Sunday, 17 February 2013

Title hopefuls do battle once more throughout Welsh football leagues

Bangor City made it nine league games without a win on Saturday (February 16), with a 1-1 draw at Port Talbot Town that looks to have blown their chances of a fourth Welsh Premier League title.

Bangor now sit 11 points behind leaders TNS and four behind second-placed Airbus UK, with both clubs having a game in hand, and the Citizens face an uphill task to secure an automatic Europa League spot.

Port Talbot took the lead in the 32nd minute following good work by David Brooks, who got around former Llanelli full back Kris Thomas, making his Bangor debut, and pulled the ball back from the by-line for James Bloom to stab home.

The goal came just after Robbie Booth had spurned a great chance to put Bangor ahead, his drive forcing a fine save from Port Talbot ‘keeper Steven Hall.

Bangor drew level on 57 when Port Talbot failed to deal with a teasing cross into the area from Sion Edwards and Chris Simm was first to react and force the ball past Hall for his 19th strike of the season, and his sixth goal in eight games in 2013.

Bangor did have the ball in the net just two minutes from time but Les Davies was adjudged to have been offside before his header hit the net to keep the winless streak going.

Troubled Llanelli earned themselves a massive boost in their bid to avoid relegation, coming from behind to beat Newtown 2-1 at Latham Park. Luke Boundfield put the Robins in the lead, but Steffan Lloyd levelled for the Reds before the interval, and Craig Moses fired the winner seven minutes from time to earn himself hero status in the town for the foreseeable future.

Outside the top tier in the Huws Gray Alliance League, Robbie James was the hat-trick hero for Cefn Druids as they trounced lowly Ruthin 6-1 and Martin Ziemann also bagged a hat-trick in Guilsfield’s 6-1 romp over Rhayader Town.

Buckley Town were convincing 4-0 victors at Holyhead thanks to goals by Matt Hughes, Carl Lamb, John Leonard and Alan Bull, while Conwy Borough failed to take advantage of Rhyl not playing when they were held 3-3 at home by Penrhyncoch, meaning Rhyl still hold a 13-point gap at the top and now have a game in hand.

The leaders were in action in the second round of the Huws Gray Cup away at Caersws, and tasted defeat for only the second time this season (the other being at TNS in the Welsh Cup). Leading 3-2 in the last minute, Mark Griffiths scored for the home side to force extra time, and they eventually triumphed 5-4 on penalties.

Denbigh are top of the Welsh Alliance, one point clear of Caernarfon Town, after they won 5-3 at Llanberis. A 6-1 thumping of Llandudno Junction kept Carernarfon in the chase as well.

In the Welsh League Division One, West End and Barry Town took advantage of Taffs Well not having a fixture by cutting down The Wellmen’s lead at the top of the table to four points by winning their respective games.

West End gained an impressive 3-1 victory at Tata Steel with Kieron Cullen grabbing a brace, while Barry Town hammered near-neighbours Bridgend Town 5-2 at Jennar Park – TJ Nagi (two), Michael Hartley, Ryan Evans and Jordan Cotterill getting the home side’s goals.

West End have two games in hand over Taffs Well, but Barry have played two games more than the leaders.

Monmouth Town moved level on points with defending champions Cambrian and Clydach with a 2-1 win, Nick Harry and a Dan MacDonald secured the win.

Haverfordwest County join those two sides on 30 points, just five behind Taffs Well, with a 2-1 victory at Porth, in what is becoming a six-team fight for the title.

In Division Two, leaders Goytre lost their 100 per cent record this season with a 1-0 home loss to Dinas Powys.

Ammanford cut the gap on the leaders to 11 points by winning 3-2 at Croesyceiliog, but Goytre do have two games in hand.

Briton Ferry Llansawel and Newport YMCA won to climb to third and fourth respectively after Aberbargoed Buds went down 1-0 at home to Caerau and drop to fifth.

In Division Three, leaders Cardiff Met University didn’t play, but AFC Llwydcoed missed the chance to further close the gap at the top after being held 4-4 at home by Newport Civil Service, meaning the gap is now three points.

Third placed Llantwit Major triumphed 5-1 at bottom club Abertillery Bluebirds, while Risca United climbed above Llanwern in to fifth with 1 2-0 at Bridgend Street, coupled with Llanwern losing by the same scoreline at home to fourth place Pontypridd Town.

0 comments:

Post a Comment