DRAPER HITS TOP TREBLE AS STREAK REACHES TEN

A HAT-TRICK from Greg Draper helped The New Saints crush struggling Aberystwyth Town and move 11 points clear on top of the Welsh Premier League with a tenth consecutive league win.

The last of Aberystwyth’s home fixtures away from Park Avenue predictably saw the visitors do most of the early pressing, but it was the hosts that carved out the first clear-cut opportunity on 15 minutes, with Luke Borrelli firing just wide from the edge of the box.

But despite their spirited start, the Saints soon showed their quality, with Draper popping up to head home twice in two minutes to hand his side a commanding advantage on 24 minutes.

To their credit, the hosts kept going, with Borrelli testing visiting keeper Paul Harrison just before the half-hour following a rare foray behind the Saints’ defence, while Lewis Coyle galloped down the left to test Harrison after the break with a powerful low drive.

A stunning save from Dominic Richards at the other end helped keep the hosts in it, with an end-to-end second half seeing Harrison parry away Sam Rodon’s goalbound header just before the hour.

But a fine half-volley from Aeron Edwards on the edge of the area and a late towering header from Steve Saunders put any chance of a comeback to bed.

Aberystwyth were handed the consolation of a late penalty when Saunders turned from hero to villain by tripping Chris Jones in the box, with the forward dusting himself down to slot home.

But the four-goal advantage was restored in the dying seconds when Draper’s deflected header trickled found its way into the net, adding gloss to another comfortable afternoon for the champions.

Meanwhile, Llandudno moved into fifth place in the table following a 3-2 victory at Airbus UK.

The Seasiders went ahead in the sixth minute from a corner, Mike Williams stabbing the ball home after a Marc Williams shot had been deflected into his path.

But the Wingmakers drew level in the 28th minute when Ryan Edwards struck a superb shot from the edge of the box that beat Dave Roberts in the visitors’ goal.

The visitors went back in front seven minutes before the interval when a James Joyce cross caused panic in the Wingmakers defence and Lee Riley bundled home.

Llandudno wrapped up the points with a contender for goal of the season in the 70th minute as Lewis Buckley unleashed a shot from near the halfway line that

beat Airbus goalkeeper Ryan Nield. But Airbus pulled one back eight minutes from time with a close-range header from Matty McGinn.

Cefn Druids came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Park Hall as they beat Rhyl 4-3.

The Ancients made a superb start, forging a three-goal lead inside 35 minutes before the Lilywhites fought back to level terms.

Aaron Bowen gave Druids a sixth-minute lead with a curling shot into the top corner. Ashley Ruane then added a second on 22 minutes and Mike Pritchard hit the third with a shot from the edge of the box.

But within a minute Alex Jones kick-started the Rhyl comeback with a close-range header and seven minutes into the second half Rio Ahmadi saw his penalty saved by home keeper Michael Jones but, from the resulting corner, Aaron Simpson scored.

Ahmadi then crossed for Carl Lamb to head Rhyl level on 67 minutes but another penalty with 15 minutes to go was converted by Ruane to give Druids maximum points.