on Friday night.
We suspect this was taking the inventory boast ‘we could beat you twice on the same evening’ a little too far?
One scoreline read Flint Mountain Reserves 3 Llanrwst United Reserves 1 and the other was published as 3-0.
Let’s be sporting and go for 3-1, as one Llanrwst scorer is listed.
After a goalless first half, Tom Harrison edged second-place Mountain, now 10 points behind leaders Nantlle Vale with two games in hand, ahead on 50 minutes from a James Dunseath assist.
It was a good night for Dunseath, who also scored on 53 and 67 minutes, the latter a penalty.
Dafi Evans responded for the Roosters on 87 minutes.
Lewis Sealey and Archie Jones both struck twice for Saints in a good away performance.
Former Rhos United star Sealey scored on 45 and 86 minutes, while Jones netted after 62 and 71.
The inevitable scorer for Llangefni was Tomos Williams from a penalty. It was his 20th goal of the season and 18th in a Cefni shirt.
Harrison Bellis is the first player in North Wales senior football to pass 60 goals this season after his quartet helped sink Rhyl All Stars at the OPS Wind Arena.
Bellis found the net on 27, 37, 84 and 89 minutes to boost his 2023-24 total to 62 goals in just 26 matches.
Josh MacGillivray, Chris McQuillen and a Paul Ham own goal made up the seven for Y Glannau, now up to joint second in Division One with 10 straight wins in all competitions. Michael Bellis provided two assists.
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