Monday 11 March 2013

Aberystwyth and Newtown boost survival chances with vital weekend wins

A full Welsh Premier League weekend program saw entertaining games at both ends of the table.

On Friday (March 8) night, Bangor City climbed up to second in the table above their victims, Airbus UK, while TNS and Port Talbot Town also registered wins.

Bangor looked to be heading towards their ninth league draw of the season but scored twice late on, through two substitutes, to win a rain-soaked encounter at Nantporth Stadium.

Both sides were creating chances, but Bangor ‘keeper Lee Idzi and Airbus’ Jamie Stephens were for a long time equal to them all, although the latter was booked for catching Bangor’s Les Davies.

As the pitch deteriorated the second half lacked much in terms of quality, and the game looked to be petering out.

But Field produced a wild challenge on Bangor’s Chris Jones which earned him a straight red. The player confronted referee Lee Evans and a melee ensued, which only ended when the Airbus coaching staff entered the field to haul the furious Field off.

The changes began to ring and when Gary O’Toole replaced the hobbling Jones, his first touch was to not Gareth Roberts’ free-kick in for a 1-0 lead on 87 minutes.

Fellow substitute Robbie Booth then bettered that, collecting an over-hit Chris Simm cross, beating his man on the left and curling a shot around defender and goalkeeper in to the far corner to wrap things up three minutes later.

TNS, though, remain 11 points ahead of Bangor, and with a game in hand, after romping to a 3-0 win at home to Prestatyn.

The leaders made it 17 league wins and gave themselves a goal difference of +40 thanks to a Mike Wilde brace and a Matthew Williams goal. The result leaves them in a favourable position for a league and Cup double.

Port Talbot were also winners, this time by a solitary goal, thanks to a 35th-minute Martin Rose goal.

On Saturday (March 9), the Conference came to the fore, and two important relegation scraps in particular.

Newtown boosted their chances of avoiding relegation by ending the unbeaten run of visitors Connahs Quay.

Another boggy surface at Latham Park really hampered the attacking efforts of both sides.

Newtown saw one shot blocked on the goal-line after 10 minutes with what they believed a hand, but the officials thought otherwise.

They continued to come forward. Craig Whitfield saw a free-kick saved by the impressive visiting ‘keeper John Rushton, who repeatedly thwarted the Robins throughout.

The Nomads had a spell of good first half pressure but found Newtown’s Dave Roberts in equally good form. He produced a brilliant double save: first from a long-range Richie Evans strike, then getting up to claim Sean Breen’s rebound, though it was straight at him.

Matt Cook then made himself the toast of the town, belting in what turned out to be the winning goal from 25 yards with virtually the last kick of the first half.

After Rushton had continued to thwart the home side, Connahs Quay pushed forward late on in a bid to snatch an equaliser. But Mike Robinson fired their best effort over as they fell to their first defeat in eight league games.

The result sees them climb above troubled Llanelli, who went down 4-0 at Bala Town on Sunday (March 10) to drop in to the bottom two.

Goals by Stuart Jones, Lee Hunt, Mark Jones and Mark Connolly sealed a comfortable win, while Hunt also blazed a penalty over the bar.

The late Saturday kick-off produced the game of the weekend, where Aberystwyth earned a vital and entertaining victory by beating bottom side Afan Lido 4-3 to leave themselves a point ahead of Newtown and Llanelli.

It only took Aberwystwyth three minutes to go in front and it was from a terrific Wyn Thomas free-kick.

An edgy opening period ensued with both teams wary of conceding goals in their respective fights against relegation, but usually luckless Afan Lido were matching their hosts.

It livened up after 20 minutes: a Lido free-kick was nodded on by Mike Grays and Anthony Rawlings beat the offside trap, but his ‘header was well saved by Mike Lewis.

Ten minutes later they were level. A crafty Chris Hartland flick round his marker saw Rawlings charge down the right. His cross brought a heavy touch from Aber defender Gav Cadwallader, and the ball ran to Luke Borrelli, who struck a ferocious shot from outside the box past a motionless Lewis.

Five minutes before the break, a Glyndwr Hughes effort was deflected on to a post and bounced wide, and the resulting Antonio Corbisiero corner was missed by ‘keeper Kristian Rogers and the covering Borrelli on the post to go straight in.

But immediately, Lido went forward and Simon Prangley beat the offside trap, running on to a Kristian James pass, to make it 2-2 at the break.

The second half continued as the first had ended with former Lido striker Mark Jones, integral for Aber after the break, running on to a Cadwallader cross to lift the ball over Rogers and fire home on 58.

Back came Lido again and nine minutes later Rawlings bagged his second after a goalmouth scramble ran kindly for him to level the match for a third time.

But they were only level for three minutes as Thomas bagged his second, and third goal of the season, volleying home a corner for 4-3.

Both sides continued to create chances but neither goal was breached again despite some late hearts-in-mouths moments for both defences.

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