North East Wales League: Division 2 – Overton inflict first loss on Acton, Aston Park pip Sychdyn in thriller

TODAY’S NEWS WITH SHAUN BEST

Broughton United’s North East Wales League Division 1 title hopes took a hit when they lost to Rhostyllen for the second successive Saturday.

Broughton remain seven points behind league leaders FC Queen’s Park with just four league games left to play. Furthermore, Hawarden Rangers are now just a point off second place.

At the other end of the table, despite a rare victory, it looks as if Ruabon Rovers are destined to finish in the bottom two. Fellow strugglers Penyffordd Lions have games in hand to play, thus having more opportunities to move away from trouble.

Aston Park Rangers revived their faint hopes of wrestling the Division Two title from CPD Sychdyn United, following this afternoon’s 4-3 victory against the league leaders.

Rangers are five points back with just two games left to play. Two victories coupled by a Sychdyn loss in their final game against Acton will see a remarkable turnaround. Speaking of Acton, they can also take the title if they win all their games in hand.

The Division’s top marksmen all brought their shooting boots. Both Harry Massey and Jordan Walker bagged braces, while Yr Wyddgrug’s Leon Sumner went one better, with his hat-trick taking his side into the last four of the NEWFA Trophy.

The form book provided mixed results in Reserve Division One. Top side Mynydd Isa eased to victory at basement side Saltney Town, but second bottom Mold Alexandra sprung a surprise against Llay Welfare.

Over in Reserve Division Two, FC Queen’s Park gained ground on leaders Broughton United after they were held to a draw at Greenfield.

NEWFA Trophy – Quarter Final

CPD Yr Wyddgrug 3 (Leon Sumner 18, pen 34, 90+2) Holywell United 1 (William Nash 58)

NEWFA Division One

Ruabon Rovers 4 (Joshua Hughes 2, 7, Charlie Mazzarella 21, Daniel Burnett 75) Rhydymwyn 1 (Will Leonard 45+1)

Coedpoeth United 1 (Tomos Williams 24) Saltney Town 2 (Tom Harrison 18, Jay Norbury 20)

Broughton United 3 (Jayden Evans 20, Elliott Evans 56, 62) Joshua Jones sent off 88 for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity  Rhostyllen 5 (Thomas Douglas 13, Martyn Elms 30, Lewis Bickerton Cole 74, 76, Nigel Guramatunhu 90+6)

Chirk AAA 0 Greenfield 2 (Jack Pennington 77, Dean Hyland 90+3)

NEWFA Division Two

Acton 3 (Toby Wynne 32, Alix Godfrey 66, Jack White 74) Overton Recreation 5 (Harry Massey 7, 29, Joshua Betteley 20, Rowan Birch 26, Tom Huxley 65)

Aston Park Rangers 4 (Andy Cook pen 12, Adam Randles 31, James Redfern 45+4, Thomas Barbet 87) Adam Randles sent off 62 for violent conduct CPD Sychdyn United 3 (Jordan Walker 23, 42, George Davies 57)

NEWFA Reserve Division One

CPD Rhos Aelwyd Reserves 1 (Roman Durnell 61) Connah’s Quay Town XI 0

Mold Alexandra Reserves 3 (Drew Hayes 31, Thomas Antrobus 61, 82) Llay Welfare Reserves 2 (Aron Jones 45+4, Matthew Worrall 90+8) Assistant Manager Paul Roberts sent off for second booking.

Saltney Town Reserves 0 Mynydd Isa Reserves 3 (Jack Casey 2, 74, Michael Murray 31)

NEWFA Reserve Division Two

FC Queen’s Park Reserves 3 (Aled Powell 6, Tom Freeman 20, Jack Hanley 64) Coedpoeth United Development Team 0

Hawarden Rangers Reserves 2 (Ollie Oliver 53, Jayden Reevell pen 67) Castell Alun Colts Reserves 3 (Kacper Wojciech 23, 26, Gareth Williams 68)

Penyffordd Lions Reserves 1 (Ethan Davies 20) Ruthin Town Colts 1 (Harri Lewis-Jones 15)

Greenfield Reserves 2 (Morgan Evans 9, Ryan Jones 51) Broughton United Reserves 2 (Harry Wood 19, Connor Calby 39)