Costcutters Division One Round up
Newcastle Emlyn sent out a warning to main rivals Llandysul and Lampeter Town that they too are serious contenders for the division one title after they fired five past reigning champions Cardigan Town at Parc Emlyn.
The reds were far too good for a very lightweight Magpies side who couldn’t cope with the more physical approach of the hosts in midfield and they were far too slow to react to the loose ball especially in front of their own goal and this cost them dearly.
It was Cardigan though who should have opened the scoring when Neil Evans just missed the target and he and his team started very well by knocking the ball about short to feet. However this did not last for long and Emlyn went ahead when Dion Davies netted with a fabulous strike from the edge of the box that gave Carl Woodford no chance in goal.
The second goal was even better and Woodford didn’t even see this wizz past him as it absolutely flew into the net off the right foot of man of the match Ben Thomas who blasted the ball home from 25 meters.
The third goal was another belter and came just a minute after Town striker Evans had missed a sitter and this was converted by Mathew Goodman after he ghosted into the penalty box and cleverly chipped the ball over the advancing Woodford.
Roving defender Jake Harries added the fourth goal just before half time when he broke from deep and sent a deft header over Town keeper Woodford and the reds was superb in the second quarter.
The half though ended with a bit of handbags as tempers boiled over and which were initially sparked off by a rash challenge from reds midfielder John Curran who apart from this indiscretion enjoyed a very good game. It was this area of the pitch though that Town were very much second best and they missed combative playmaker James Evans who was unavailable.
The game was all over before the teams changed over for the second half and Emlyn who must have been tempted to go for the jugular instead took their foot off the gas and Town came back and the introduction of Tomos Toft brought some much needed urgency to their play but a fifth goal eventually arrived when substitute midfielder Owain Thoms made the initial break and the ball fell to Curran who unselfishly squared the ball to Thomas to add his second of the match and cap off an impressive performance a promising show from the Reds who has stand out players across the park with Harries and Huw Jones strong in the air, Curran assured in the middle and Davies and Thomas showing some deft skills. For Town Joost Burki worked very hard alongside skipper Iestyn Evans who did his best to inspire his young team but it was too much to ask.
Cilgerran enjoyed a 3-1 win over Bargod Rangers after an entertaining game but it came at a cost as skipper Gary Evans was taken off to hospital with a nasty head and eye injury and is due to have an operation this afternoon (Monday).
Both teams started well and Rangers should have got on to the score sheet early but they were denied by keeper Barry Evans and the score was locked at 0-0 at the break.
A goal finally came on the hour when Dan Bellis was put through by Aaron Williams and he coolly slotted the ball home and a second arrived soon after when Louis Harding struck from a free kick before the visitors bagged the goal they deserved via Danny Williams.
Evans fired home the all important third goal with a superb strike from the edge of the box before he was carried off and taken to hospital and Bargod rallied late on and Jamie Williams was forced to clear his goal on two occasions late on before his team secured the win.
League leaders Llandysul came through for a comfortable win over Felinfach as expected with Adrian Hazelby capping another powerful display with two well taken goals.
The inform striker opened the scoring when he headed home a long cross field ball from Dean Jones and the swallows doubled up just before the break when Scott Thomas, who is enjoying a rich vein of form waltzed past three defenders before he smashed the ball into the net.
Simon Davies added the third when he chipped the keeper on the half volley and Thomas sped away from his marker and tucked the ball away for his second of the game to make it 4-0. Not to be outdone Hazelby added his second with a great finish and the sixth goal was the best of the lot when great build up play from Josh Baker and Mathew Newbold set up Ben Thomas to hit a screamer with his left foot from long range.
Dean Jones fired home the final nail into the coffin with a header from a Lewis Jones free kick before the milkmen grabbed a consolation goal, this the first goal conceded by Llandysul since early September.
Crannog turned up at Llanddewi Brefi determined to prove some observers wrong but when they went a goal down after a few minutes it looked like being another long afternoon. The Stars took the lead when Steffan Owens netted, but a quick fire hat trick midway through the half from George Colvern turned the game on its head. After this the visitors never really looked back and with Rhys Davies pulling the strings in midfield further goals followed through Gary Davies,Rhydian Roberts and skipper Mike Glover to make it 6-1 at half time.
Crannog controlled the second half with keeper Huw Morgan only called upon to make one decent save before Ryan Hurrell claimed a late consolation goal with a thundering strike It was the visitors who enjoyed the final say of the game when Steff Jones got a rare right footed goal to make it 7-1 to cap an excellent all round showing from a visiting team missing six regulars.