JD CYMRU PREMIER: Nomads into Europe, Bay up to third, Flint and Bala share points
JD CYMRU PREMIER REPORTS – MARCH 13-14
with thanks to faw.cymru
CHAMPIONSHIP CONFERENCE
Caernarfon Town 2 Connah’s Quay Nomads 4
Nomads secured automatic European qualification with a 4-2 victory over Caernarfon Town at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Friday, before third-place Penybont dropped points on Saturday afternoon in the JD Cymru Premier.
The Nomads made the perfect start to the contest as Harry Franklin scored with just 20 seconds on the clock by latching onto Noah Edwards’ long ball and slotting beyond Connor Roberts for his 13th league goal of the season.
Caernarfon quickly equalised as Phil Mooney headed home at the back post from Josh Lock’s corner. However, Mooney’s late challenge on Edwards nine minutes before half-time resulted in a Nomads penalty, which Rhys Hughes calmly converted to restore his side’s lead.
Edwards added his name to the scoresheet by retrieving a loose ball from Franklin’s blocked pass and firing into the bottom corner before Callum West grabbed a fourth goal for the visitors.
Caernarfon teenager Rio Owen headed in from Paulo Mendes’ cross in stoppage-time, but that only proved to be a consolation as the Nomads picked up their first victory of the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference.
Colwyn Bay 3 Barry Town United 1
Bay to climb up to third in the table with a 3-1 victory over Barry Town United at the Blue Turtle Arena on Saturday.
Louis Robles put the hosts ahead in first half stoppage-time by running onto Alex Moore’s through ball and squeezing his effort beyond George Ratcliffe.
The Seagulls doubled their advantage nine minutes after the restart with a swift attacking move as Jordan Davies controlled George Hughes’ long ball and set up Aeron Edwards, who unleashed a clinical first-time effort into the net.
Veteran midfielder Edwards had a brace 14 minutes later as he received Davies’ short pass and sent a deft lob into the far corner.
Mikey George got Barry on the scoresheet as he received Ben Margetson’s pass down the right flank, cut inside and saw his low cross-turned-shot travel into the bottom corner. However, the visitors were immediately left frustrated once more as substitute Keenan Patten was shown a straight red card for a foul on Davies. Bay saw out the closing stages to secure back-to-back home wins.
Penybont 1 The New Saints 2
PLAY-OFF CONFERENCE
Flint Town United 1 Bala Town 1
Bala moved to within five points of safety after earning a 1-1 draw against in-form Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.
The Lakesiders thought they had grabbed an early lead when Cameron Ferguson headed home from Sam Billington’s free-kick, but the forward was deemed to be in an offside position.
Flint found the breakthrough midway through the first half as Jack Thorn met Jake Phillips’ corner and planted his header into the bottom corner.
However, Bala levelled the scoreline six minutes into the second half as Ferguson’s volley took a wicked deflection off Ben Woollam and found the roof of the net.
The Lakesiders came agonisingly close to completing a turnaround when Ferguson saw his header cleared off the line by Thorn before Will Bell had two efforts in quick succession saved by Flint from just a few yards out.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as Ben Wynne was shown a straight red card for a high boot on Liam Higgins, but it did not affect the result as both sides shared the points.