Ceredigion Costcutter League round up.
Division 1
Any hopes that Newcastle Emlyn had of adding the Costcutter League championship to their trophy cabinet took a huge blow at the School Field after St Dogmaels ran out convincing winners by 4-1.
The reds who lifted the J.Emrys Morgan Cup recently were generally outplayed and out thought through most of this entertaining game but they didn’t do themselves any favours by conceding two very soft goals.
Manager Owain Thomas will have been particularly miffed at one long range free kick that floated over his keeper and into an empty net and also the final goal which was well taken by Louis Harding in the closing minutes but which should never have been allowed to happen.
The visitors though as expected made a decent start and went ahead with a superb goal from Dion Phillips whose well timed shot flew past keeper Carl Woodhouse. The Saints though hit back very soon afterwards when the hard working Dan Jones netted and there was little to choose between the teams during the opening quarter.
However the game changed on the half hour mark when hosts midfielder Aaron Williams volleyed home a miscued clearance from a corner with the ball which was not hit particular hard, floating past everyone in the box and into the net. Rhys Jones then enjoyed a fine chance down the slope but his well struck shot flew over the crossbar.
The heat was turned up just before the break when Saints skipper Jason Williams reacted angrily to a poor challenge from behind and was fortunate to get away with just a yellow card but referee Llyr Evans, who had a good game, chose the sensible option for a player who was enjoying an outstanding match in the heart of the Saints defence and who is fast becoming one of the outstanding performers in the division.
St Dogmaels went 3-1 up early on in the second half when an innocuous looking free kick floated in by Adam Williams from half way was allowed to sneak directly over the head of the Emlyn keeper for an absolute gift for the greens and at 3-1 it looked game over with the reds not playing well and fast running out of ideas on a tricky surface.
Far too many passes were over hit and the ball was continually handed back on a plate to the home side with the Emlyn front runners relying far too often on the money ball rather than giving their midfield some decent options and this led to great frustration.
The reds though to their credit did come back strongly as their passing began to stick and they should have reduced the deficit when Cory Davies was set up with just the keeper to beat following a superb run and cross from Phillips and minutes later Adam Williams cleared a Jake Kelly drive off the goal line. On another day it could well have been all set at 3-3 but on this occasion St Dogmaels managed to clear their lines.
The final nail in the coffin was hammered home late on when a short corner was passed quickly to Harding and he was given time and space on the edge of the box to pick his spot, which he did with aplomb. Harding who had been struggling all the previous night with severe toothache was kept relatively quiet by one of the games outstanding players in Huw Jonah Jones but on this rare moment he made the most of the space that he was given and his goal killed off the Emlyn challenge.
League leaders Lampeter Town took a giant step towards lifting the title when they edged out Llandysul by 2-1 but they were forced to hold their nerve and weather a storm from the Swallows in the closing stages before they secured three very important points.
Town manager Terry Jones was full of praise for his players after their showing at Parc Tir Y Dref and commented: “We produced a great team performance and fully deserved our three points on the day.
“We were up against it late on but thankfully we held on and we just need to focus on the games that we have left and hopefully other results will go in our favour.”
There was very little to choose between the two teams in the third quarter but the all important second goal arrived on the hour mark when Town striker Jason Jones squared the ball to Christy Gale whose late run from deep was not picked up by his opposite number and he scrambled the ball home.
Lampeter felt that they should have been given the opportunity to go three up with a big shout for a penalty but play was waived on and Llandysul hit back with a goal thirteen minutes from time to set up an exciting finale. The right foot curler from Josh Baker was worth waiting for and followed a fine passage of play by the Swallows with Dean Jones and Lewis Jones instrumental in setting up Baker just outside the penalty box.
Chances were created at both ends late on as the two title challengers went all out for a goal but the visitors managed to hold on for the win they just about deserved.
In division two Newcastle Emlyn Reserves edged out Aberporth by the odd goal in three with Gethin Harries and Danny Williams on target for the reds whilst at Maes Radley the honours were shared between Maesglas and Lampeter Reserves.
In division three goals from Bart Kasperski, Iolo Clement, Geth Scourfield and Dafydd Jones helped steer Llanboidy Reserves to a 4-0 win over St Dogmaels Reserves whilst at Parc Troedrhiw Ffostrasol Reserves beat Maesglas Reserves by two goals to nil.