Lakesiders march on as Canaries see red again in heavy home defeat

WILL Evans struck twice at Bala Town on Friday night to put the Lakesiders 2-0 up at home against Newtown.

Newtown had little answer to the home side’s movement in the first half and had to wait until the 89th minute to get on the scoreboard.

Matt Williams threw them a lifeline, but any hopes of a revival were dashed when Steve Leslie wrapped thing up four minutes later with a goal that made it a comfortable 3-1 triumph for Bala.

There was another red card for Caernarfon Town against Haverfordwest County, following the two seen in the dramatic end to the home defeat to Connah’s Quay.

Canaries keeper Josh Tibbetts was dismissed for hauling down Jack Wilson after only five minutes against Haverfordwest: with no substitute keeper available, Jamie Crowther deputised.

The hosts reacted well and even took the lead via Gareth Edwards after 24 minutes, but Haverfordwest then scored four times to move into the top six.

Caernarfon and Bala were due to meet last night in a Welsh Premier clash at the Oval, report to follow next week.

● Jacob Wise volleyed home a candidate for goal of the month in the JD Cymru Premier League as he grabbed the equaliser to send Cefn Druids back to North Wales with a priceless point from a 1-1 draw at Penybont.

When Ben Ahmun edged Penybont ahead in the 74th minute it looked as though the Bridgend club were going to notch up a quickfire double over the bottom-of-the-table side and sink them deeper into the relegation mire.

The Ancients were beaten 2-0 when the two sides met at The Rock in October and their hopes of bridging the gap between themselves and Flint Town United seemed shattered when Ahmun broke the deadlock.

But a wonder strike from centre-half Wise closed the gap to on Flint to three points and they have a game in hand.

The New Saints had

Greg Draper to thank for a second-half hat-trick that enabled them to maintain their six-point lead at the top with a 4-1 home win over Aberystwyth Town.

Reigning champions Connah’s Quay saw off Barry Town United 3-1.

Barry did, however, lay down the gauntlet with the opening goal when Jordan Cotterill found the net in the eighth minute.

That dream start was quickly wiped out when Michael Wilde levelled for the champions three minutes later.

Declan Poole gave the Nomads the lead and

Aeron Edwards headed a third in the second half.

● Cardiff Met moved up to seventh thanks to a goal from Ollie Hulbert in the 70th minute of their clash with Flint. The Flint cause was hampered by a 22ndminute red card for Alex Jones.

● MP calls for paying spectators’ return: P12