Following our two recent victories, at home to Connah's Quay and away at Caernarfon, we remain nine points clear at the top of the League of Wales, having accrued 44 points from 18 matches.
Inter have consolidated their position in second place in the table, with two further victories in recent weeks. Away at Afan Lido, Inter took an early lead through Simon Dyer, and when Paul Evans added a further goal a thirteen minutes later, it was unlikely that the home side would recover, and spring an unlikely over Inter. On the back of that win, Inter were at home last weekend, entertaining Haverfordwest County in a fogbound Cardiff Athletic Stadium. In a close and hard fought match, Inter won 1-0, with a Paul Evans goal. Additionally, Inter sealed a place in the semi-final of the Gilbert Cup a few weeks ago, with a 2-1 win over Cwmbran Town. Cwmbran had taken the lead, but Inter hit back with a goal from Paul Evans and a second half winner.
FRIDAY NIGHT HORROR FOR CROWS
Below them, in third, Cwmbran are looking over their shoulders to check that no-one is stealthily overtaking them. Their match at fourth-placed Aberystwyth was postponed a fortnight ago, but Cwmbran came off second best last week when they entertained Afan Lido at the Cwmbran Athletic Stadium. Cwmbran are unbeaten away from home in the LoW, which makes their lack of form at home quite surreal. Following on from a 6-3 humbling by Rhayader back in November, Afan Lido did the same to the Crows, taking revenge for a 4-0 Friday night defeat in September. Cwmbran lost the match 4-1, with only an injury time penalty, converted by Chris Pike, to spare their blushes. If they should fall outside a European position, then they know which games should have been won.
Aberystwyth have also had a near barren fortnight, having had that home game with Cwmbran called off. However, they were able to play at Conwy United's Morfa ground last Saturday. Aber beat the North Walians 3-1 last September, but weren't able to match that last weekend. The Seasiders took the lead through a Kevin Morrison goal in the 14th minute, but the home side struck back in the second half to force a 1-1 draw with Aber.
SAINTS CHASE EURO SPOT
Total Network Solutions moved up to fifth place in the LoW, winning last Saturday despite a defeat the previous week. Bangor City did the double over the Saints, winning 2-1 at Farrar Road. T.N.S had taken the lead with a 39th minute goal from Garry Evans, but Bangor scored two late goals to send their fans home happy. Back in Llansantffraid, it was a different story, as T.N.S comfortably beat a ten-man Holywell Town. The Saints took the lead after 7 minutes, when Gareth Wilson volleyed home. They received an unexpected bonus in the form of a Holywell sending-off, but it wasn't until ten minutes from the end that T.N.S were able to capitalise upon their numerical advantage. Darren Ryan scored that goal to give the Saints a 2-0 win, and take them a point behind Aberystwyth.
Newtown slipped to sixth place, having not played last Saturday. They entertained Haverfordwest County at Latham Park a fortnight ago, but only earnt a single point from the match. The West Walians had taken the lead, but Newtown hit back with Nicky Ward scoring a 13th minute penalty. The match ended as a 1-1 draw. Newtown's fixtured match last Saturday was a game against Bangor City, but that match was played back in the Autumn, when the two sides had a free date.
UNBEATEN RECORD BEATEN
Caernarfon Town lost their unbeaten home record last week, but still find themselves in seventh place in the League of Wales. They are two points adrift of Newtown, with 26 points in 18 matches. Having been the odd side out a fortnight ago, they lost 4-0 to Barry this week, with former Cofi favourite, Eifion Williams, scoring two of Barry's goals.
Our opponents today, Caersws, are in eighth place, following an away draw at Rhyl a fortnight ago. They went a goal down to the Lilywhites, but Andrew Whitticase's 46th minute goal was enough to earn the Bluebirds a point.
Bangor City are in ninth place, following their 2-1 win over Total Network Solutions two weeks ago. The Blues were 1-0 down at half-time, but fought back in the second half, with a 70th minute strike from Thomas being followed by an 81st minute goal from Tommy Mutton. That goal saw them do the double over the Llansantffraid side. City were another side who didn't play last Saturday.
