Costcutter Ceredigion League
Reigning champions Cardigan Town, who in the next few weeks will see their title move up the river Teifi to Llandysul, led on three occasions at Llanddewi Brefi but the youthful Stars side clawed their way back each time to earn a valuable point.
The Magpies who are only a shadow of the side that conquered everything before them last season still have some outstanding performers in the vastly experienced Steve Blackford, talented Iestyn Evans and exciting youngsters Tomos Toft, Ewan Jones and Josh Mellor and their time will come again but the 5-0 win registered by the Swallows at Cilgerran has all but sealed things for the riverside club.
The Stars again fielded eight youth players with two of these making their full debuts and for one Rupert Geddes, it was an afternoon to remember as he struck twice.
A defensive error led to the ever alert Ewan Jones opening the scoring for the visitors with a well placed low drive giving custodian Rhodri Edwards no chance. The Stars replied immediately with the best move of the match, finished by 16 year old Geddes as he drilled his shot in off the post leaving stand in keeper Adams-Lewis stranded.
Another defensive catastrophe saw the visitors regain the lead-the Stars defenders waited for each other to clear a harmless ball into the box and in nipped Ewan Jones for his and his side’s second.
Once again, the Stars replied immediately when another making his full debut, Ryan Mackie-Jones, playing with his father Andrew Jones, won the ball out wide and as he drove it into the box there was Geddes to deflect the ball into the far corner to make it two all at the interval.
Josh Mellor scored an excellent goal on the hour as he won a loose ball and calmly lobbed the advancing Edwards only for Steffan Owens to curl in a superbly flighted corner over everyone’s head to land perfectly at the far post just under the crossbar for a deserved equaliser and a fair result.
Llandysul completed their away fixtures with a comfortable win against Cilgerran and a tenth clean sheet of the season. The champions elect who are yet to lose a game started off very brightly with a quick tempo making Cilgerran chase the ball and gaining control in midfield with Ben Thomas and Terry Maynard very prominent and Scott Thomas and Lewis Jones prominent on the flanks.
With ten minutes gone Maynard was upended in the box but central defender Dean Jones penalty was well saved. Two minutes later Ben Thomas made amends when he opened the scoring with a neat finish and that lead was doubled when Adrian Hazelby’s shot from the edge of the box found the corner of the net after good work from Thomas and Lewis Jones.
Cilgerran then came into the game and looked dangerous when breaking from midfield but just a minute from the break captain Ian Barrett chested the ball down for his fellow midfielder Maynard who turned sharply in the box and calmly slotted home for 3-0.
Scott Thomas added a fourth after the break when he latched onto a through ball and headed it past the keeper as he came out and then ran around him to tuck the ball away and it was all Llandysul after this.
The goal of the game though was supplied by Mark Jones when the full back controlled the ball 40 yards out and with the keeper off his line hit it with power and precision and the ball sailed over his head and into the net for 5-0 and another step closer to the league title.
New Quay arrived at the Urdd field with only ten men, but to their credit they gave everything they had and battled throughout.
Crannog as expected started well and went ahead early when Mathew Smith converted a Huw Reed cross with a fantastic header from six yards into the top corner. The hosts continued to dominate the ball for the remainder of the half but without being really clinical or threatening, with Quay battling and fighting for every ball and it was 1-0 at halftime.
The home side improved their play in the second half and asked a lot more questions of the Quay defence and they grabbed a second when a powerful strike from midfielder Dylan Davies flew into the bottom corner of the net.
Rhydian Roberts headed home from a corner to make it three to secure the three points against a New Quay team that produced a gritty performance and there would have been a few more goals had it not been for their last ditch tackling and blocking to keep Crannog out in a match well refereed by Wyn Roberts.
Felinfach enjoyed a 4-1 win over near neighbours Aberaeron Reserves in a relegation battle at Square Field where Ollie Edwards netted for the Black and Ambers.
For the milkmen Aled Davies grabbed a couple of goals and there was one apiece for Owain Dafydd and Rhys Jon James.
The match between Newcastle Emlyn and Lampeter was postponed as Lampeter could not field a team.
Division 2
The chances of Maesglas returning back to division one took a dive when they were well beaten by Aberporth at Maes Radley and they are now all but out of the race for the title with Ffostrasol the clear favourites following their 2-0 win over Pencader.
The airmen with the likes of Sam Orme, Reece Prouse and Daniel Davies pulling the strings were much better than the Blues especially in the first half and they went ahead when Daniel Davies was given enough time on the edge of the box to place a fine strike into the top corner.
Blues keeper Graham Keen was called into action again just on the half time whistle with a top class save, guiding a goal bound effort around the post, and by doing so giving his team a chance of getting back into the game.
The visitors stepped up a gear in the second half but the Aberporth back line showed great resilience, with their no nonsense defending, clearing the ball at every opportunity.
There was a big shout from the Blues for a penalty with seconds left on the clock and this was turned down and Aberporth broke away and from a free kick on the edge of the box, Davies killed the game off with a superb finish direct from the free kick to claim the three points.
Goals from Carwyn Morgan and Dion Phillips steered leaders Ffostrasol to a 2-0 win over Pencader to lift the Wanderers five points ahead of Maesglas and with two games in hand.
Llanboidy enjoyed a comfortable win over league strugglers SDUC with Rhys Evans and Celt Thomas Jones netting four goals each. Others to cash in on some weak defending were Rhys Jenkins who bagged a hat trick and Ross McDonald, Rhodri Lewis and Caleb Young.
In the Percy Eldridge Cup newly crowned reserve cup champions Llandysul were too good on the day for Crannog. Danny Williams helped himself to four goals, Barry Hughes bagged a brace and there was one for Iwan Jones.
