Battling Canaries out of Welsh Cup to New Saints
JD Welsh Cup holders The New Saints reached the fourth round with a 2-1 victory over Caernarfon Town. Ryan Brobbel gave his side a fourth-minute lead, but Caernarfon battled hard to stay in the game at Park Hall.
Dan Davies doubled the advantage on 75 minutes and then conceded an own goal right at the death.
It was too little, too late for the visitors, who return to league action at Connah’s Quay on Friday, but they left with their heads held high: TNS, meanwhile, show every sign that another League and Cup double is well within their sights.
Lightning didn’t strike twice at the Deeside Stadium as Connah’s Quay Nomads took revenge on Colwyn Bay for their Welsh Cup defeat last season.
It was a quarter-final clash that saw the JD Cymru North side defeat the then Premier division champions 2-0.
This time round Nomads stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games as they became the first side this season to beat the Seagulls as they won 4-0.
Mike Hayes opened the scoring in only the second minute. He doubled the lead on the half-hour mark.
Michael Wilde made it 3-0 after 68 minutes before Callum Morris converted a penalty four minutes from time.
Last season’s beaten finalists Penybont were comfortable 3-0 winners at Conwy Borough, with Nathan Wood striking twice in the first half and Kostya Georgievsky grabbing the third.
Llanelli Town won a thriller at Cefn Druids 4-3 with the winner coming from Taylor Marsh in the 88th minute.
The Druids took the lead with a Josh Roseberry-Beamond goal in the 14th minute, but they lost Phil Mooney to a red card moments later.
Playing a man down put them under pressure, but they sped into a 3-0 lead with further first-half goals from Nick Grogan and Josh Lock.
Llanelli got back into the game via a penalty at the end of the first half as Joe Hopkins converted.
Tim Parker made it 3-2 to continue the revival before Marsh stole the headlines with his winner just before the end.
Pontypridd Town were given a late scare at Ruthin Town before claiming a 4-3 win.
The visitors were 2-1 up at the break and then made it 4-1 with further goals from Joe Hunt and Lewys Twamley.
Two goals in the final 10 minutes got Ruthing back into the contest, but Pontypridd held on.
Newtown won the all-Premier League contest 3-1 at Aberystwyth Town, while Gresford Town beat JD South leaders Barry Town United 2-0.
It was 0-0 at the break before goals from Charlie Mann and Jacobo Barratt guided the north Walians into the next round.
Airbus UK Broughton picked up a win as they held Trefelin at bay in a morale boosting 2-1 victory. An 86th minute goal from Jake Eyre saw the Wingmen home.
David Forbes struck twice to steer Holywell Town to a 5-1 win at Hakin United in a game that saw them reduced to 10 men with the sending off of Kai Willis two minutes from time. Dan Sullivan, Oli Buckley and Mark Winslade came up with the other goals for the visitors.
Briton Ferry Llansawel were too strong for Mold Alex as they headed north and left with a 4-0 win. To make matters worse for the home side they had Sion McHugh sent off after only nine minutes and manager Mike Cunningham shown a red card at the end of the game.
There were nine goals to enjoy at JD North side Guilsfield as they beat Goytre United, of JD South, 6-3. The visitors took the lead after only seven minutes through Jordan Edwards before Iwan Matthews struck twice for the home team.
Goytre then had Stef Roberts sent off after 26 minutes before conceding a third goal on the stroke of halftime from Josh Astley.
Luke Harris made it 3-2 before Astley struck again, Callum Bromley got on the score sheet and Matthews completed his hat-trick.