LOCAL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
CEFN Cribwr returned to winning ways with a 3-1 success over tabletopping Porthcawl Town in the Highadmit South Wales Alliance Premier Division derby clash at Cae Golf Playing Fields, writes Tony
Poole.
Having lost 6-1 last time out at title-chasing Pencoed Ath, this was more like of the Riders of old who were more clinical in front of goal.
Cefn took control with goals from Caerau import Thomas Davies, Matt Symons and dancing Danny Woolfenden (his 23rd of the season).
Though the dismissal midway through the second half of Porthcawl magician Morgan Thomas turned the tide, Sam McCarthy pulled one back.
Porthcawl turn to the South Wales Senior Cup on Saturday with a home tie against Cwm Rhondda while Cefn have a league fixture at Grange Albion.
But Pencoed missed out, owing to Caerau being unable to raise a team, and on Saturday Mark Powell’s side host Cardiff Draconians in a clash that might well have a bearing on the outcome of the championship.
And Garw carded a seventh league win of the season during an incredible encounter with former Welsh League colleagues Ely Rangers in Wenvoe.
The Blandy boys were awarded three penalties only for much-travelled bike enthusiast Jonathan Wile and rugby star Brandon Huntley to miss out.
But when they turned to Lewis Davies, he did oblige from the spot and Garw got all three points to cement an eighth-place slot in the table
But in Division One, Cornelly Utd were again on the wrong end of a substantial scoreline, going down 4-3 to Clwb Cymric at Meadow Street.
The side from the Welsh capital hit the front via an early penalty from Cai Owen while soon after Guto Huws doubled the lead.
Back came the Wasps with a Nico Evans penalty, and the cheers had hardly died down when his 14th goal of the season squared matters.
But Clwb Cymric went back ahead through a Rhys Withers strike to lead 3-2 at the changeover.
Though they forged further ahead on the hour when Owen scored for a second time, Aaron Weaver trimmed the deficit to 4-3 on 71 minutes.
But that’s as good as it got for the Wasps, who remain in relegation trouble.
However, Maesteg Park returned to the summit of Division Two with a 3-1 victory over St Josephs at Maes Y Coed Playing Fields in Cardiff.
Once more hot property Ashton White packed his shooting boots, and his fine solo run and equally telling finish gave the Llynfi Valley side a 12th-minute advantage.
He was at it again 10 minutes later when another fine finish – this time from an acute angle – moved him on to the 17-goal mark for the season.
It then became 3-0 in the 33rd minute after a magnificent seventh goal of the campaign from Jordan Tremlett sent Andrew Jones’s side out of sight.
But that proved the end of the Maesteg scoring with the only second half goal down to a St Joes consolation strike just past the hour.
And during final knockings, manager Jones handed teenager Alex Walters – nephew of the prince of strikers and ex-Park favourite Robbie Walters - a South Wales Alliance debut.
Their rise back to the top was courtesy of neighbours Llangynwyd Rangers, who pulled off the big shock of the day on the circuit in downing previous leaders Canton Rangers, 3-1, at the Llan Siro.
Despite being a goal adrift at half time, the Llan Siro boys were back on terms after Lewis Miles struck on the hour.
Soon after Miles went the extra mile in putting a goal on a plate for Dan Cornish to complete a turnaround for Mark Jenkins’s side.
And it was action replay time on 75 minutes when Miles crossed and more Cornish cream resulted in Llan carding a third league win of the season.
However, the victory was built around a five-star showing from Lee Williams, who was involved in all that was good in the Llan performance.
It left Canton a point shy of Park, who also have two games in hand.
This Saturday, Maesteg Park have a derby clash at old pals Llangeinor while Canton entertain Llangynwyd Rangers in a swift rematch.
Vale Utd retained third place in the table on the strength of a 3-1 victory over Cardiff Cosmopolitan at the University Playing Fields in Llanrumney.
A Danny Hanson strike gave the boys from leafy Corntown a tenuous advantage at the interval only for Cosmopolitan to level on the restart.
But a ding-dong goal from exCornelly Utd star Luke Dingle gave Vale back the lead, and they sealed the win with a Lewis Richards strike.
Vale have a home league fixture on Saturday with Llantwit Fardre.
However, the victory of the day belonged to Llangeinor, who amazingly played with just nine men for 72 minutes - and gained a thrilling 3-2 win over visiting Cwmbach Royal Stars.
The first man to go was Timmy Clemett, who got a straight red card for a firm challenge, while Rhys Thomas committed two bookable offences.
But William Jones netted again for Llan - taking him top of the club goal-scoring chart with eight strikes – while Corey Jenkins made a massive impact from the bench.
His two opening goals of the season settled the issue ahead of Saturday’s home derby clash with Maesteg Park.