MATCH OF THE DAY: Corwen and Builth Wells share the points in Tier 3 contest

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH EAST – JANUARY 24, 2026

Corwen 1 (Rainbird 26)
Builth Wells 1 (Powell 50)
Report: Gavin Billington

Two teams placed lower in Ardal North East than perhaps they were expected to be at this stage of the season played out a score draw.

A chilly day with a bitterly cold wind greeted the Corwen and Builth Wells players for the first game of 2026 at the War Memorial Park.

On the 20-minute mark Joe Ephraim, making his first appearance for 10th placed Corwen since returning from Dolgellau AA, hit a shot on the turn, which forced a save out of Kham Steventon.

The deadlock was broken six minutes later when a James Rainbird corner was whipped into the box and found the top corner of the net, the second time the Corwen man has achieved this feat this season.

Ten minutes before the interval Lewis Wills played the ball to Ephraim, who saw his low shot saved.

Referee Richard Wright made good use of the advantage rule during a quick home attack, allowing the play to continue into the Builth penalty area, where a Corwen player was brought down – spot-kick awarded.

Rainbird looked to get his second goal from the resulting pen, but Steventon guessed correctly and kept out the striker’s low shot.

In the closing stages of the opening period, 14th placed Builth threatened when Harry Edwards unleashed a shot from within the Corwen box, which Evan Parry was able to save.

At the start of the second half the hosts went close before Builth equalised on 50 minutes.

Harry Edwards floated a free kick into the Corwen box, keeper Parry came off his line to collect, but was unable to keep hold, allowing visiting captain Ryan Powell to knock the ball home to level the scores.

Edwards looked to give his side the lead when he curled an effort at goal, but his attempt went wide of the post.

Just after the hour mark Corwen’s Henry Evans collected the ball from a cross before going at goal; but Steventon was able to sniff out the danger.

Parry then came off his line as a free kick from distance was played into the Corwen box. The keeper initially parried the ball, resulting in Seth Bridgeman chasing it down, but the home No1 was able to recover and gather.

In the 90th minute, Edwards looked set to get a late winner for Wells, but dragged his shot wide of the target.

In the last action, Corwen’s Benjamin Wilson-Davies played the ball to Ephraim, who rounded the keeper, but saw his strike from a tight angle blocked by a defender.

CORWEN

Evan Parry, Oscar Mills, Benjamin Wilson-Davies, Paul Jones, Harry Pooler, Oli Crimp, Scott Evans (c), Henry Evans, Joe Ephraim, Lewis Wills, James Rainbird.
SUBS USED: Kieran Smith, Liam Marshall.

BUILTH WELLS

Kham Steventon, William Evans, Aled Rees, Alexander Hicks, Ryan Powell (c), Lee James, Seth Bridgeman, Keegan McGing, George Lloyd, Harry Edwards, Owain Rowlands.
SUBS USED: Danny Ives, Harry Tomlins.