Canaries suffer ahead of crucial Bala double-header
LEAGUE leaders The New Saints were good value for their 4-0 win at Caernarfon Town, where once again their Scottish goal machine, Declan McManus, kicked things off with his 19th league goal of the campaign and his 25th of the season.
Where McManus led, Ryan Brobbel, Adrian Cieslewicz and Jordan Williams followed to keep their side 16 points clear at the top – the Canaries taking a hit on points and goal difference in the final stages of the race to be top six at the split.
Caernarfon next travel to rivals Bala for the first part of a crunch double-header this Friday (KO 7.45) then host the Lakesiders on Saturday February 12.
● Flint Town United took full advantage of Newtown’s 1-0 defeat at Bala Town to move into second place in the JD Cymru Premier thanks to a 2-2 home draw with
Cardiff Met.
Will Evans was the man who did for Newtown at Maes Tegid with a goal in added time at the end of the first half that moves the Lakesiders up to fifth as Connah’s Quay Nomads remain winless in 2022 (see below).
The Students hit the front at Flint in the third minute thanks to a goal from Matt Chubb.
Their lead was short-lived as Conor Harwood equalised six minutes later and then Jack Kenney added a second just before the break.
But up popped Sam Jones in the 76th minute to level matters.
Reigning champions Connah’s Quay Nomads welcomed Barry Town United to the Deeside Stadium and it took a trademark header from a corner by George Horan to break the deadlock.
The home side built on that with a second from Aeron Edwards nine minutes into the second half before hitting the self-destruct button.
An own-goal after a mix-up between Ryan Harrington and Oliver Byrne gave Barry new hope in their quest to break a run of five successive defeats in all competitions.
Then, quick as a flash, two goals from skipper Kyle McLaggon in the space of seven minutes meant the visitors were 3-2 ahead with 18 minutes to go.
New Haverfordwest County technical director of football Nicky Hayen would have been pleased to see his side take a point from a 2-2 home draw with Penybont.
The Bluebirds got off to a flying start with an early goal from Ricky Watts, but then found themselves trailing after goals for the visitors from Ben Ahmun and skipper Kane Owen.
It took a goal 10 minutes from time by substitute Alhagi Touray Sisay to force a draw.
Cefn Druids are still seeking their first win of the season after going down to a crushing 5-0 defeat at Aberystwyth. Harry Franklin (2), Jamie Veal and Sam Phillips (2) were on target against a Druids side who had Kieran Smith sent off for two yellow cards.