JD CYMRU PREMIER: Jordan hat-trick keeps Bay flying, Nomads 8 unbeaten – good weekend for North Wales

It was a pretty good Saturday for North Wales in the JD Cymru Premier – two wins, two draws, no defeats.

And even Friday’s loss for Caernarfon Town at leaders and champions The New Saints produced plenty of positives.

REPORTS & TABLE – NOVEMBER 28-29

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29

Colwyn Bay 5 Penybont 4

Jordan Davies netted his first Cymru Premier hat-trick as Colwyn Bay continued their great return to Cymru Premier status with a 5-4 win over second-place Penybont at the Blue Turtle Arena.
The 30-year-old Davies made it 55 goals in 132 top-flight appearances since making his CPL debut for Prestatyn Town back in the 2014-15 campaign.
Bay is the fourth Welsh Premier club for a player who has also represented Connah’s Quay Nomads and Haverfordwest County in the national league, as well as having spells with Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton and King’s Lynn of National League North.
Bay and Penybont played out the highest scoring game in the Cymru Premier this season on Saturday.
The opening nine minutes set the tone for the contest, as Jamie Cumming’s composed finish in the box was cancelled out by James Crole’s header before Sol Forde immediately restored Bay’s lead with his close-range strike.
Jordan Davies scored twice in nine minutes to give the Seagulls a 4-1 lead by the half hour mark, curling home a superb strike while off balance before meeting Aron Williams’ cross with a back post header.
Mael Davies tapped into an empty net from just two yards out to give Bont hope of a comeback in first half stoppage time, but Bay’s three-goal lead was restored when Davies completed his treble just three minutes after the break. The forward raced onto Williams’ long ball, rounded Archie Matthews and finished clinically from a tight angle outside the box.
That ultimately proved decisive in earning victory for the hosts, as Bont substitute Ioan Phillips scored twice in stoppage time to make the scoreline closer than the contest had been.

Llanelli Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 2

Nomads climbed up to third in the table as they came from behind to triumph 2-1 against bottom-of-the-table Llanelli Town at the LHP Stadium.
Llanelli took the lead on the half-hour mark as Jac Norris sprinted in behind the Nomads defence, latched onto Nelson Sanca’s long ball and finished powerfully beyond Kit Margetson for his second goal in as many league games.
However, Noah Edwards equalised five minutes before half-time, as his volley from the edge of the box deflected past Alex Pennock – the midfielder’s first goal since February.
The Nomads dominated proceedings in the second half and eventually completed the turnaround on 74 minutes as substitute Callum West pulled the ball back for Harry Franklin, who fired in a neat first-time finish into the bottom corner.
Nomads are now unbeaten in eight league starts, picking up 20 points out of a possible 24 in that run.

Bala Town 2 Cardiff Met University 2

Nothing could separate top six chasers Bala Town and Cardiff Met at Maes Tegid.
Bala were gifted the advantage in the 18th minute when Met goalkeeper Samuel Seager parried Louis Hall’s corner into his own net, but the Archers turned the game around to lead at half-time as Lewis Rees tapped home Jasper Payne’s square ball before Matt Chubb produced a sublime first-time finish into the top corner.
Bala were level seven minutes into the second half though, as John Owen headed home at the front post from Nathan Burke’s corner.
The Lakesiders were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark when Olamide Ibrahim was shown a second yellow card for his foul on CJ Craven, but Steve Fisher’s side held on to claim a point.

Briton Ferry Llansawel 2 Flint Town United 2

Flint Town United climbed out of the bottom two thanks to a 2-2 draw away at Briton Ferry Llansawel
Kian Jenkins opened the scoring for Ferry in the 14th minute as he slotted home from Ryan George’s cross, but Flint equalised just three minutes later when Mikey Burke delivered a dangerous low ball into the box and Ben Wynne provided the finishing touch.
Ferry were in front again only five minutes later as Jenkins’ free-kick from the left found the unmarked Alex Gammond who clinically fired home first time in the box, but Flint equalised once more in first half stoppage time as Isaac Lee headed in the rebound after Alec Mudimu’s effort struck the crossbar.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28

The New Saints 2 Caernarfon Town 0

The Cofis kept the league leaders at bay for the majority of Friday’s contest, as Connor Roberts made numerous saves against his former club – including a remarkable diving stop to tip Dan Williams’ effort into the post.
However, TNS finally found the breakthrough in the 82nd minute when Ben Clark controlled Jordan Williams’ lay off in the six-yard box and calmly poked the ball home into the bottom corner.
Williams then sealed victory with the final kick of the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time as he received Adrian Cieslewicz’s through pass and fired beyond Roberts for his 17th league goal of the season.

