The New Saints regain top spot with five star show

Welsh football weekend round-up

THE New Saints went back to the top of the Welsh Premier League with an Alex Darlington hat-trick helping them thrash 10-man Port Talbot Town 5-0.

Prestatyn had gone top following their 4-1 home victory over GAP Connah’s Quay on Friday night but Saints underlined their tag as title favourites to go into first place on goal difference as Paul Keddle was sent off for Port Talbot.

Darlington pounced after just five minutes and when he doubled the lead from the penalty spot the result was never in doubt. Chris Seargeant added a third before Darlington completed his first-half treble just prior to the interval. Michael Wilde finished the rout on the hour mark.

Rumours circulated that Llanelli boss Andy Legg and assistant Steve Jenkins had walked out of the club an hour before their home game against Bala was due to kick-off.

However, despite the squad not being paid for the last two months, Legg and Jenkins were in the dugout to see the Reds beaten 4-1 by a side struggling themselves on the pitch.

Mark Connolly, Kenny Lunt and Ian Sheridan put Bala 3-0 up, Martin Rose pulled one back for the hosts, but Lewis Codling sealed the three points in injury-time.

A second-minute Chris Simm strike gave Bangor a 1-0 win at Carmarthen and Airbus continued their goof form with a commanding 5-1 hammering of lowly Aberystwyth. Steve Abbot was the second scorer of a hat-trick in the Welsh Premier while Wayne Riley and Ryan Wade also found the net.

A Mark Jones own goal five minutes from time gifted Newtown a 3-2 win at Afan Lido. In a crazy second-half, Steve Blenkinsop gave Newtown the lead, Kieran Howard levelled straight away then three minutes later Zac Evans’s penalty made it 2-1 to the visitors.

Paul Evans equalised and just when a draw was looking the likely outcome, Jones turned the ball into his own net.

Barry Town moved back to the top of the first division of the Welsh League thanks to TJ Nagi’s winner against basement boys Tata Steel.

Jason Davies’s first-half strike saw AFC Porth beat Bridgend Town 1-0 to stay in touch with Barry while Swansea side West End blasted seven past Cwmbran Celtic in a 7-2 romp. Darren Griffiths, Sam Brown and Jeff Aspinall all scored twice while Richard Evans got the remaining goal.

Defending champions Cambrian & Clydach eased to a 3-0 win over Bryntirion Athletic 3-0 thanks to goals from Steve Turner, Liam Hutchinson and Tom Walbeoff.

In division two there was a 10-goal thriller as Caerau (Ely) drew 5-5 with Croesyceiliog and, not to be out done, the match at Cwmaman Institute also had 10 goals in it, but the hosts weren’t so lucky as Goytre left with a 7-3 triumph. Meanwhile, AFC Llwydcoed thrashed Bettws 8-0 in division three.

In the Huws Gray Alliance, Rhyl’s 100% record came to an end as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Buckley Town.

The seasiders led 2-0 through Mark Evans and a Paul McManus penalty but the home side fought back with Derek Taylor scoring twice after the break to secure a deserved point.

Rhyl’s nearest challengers, Cefn Druids, took all three points from their clash at Ruthin Town, running out 2-1 victors in a match which had a frantic finale.

Druids opened the scoring in the first period through Warren Duckett then, with four minutes left on the clock, Rhys Darlington added a second but Ruthin hit back with a last-minute effort from Eilir Edwards.

Flint Town went down to a surprise 3-1 defeat at the hands of bottom club Porthmadog whose goals came from Graham Boylan, Chris Williams and Loen Newell. Sam Jones scored Flint’s goal but they were reduced to 14 men in the closing stages.

A Lee Davey brace gave Conwy Borough a deserved 2-0 triumph at Penrhyncoch while top scorers yesterday were Caersws who moved into third place with a 5-0 thrashing of Holyhead Hotspur. Mark Griffiths netted twice and Scott Williams, Iwan Lewis and Neil Mitchell were also on target.

There was a dramatic end to the game at Rhayader where an injury-time strike by Will Thomas gave Guilsfield a thrilling 4-3 win. Luke Evans and Mike Collister (2) were Rhayader’s scorers while Guilsfield’s other goals came from John Harris and Ian Probert.

Rhydymwyn had Lee Reynolds to thank for their 1-0 victory over Llandudno while Rob Fox scored the only goal in Llanrhaeader’s defeat of Penycae.