Costcutter League round up.
Division 1
New dad Scott Thomas made a welcome return to action with a match winning hat trick for Llandysul against St Dogmaels. The talented front runner whose wife Lowri recently gave birth to a baby boy played as if the lack of sleep and all the nappy changing was a walk in the park and he was a handful all afternoon.
Saints manager Steve Williams who bemoaned the fact that his team gave away some sloppy goals was nevertheless impressed by the performance of the opposition and said: ”It was a very good game which I think Llandysul deserved to win but if we can cut out some of the silly goals we can do something this year especially in the cup competitions.”
Llandysul manager Chris Coco Davies said that he was just relieved to get back to winning ways and commented:”I was very pleased with the way we kept reacting to what was a very good St Dogmaels performance especially when they kept pulling a goal back.
“We were far more accurate and kept possession far better than against Cardigan and this was the best we have played this season and hopefully we can continue in this vein.”
The Swallows who were determined to bounce back following the loss of their long unbeaten record the previous weekend came out a lot more positive this time and took control of the game early on and went two goals up when Scott Thomas and Dean Jones were on target.
The visitors pulled one back with a well struck free kick from Adam Williams but Llandysul responded straight away when left back Sion Price, who had a fine game, played a ball into the path of Thomas who tucked away his second to put his team 3-1 ahead at the break.
St Dogmaels hit back when Louis Harding was given too much space and he calmly slotted the ball home but in typical fashion the Swallows increased their lead once again when new signing Ryan Evans hit the net after good work from 16 year old Ifan Sion Mason- Evans.
The Saints though were not beaten and they reduced the deficit when Williams bagged his second to make it 4-3 and set up a tense final ten minutes. However, it was that man Thomas again as he combined with Ifan Sion Mason-Evans to find a way through the visitors defence and he raced away to beat the advancing keeper and complete his hat trick for a 5-3 success.
Crannog took away all three points from Llanddewi Brefi in a close contest which they won 3-1. The young and improving Dewi Stars team though pushed them all the way with both teams creating plenty of chances.
It was the more clinical Crannog team that took the lead on the half hour when Robbie Evans slid in at the far post to connect from a deep left wing cross. The Stars fought back but could not break the visitors rear guard with Marc Davies and Mike Glover in particular thwarting any danger. The visitors doubled their lead on 70 minutes when the ever dangerous George Colvern found space in the box to score and minutes later Colvern put the game to bed when he pounced on a defensive slip to make it 3-0.
Instead of wilting the Stars launched numerous attacks and put Crannog under pressure during the final 15 minutes and the returning William Williams, missing through injury, inspired his team and both Siencyn Jones and Carwyn Richards saw long range efforts go narrowly wide, while Ifan Thomas headed wide from a couple of corners. Eventually the goal came as another long range effort by 16 year old Oscar Cayo Evans eluded Arwel Morgan for his first senior goal. Try as they might the Stars could not get the vital second to set up a tense ending as Marc Davies and his men held firm.
For the Stars, 18 year old custodian Rhodri Edwards keeps improving with every game while Marc Jones at centre back was the pick of the home team.
League leaders Newcastle Emlyn enjoyed their fifth win of the new campaign after they beat Felinfach by three goals to nil. Former Pencader favourite Craig Gordon opened the scoring and there were goals also for Cory Davies and Dion Phillips.
The Reds who were missing several players out dominated the early play but were unable to make the possession and the corners count until around the 35th minute when Gordon got his head to a corner to beat the keeper. Felinfach enjoyed a couple of half chances from distance but didn’t really trouble Oliver Evans in goal. Towards the end of the half Cory Davies a 16 year old making his first start for the first team was put through for a one on one and finished with confidence to put his team two goals ahead.
The Milkmen heaped the pressure on after the break but without creating any decent chances and the scoring was rounded off when Dion Phillips netted from close range midway through the second half.
Huw Jones made his first start of the season in midfield and he impressed but there were stand out performances from Cory and Arthur Davies, the latter very skilful midfielder and who has only just turned 17. The game ended in a sour end for the reds with Jake Kelly receiving a yellow card for a disagreement with the referee and he foolishly could not leave it and was shown another yellow and sent off. Kelly will now miss the crunch encounter with Lampeter this weekend.
Lampeter who are level on points with leaders Newcastle Emlyn remain the only unbeaten side in division one after they emerged narrow winners over Ffostrasol by 3-2. In form raider Jason Jones was on target for the fourth time in five games and there were goals also for Christy Gale and Robert Slawkowski. Iolo Thomas and Adam Jones were on target for the Wanderers.
In division two Aberporth emerged winners at Crannog by 3-1 thanks to goals from Liam Griffiths, Daniel Davies and Josh Townsend. Tony McDonald replied for the hosts whilst in division three St Dogmaels Reserves enjoyed a comfortable win over Felinfach Reserves by 12-3. Jonny James led the way with three of the goals and there was a hat trick also for Chris Jones-Dunbar. Tom Phillips and Macally Evan bagged a brace apiece and there were singles for Joe Wood and Dominic Williams. Nathan Evans-Tomkins with two goals and Nathan Bentham were on target for the milkmen.