MATCH REPORT: CAERNARFON TOWN

Caernarfon travelled to Park Hall on Friday evening with a threadbare squad but an abundance of heart of desire.
Richard Davies’ side has suffered with numerous long-term injuries throughout the season but ever since the start of his tenure at the Oval the Cofis manager has always been more than ready to make full use of the club’s Academy and last night he gave a first start to Caron Williams at left back.
The truth of the matter is that every club that faces The New Saints should expect a tough ninety minutes as the league leaders are the Cymru Premier League’s only professional side and, in all honesty, anything less would be surprising.
Town had seven of their squad unavailable for the match but you would not have though it from simply watching the action. Caernarfon were resolute, organized and disciplined throughout a riveting match that they were in with a chance of getting something from until the last kick of the evening.
As expected, the hosts began strongly and soon took control of possession, playing a measured style that Caernarfon seemed to deal with efficiently, and whilst goalkeeper Connor Roberts was called upon to make the first save of a busy night in the fourteenth minute to deny Jordan Williams.
Caernarfon looked confident when they did get the ball and looked to play from the back, a ploy that suited their captain Darren Thomas, who was making his first start of the season. The Cofi Messi was busy throughout, trying to find pockets of space to weave his magic, and looking to put his team on the offense at every opportunity.
The visitors’ first opportunity at goal arrived in the twenty fifth minute after Connor Evans did well on the right flank before sending in a cross into the box and directly into the path of Paulo Mendes, who was frustrated not to get more power from his header as the ball ended in the hands of home keeper Nathan Shepperd.
Caron Williams made a super last gasp tackle to prevent Josh Daniels from putting TNS ahead just before the half hour mark whilst the same player tested Roberts three minutes later.
The Cofis escaped a penalty appeal from the hosts on forty nine minutes when Brobbel went down in the box after a challenge from Ryan Sears but referee Mr Bryn Markham Jones was not convinced.
The second half was very much a continuation of the first as the hosts bossed possession without having enough to penetrate Caernarfon’s excellent defensive shape.
Roberts pulled off one of the stops of the season in the sixty fourth minute when he got his fingertips to a Williams effort to turn the ball onto the upright and he was rewarded for his save when the ball rebounded directly into his hands.
Morgan Owen came to his side’s rescue ten minutes later when he cleared a Dan Williams effort off his line whilst at the other end Osebi Abadaki threatened for the Cofis when Adam Davies found him in space outside the home box. The winger powered his way into the area before shooting goalwards and was disappointed to see Shepperd well placed to keep the ball out of his net.
Town midfielder Sam Downey had to leave the field due to injury and, with just eight minutes remaining, Ben Clarke broke the deadlock when he finished from close range, despite the best efforts of Roberts and Sears.
Caernarfon responded impressively to the setback and went on the attack in search of an equaliser. With five minutes remaining Dominic Smith was frustrated not to have done better when he met a Darren Thomas cross into the danger area but the defender could not quite manage the purchase he wanted and directed his effort wide from twelve yards.
Davies then went close for the visitors in the second minute of injury time when he met an Osian Ellis cross but the number nine’s header was blocked by a defender and the ball fell kindly to Shepperd.
In a cruel end to the game for Caernarfon, Jordan Williams got a second for the hosts with the final kick of the match.
So, a disappointing defeat for Caernarfon after an impressive effort and the manager spoke after the match of his pride at his team’s performance whilst also making special mention of debutant Caron Williams. The seventeen year-old proved why his manager had so much faith in him as he excelled at left back and was voted the Sgorio and the supporters’ Man of the Match after a stellar display.
Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Caron Williams.
Team: Connor Roberts, Morgan Owen, Dominic Smith, Ryan Sears, Caron Williams, Iwan Ellis, Sam Downey, Paulo Mendes, Connor Evans, Darren Thomas, Adam Davies.
Subs: Osebi Abadaki, Osian Ellis, Charlie Griffiths. Not used: Hari Thomas, Hari Roberts, Owen Roberts, Harri Wyn.