WEST WALIAN RIVALS
Under the shrewd management of Tomi Morgan, Carmarthen have slowly moved up the table. Their match at home to Conwy a fortnight ago was cancelled due to the state of the pitch at Richmond Park, but they took full points at Connah's Quay Nomads' temporary home of Belle Vue, Rhyl. Morgan himself got on the scoresheet, with a 37th minute strike, and one of the players he brought from his abortive management stint at Rhayader, Richard Parker, set up the second goal, his cross leading to Sion Meredith scoring a 90th minute goal in the 2-0 win.
Their local rivals, Haverfordwest County are in eleventh, following a defeat away at Inter Cabletel last week. Also on their travels a fortnight ago, Haverfordwest had visited Newtown, and taken a point away from Latham Park. Harris scored for the Blues after seven minutes, but Newtown struck back six minutes later. Haverfordwest weren't helped by a sending-off, but they held on for a point. In Cardiff, they weren't so lucky, with a single goal being the difference between the two sides.
After a good December, Conwy have failed to make it a Happy New Year. They sit in twelfth place, having faced both Barry and Aberystwyth in the past few weeks. Their match at Carmarthen was postponed two weeks ago, while at home to Aber, they took a point off the visitors. They had gone a goal behind to the mid-Walians, but a 75th minute goal from Smith was enough to earn a point at home.
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
Connah's Quay Nomads are a point below them, but have a number of games in hand, due to the cancellation of many of the games due to be played at their Deeside Stadium. A fortnight ago, they visited Barry, where a single goal defeat sent them home pointless. Since then, they've met Newtown in the F.A.W Premier Cup, losing 2-1, and were defeated by Carmarthen Town 2-0 last Saturday. Those two 'home' matches were both played at Rhyl's Belle Vue ground, but it is hoped that they will return to their normal home at Kelsterton in the near future.
Their erstwhile landlords are beneath them, following a productive fortnight for Rhyl. At home to Caersws, their manager, Adie Jones, showed the way with a 29th minute goal, but the visitors equalised soon into the second half. Then, away from home at bottom of the table, Rhayader, they won 2-1 with a last minute goal. A free-kick from Adie Jones hit the bar but was converted by Gary Curtis after only four minutes of the match. However, the Lilywhites allowed the mid-Walians to get back into the match, and it wasn't until the 90th minute that they earnt all three points. A cross from Phil Patterson was met by former Conwy striker, Leighton Sumner, and he headed home for the winner.
PROMOTED SIDES STRUGGLING DESPITE LIDO WIN
Afan Lido are fresh from their surprise victory over Cwmbran Town, and it allowed the Port Talbot club to move a place up the table. However, the previous week had seen them lose 2-0 at home to Inter Cabletel, and with only one win in the past twelve matches, it was time for a precious win. Four different players, Parry, O'Leary, Pattton and Hurley, found the net last week, with only a 90th minute goal for Cwmbran ruining their clean sheet. Interestingly, Lido's three away wins have been at Barry, Inter and Cwmbran, all well-maintained playing surfaces.
However, Lido's place has been taken by another promoted side - Holywell Town. The Wellmen have taken one point from their matches in the last fortnight. That came from a home draw with Rhayader Town two weeks ago. Peter Hughes gave the Wellmen a first half lead, and Gareth Crofts made it 2-0 midway through the second half. Unfortunately, for the Wellmen, a short burst of life from Rhayader saw the visitors score twice and the game ended as a 2-2 draw. Then, visiting Total Network Solutions, they went down to a 2-0 defeat, despite the best efforts of Peter Hughes upfront.
RHAYADER REMAIN BOTTOM
Rhayader remain bottom of the table, despite the employment of a third manager for the season - former Barry, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr boss, John Lewis. Away at Holywell a fortnight ago, Lewis made his influence felt - being sent off in his first game in charge! Nevertheless, his side recovered from being two goals down to pull back to 2-2. Former Merthyr favourite, David Webley, scored the first for Rhayader, with a second goal coming from Lancaster three minutes later. Although that was a point won at Halkyn Road, they dropped a point back at their Weirglodd home. Rhyl went ahead after only four minutes, but a shot from Lyn Owen brought Rhayader level again. However, in injury time, Rhyl scored a winning goal, leaving Rhayader bottom of the League of Wales, two points behind Holywell, but with three games in hand.
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