JD CYMRU PREMIER

THE NEW SAINTS are number one at Christmas in the JD Cymru Premier – although the champions’ lead has been cut to just a point after they lost 2-1 at home against Cardiff Met.

Joel Edwards put the Archers ahead in the fifth minute, flicking the ball home from Mael Davies’ ball in following a short corner routine.

That lead lasted nine minute with Simon Spender and Adrian Cieslewicz combining well down the right, with the latter eventually pulling the ball back across via a ricochet off Bradley Woolridge for Ryan Brobbel to fire home on his 100th league start.

The decisive moment came in the 39th minute.

TNS defender Ryan Harrington slipped as he went to deal with a simple ball over the top from Edwards and that mistake allowed Will Evans to run in behind and tuck the ball past Paul Harrison.

That ultimately secured Met their first win at Park Hall despite being reduced to 10 men late on when Edwards was sent off for raising an arm to the face of Keston Davies.

That defeat for TNS allowed Connah’s Quay Nomads to take advantage as they moved back into second place with a 2-1 win over in-form Bala Town on Deeside.

The Lakesiders came into the game on the back of five straight league wins without conceding a goal and they were ahead on six minutes through Jonathan Spittle.

However, that effort would ultimately prove to be in vain with Michael Bakare, having been dropped from the Nomads starting line-up, coming off the bench at half time to net a second-half double.

Bala drop to third while Caernarfon Town are now just two points behind them in fourth, but left it late as they won 1-0 at bottom club Carmarthen Town – with Cai Jones’ 90th minute goal settling matters.

Barry Town United got back to winning ways 1-0 at Aberystwyth Town through Kayne McLaggon while second half goals from Kieran Mills-Evans and Niall Flint fired Newtown to a 2-0 win at Penybont.

Airbus UK Broughton and Cefn Druids drew 1-1. Andy Owens gave Airbus a first-half lead but that was cancelled out by James Davies.