CRANNOG AND SAINTS OFF TO A FLIER

Costcutter Ceredigion League round up.

Crannog and St Dogmaels opened their new season in style with both teams racing into early leads and coasting to comfortable victories.

The Llangrannog men went ahead against Cardigan Town after only a few minutes when Eifion Jones scored from a rebound after his initial shot had been well saved by Steff Marsden and they added to this when Mathew Smith netted with a deft header from close range. Town hit back when Neil Evans fired home from the penalty spot and they played some smart football at times through the likes of Ben Davies, Josh Mellor and Llion Williams.

Speedy front runner George Colven grabbed a third goal for Crannog to all but kill off the Magpies before experienced campaigner Gary Davies completed the scoring for his team.

To their credit the young Town side under the direction of new manager Justin Evans kept battling away and they pulled another goal back with just two minutes to go when new signing Richard Cumming scored after a goal mouth scramble to make it 4-2.

At Cae Dandre the Saints were just too strong for Llanboidy on the night and showed that they are going to be serious title contenders once again by confidently playing the ball to feet and taking their chances when they arrived. Goals from Pete Almond, skipper Jason Williams and a brace from roving defender Chris Morgan completed the job.

Newcastle Emlyn were forced to work very hard before they overcame the challenge of local rivals Bargod Rangers in a feisty battle at Parc Puw.

This typical derby game played in slippery conditions produced plenty of meaty tackles early on but once the game settled down Emlyn wingers Jake Shakespeare and Iwan James made some inroads down the flanks and the reds took an early lead when Shakespeare slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

The visitors dominated much of the possession with Rangers restricted to the odd attack whilst at the other end Sam Skinner missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0.

However a second goal eventually arrived on fifty minutes when some neat play in midfield allowed full back Mathew Goodman to overlap and his cross into the path of youngster Iwan James was confidently tucked away on his debut.

Bargod came back strongly and were the better side for the first time in the game and they were rewarded with a penalty when Josh Grota was brought down in the box following a challenge from Goodman and John Curran. Former Emlyn raider Jake Kelly then reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

Rangers pushed hard for an equaliser and they looked like getting one but they were caught on the break when substitute Mikey John, another making his debut, finished calmly from inside the penalty box to seal the three points.

Swallows striker Chris Harries ensured that new manager Gwynfor Edwards enjoyed a successful start in charge of Llandysul as he scored a hat trick at Parc Troedrhiw. Edwards who replaced Chris Coco Davies pre season watched his new charges defeat Ffostrasol by 4-2. Jesse Clayton added the fourth goal.

In the Aeron valley derby match Felinfach edged out neighbours Aberaeron Reserves following an exciting encounter.

It was the visitors who were sharpest out of the blocks but the first real opening of the game fell to Kieron Boyes but his shot flew high over the bar when he looked certain to score. This was to prove costly soon afterwards when a free-kick near the half way was swung in by the black and ambers and it was then headed over stranded keeper Tomos James .

The milkmen hit back when Boyes was brought down and Joe Jenkins stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it all square at the break.

Felinfach started the second half well and scored very early on when after some good work by midfielder Gareth Pierce and Boyes, the ball was squared to winger Owain Dafydd to make it 2-1. Ten minutes later it was 3-1 after Boyes was sent clear and he passed the ball between the legs of the Aber custodian to give his team a two goal cushion. Aberaeron reduced the deficit with a late penalty but Felinfach held on for the win they deserved.