Ceredigion Costcutter League Round up
Runaway leaders St Dogmaels managed to carve out a narrow victory away at Felinfach but they were forced to do it the hard way as the Milkmen proved to be a real handful and the match was locked at 1-1 with ten minutes to go.
League top scorer Louis Harding got the Saints off to a perfect start when he latched on to a pin point cross from Craig Williams and he finished confidently to bag his ninth goal of the season. Harding was presented with another chance soon afterwards but he slipped as he tried to place his shot past the keeper and there were several missed opportunities with midfielder Rhys Jones going close as well as Peter Almond. Felinfach absorbed the pressure and threw everything into attack on the counter and this eventually paid off for them on 78 minutes when from a breakaway the hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Nigel Edwards and this was duly dispatched to make it all square.
The Saints, feeling pressure for the first time in many months kept their composure and they hit back when midfielder Adam Williams fired home from a free kick and the game was made safe late on when Jack Thomas broke down the flank and his cross was met by Harding to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
There was plenty of controversy at the King George field when Crannog were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the match with the scores locked at 1-1.Well respected official Alan Thomas adjudged that Magpies keeper Steff Marsden had committed a foul in the box and former Cardigan defender Rhys Davies duly slotted the ball home from the spot to sneak the verdict for the visitors following a very close fought encounter.
It was Crannog who opened the scoring in this entertaining affair when veteran striker Gary Davies slipped the ball past advancing custodian Marsden on the half hour mark. Cardigan though hit back just after the break when Matt Leonard headed powerfully home but Crannog were presented with several decent opportunities to put the game to bed but they didn’t make them count.
Town who were well led by experienced campaigner Ben Davies, Josh Mellor and Joost Burki appeared to be heading for at least a share of the spoils. However with just eight minutes remaining referee Thomas awarded a controversial penalty to Crannog after keeper Marsden, who appeared to have cleared the ball away legitimately in the afternoon darkness was penalised. Thomas though was of the opinion that it had been a tackle from behind and he pointed to the spot. Davies then calmly netted to clinch the three points for his team before Thomas brandished a couple of red cards following a few handbags thrown right at the end.
Llanboidy produced one of the shock results of the day after they lowered the colours of Llandysul at Cae Dandre. The Swallows had been enjoying a fine run in the league with just two defeats in eight games but they came up against a determined home outfit who have impressed many with the standard of their football this term.
There were none better than Ross McDonald who worked tirelessly throughout in a good all round team showing. Frazer Wyatt and Dafydd Makepeace were the two players on target for Llanboidy.
Reigning champions Lampeter Town coasted to an 8-1 victory over Aberaeron Reserves to lift them up into third place in the table. Front runner Gethin Hunter led the way with two well taken goals and there was a brace apiece for his fellow forward Jason Jones and debutant midfielder Bryn Jones with the latter scoring from his first touch after coming on as a replacement. Also on target for the north road men were Christy Gale and Trystan Potter.
Ffostrasol enjoyed a rare win over a Newcastle Emlyn outfit that seem to be losing their way at the moment with several players unavailable. The Wanderers who didn’t create that many chances broke the deadlock when Adam Jones netted but Emlyn dominated possession for long periods but without really threatening. The hosts made it 2-0 midway through the second half when Iwan Jones was on target and this was to prove sufficient to secure the three points they deserved
Division two leaders Aberporth enjoyed a convincing win over St Dogmaels Reserves with striker Mike King bagging a couple of goals for the airmen. Former Crannog midfielder Mathew Smith was also amongst the scorers as was Dan Nichol, Matthew Storer and Chris Jones.
Dewi Stars raider Guto Green added two more goals to his tally as he helped steer his side to a 4-0 success away at Llandysul Reserves. Oscar Cayo Evans and Gethin Thomas were also on target for a Stars team who have found some decent form of late.
Maesglas bounced back following a couple of poor results with a comfortable 6-1 win over New Quay although the score line didn’t quite do the visitors justice as they played some excellent football at times. Garfield Davies capped a fine performance with a brace of goals, Marcus Dean went one better with a hat-trick and 16 year old Sion Crowshaw claimed his first senior goal.
Blues keeper Dan Phillips making his season debut between the sticks also impressed but he could do little to prevent Glen Baldwin grabbing a well deserved consolation goal for the seasiders in the dying minutes.
