TRIPLE RETURN FOR HARDING

Costcutter league midweek round up.

Division 1

St Dogmaels continued with their good early season form with a comfortable 4-1 win over Cilgerran Rovers at Parc Y Dre where former Coracleman Louis Harding netted a hat trick.

Harding who was making his first appearance against his old club played a starring role and scored three fine goals and he looks to be a good signing for the Saints.

Midfielder Rhys Jones opened the scoring on the 25th minute with a low drive from the edge of the box and five minutes later front runner Harding made it 0-2 with a clinical finish from close range. The saints should have been awarded a penalty soon after this when the impressive Aaron Williams, another former Coracleman was brought down but referee Neil Lewis pointed to the goal kick.

Harding went on to finish another chance from close range to make it 3-0 at the break but to their credit Rovers came back strongly and made it very difficult for the hosts who created fewer chances but eventually Harding took his opportunity to complete an excellent hat trick against his former club.

Cilgerran refused to give in and Mike Diggle scored a consolation goal when he fired home from just inside the box.

Two goals from Jason Jones helped steer Lampeter Town to their second win of the season but they were given a severe testing by an Aberaeron Reserves outfit who missed several golden opportunities in front of goal.

It was Lampeter though who started brightly and they created a couple of half chances whilst at the other end Olly Edwards and Kieron Boyes made some good runs and caused the home team a few problems.

Lampeter took the lead against the run of play when from a quick breakaway Jones was on hand to slot the ball home. Aberaeron though hit back quickly when a free kick from Llew Lloyd was headed deftly into the bottom corner of the net by Simon Bray.

The visitors dominated much of the possession after the break creating chance after chance but they were unable to get the ball over the line. Bray came close to adding a second and Boyes and Edwards and the impressive Jack Chetwynd also found themselves in good scoring positions.

Lloyd came close with a header before the hosts bagged the winner when they capitalised on a mistake in defence and Jones added his second of the game.

The seagulls continued to press late on and created a couple of chances but to no avail and Town, who remain unbeaten hung on for the win.

Cardigan Town lost their unbeaten record when they were beaten at Crannog where Huw Reed and Dan Robinson poached the goals.

The young Magpies team though played some excellent football and bossed the first half and should have been ahead at the break. However Crannog gradually imposed themselves through their midfield of Reed, Chris Welch and Mark Davies and they took the lead when Reed headed home from a corner with ten minutes to go. Robinson added the second late on when he lobbed the keeper from long range.

Felinfach bounced back from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cardigan on the weekend to inflict a third successive defeat on Dewi Stars. Goals from Owain Evans, Kevin Taylor, Joe Jenkins and Eilir Evans earned the milkmen their 4-2 success and their first points of the season.

Newcastle Emlyn enjoyed a hard fought 3-0 win at Parc Troedrhiw where talented striker Jake Kelly claimed a hat trick.

Division 2

Division two leaders Bargod Rangers chalked up their third win on the bounce when they fired five past New Quay at Parc Puw. The hosts who were missing four first team players struggled early on and things were pretty even with the visitors moving the ball around comfortably. However with twelve minutes on the clock Rhydian Davies put Bargod ahead when he hit the top corner of the net with a twenty yard free kick.

Five minutes later it was two nil when a Josh Kelly cross landed perfectly for Jayden Shay to score from close range.

The third goal was a real cracker from jinking midfielder Steff Evans who crashed home an unstoppable shot from well outside the box and there was more to come when Shay casually sliced open the New Quay defence to put the ball away from close range to make it 4-0 at the interval.

The second half started much like the first ended with Lyndon Robinson and Dan Evans dominating midfield and Hicks and Morgan marshalling things in defence but with neither keeper being called to action. However, with substitutions coming thick and fast the pattern of the game slowly changed allowing the visitors to creep back into contention and it was not long before the greens were on the score sheet capitalising on some poor defending.

However, whatever hope they had of a comeback was quickly extinguished when Shay found himself on the edge of the penalty area with only the keeper to beat and he nonchalantly completed his second hat trick in four days.

Minutes later the same player saw another powerful shot crash against the upright and a similar fate awaited Dan Evans when his thunderbolt also rebounded from the same post. By now the game was safe and the home team sat back into defensive mode and New Quay quickly capitalised with their second goal and a few minutes later they could have added a third when they missed an easy opportunity from close range.

Maesglas responded positively following two heavy defeats to beat Crannog Reserves but it was a close call at 4-3. Kieran Harman hit the net twice for the Blues and there were goals also for Justin Elliott and Steffan Evans.

Llanboidy were far too good for Newcastle Emlyn Reserves and ran out convincing winners by 7-2. Rhys Jenkins was the man of the match and he scored four times to cap a fine game. Caleb Young, Tom Rogers and Celt Thomas-Jones were also on target for the Cae Dandre side.