Cymru Premier: Caernarfon beat Bala to stay top, Bay hold champions, Nomads recover from 2-0 down to defeat Flint

JD CYMRU PREMIER – REPORTS AND TABLE, AUGUST 25

Caernarfon Town 2 Bala Town 0

Caernarfon made it four consecutive wins over Bala and nine unbeaten versus the Lakesiders on Monday to remain top of the Cymru Premier.

The Canaries were always in the ascendancy, going close early when Daniel Gosset’s angled effort following a neat one-two with Connor Evans was cleared from near the goal-line by Ross White.

Evans’ firm header from a Morgan Owen cross was well held by Bala keeper Joel Torrence before substitute Osebi Abadaki hit the post after a Gosset free kick was floated into the box.

The nearest Bala came in the first half was a strike from the edge of the box by Hussen Mehasseb which rolled just wide.

The hosts were inches away from the lead early in the second half when Adam Davies’ glancing header from a Phil Mooney delivery missed by a fraction.

Bala were reduced to 10 men on 61 minutes when Lassana Mendes was shown a straight red for a truly awful challenge from behind on Gosset.

Caernarfon now had the man advantage and continued to dominate, but a fantastic save from Torrance to keep out Ryan Sears’ 30-yarder meant it still remained goalless.

Finally, after 70 minutes came the breakthrough. Mooney let fly from 20 yards and his deflected effort found the net.

Sub Sion Bradley’s smart pass into Josh Lock looked set to bring a second home goal, but again Torrance produced a first-class stop.

The points were sealed in the 87th minute when Bradley slalomed his way through defenders before hitting a shot which Torrance kept out, but Abadaki was on hand to kill off the challenge of his former club.

Colwyn Bay 1 The New Saints 1

Aeron Edwards’ equaliser for Bay against his former club earned the Seagulls a 1-1 draw against Cymru Premier champions The New Saints in front of a 1,006 Bank Holiday Monday crowd at the Blue Turtle Arena.

Chances were scarce in the first half, although Nathan Peate’s back post header from a Jamie Cumming corner tested the Saints defence before Jordan Davies’ follow-up volley was blocked.

TNS had manager Craig Harrison red carded as the players walked off at half-time, but the visitors took the lead on 55 minutes when Jordan Williams scored from close range when Bay failed to clear a corner.

A Dominic Corness free kick was pushed onto the post by home stopper Rhys Williams before Bay levelled after 69 minutes when Cumming’s cross to the back post was finished off by Edwards.

The Bay might even have snatched a winner, but Louis Robles could not get proper contact on Matty Hill’s run and cross and TNS keeper Nathan Shepperd was able to save.

Jordan Williams blasted over for the visitors from close range before the same player’s low drive was well grasped by Rhys Williams.

Connah’s Quay Nomads 3 Flint Town United 2

Nomads came back from two-down to snatch a late winner, but Flint should have been out of sight before the Deesiders began their recovery.

The Silkmen started well, Ben Hughes cutting in from the left and blasting a right-footer just wide.

Flint took a 17th minute lead when Jack Thorn’s shot from the edge of the box was helped into the net by Elliott Reeves.

A second arrived for Lee Fowler’s men on 31, Ben Wynne given far too much space and time to drill a left-footed effort past keeper Kit Margetson.

It should have been 3-0 before the break when Darren Stephenson missed an absolute sitter from a Reeves delivery.

Early in the second half, the visitors went desperately close to a third when Jake Canavan’s attempt rebounded off the inside of the post.

Nomads earned a penalty on 57 minutes when Jack Kenny was pulled back in the area by Harry Owen, who was very fortunate to receive only a yellow card.

To add insult to injury, Rhys Hughes’ firm but central penalty was kept out by keeper Jack Flint’s outstretched leg.

Within seconds, however, the hosts crucially did score, when Hughes’ deflected shot fell for Kenny, who rounded the keeper and found the empty net.

Quay’s tails were now up and Abdi Sharif’s header from a Zeli Ismael cross was kept out by Flint, who then denied sub Harry Franklin from the follow-up.

An equaliser looked almost inevitable and it came on 75 when Ismael’s cross to the back stick was volleyed in under no pressure by Chris Marriott.

Flint saved magnificently from a Callum Bratley rocket before Nomads bagged a fortunate winner on the 90.

Michael Burke attempted to clear Franklin’s cross from the left but only succeeded in kicking the ball against Kenny, who bundled it over the line.

No doubt Quay’s second half substitutes – Kenny, Franklin, Bratley and Ismael had a major bearing on the result.