Connah’s Quay Nomads earned their first JD Cymru Premier win under John Disney as they staged a second half comeback to triumph 3-2 over local rivals Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium.
The Silkmen looked to be in control of the contest as they led 2-0 at half-time after Elliott Reeves diverted in Jack Thorn’s shot and Ben Wynne’s effort from the edge of the box squeezed in at the near post.
Disney made four changes at half-time in an attempt to turn the contest around, and after Flint were denied a third goal when Reeves’ shot hit the post, one of the Nomads substitutes Jack Kenny won a penalty on 57 minutes after being hauled down in the box by Harry Owen.
Jack Flint would save Rhys Hughes’ effort from 12 yards, but the Silkmen failed to fully clear the danger and seconds later Kenny latched onto a loose ball in the box and rounded Flint to tap home. The hosts then levelled the game on 75 minutes as captain Chris Marriott met Zeli Ismail’s cross with a volley at the back post for his first goal for the club.
JD Cymru Premier
Flint made a number of key saves to keep the away side level in the match, but his resolve was finally broken in the 89th minute when Harry Franklin’s low cross was bundled home by Kenny to complete a stunning derby day turnaround.
There was also late drama at The Renewable Centre Stadium where Haverfordwest County earned their first league win of the season by triumphing 1-0 over Briton Ferry Llansawel.
It was a game of few clear cut chances, but the Bluebirds snatched victory in the third minute of stoppage time as Dan Hawkins’ deep corner was met by a thundering header from Alaric Jones which beat Will Fuller to condemn Ferry to their first defeat of the campaign.
Colwyn Bay took points off The New Saints for the first time in their history as the reigning champions were held to a 1-1 draw at the Blue Turtle Arena – where over 1,000 fans were in attendance for the second time already this season.
A goalless first half of few chances ended with TNS manager Craig Harrison being shown a straight red card for dissent.
However, the visitors took the lead 10 minutes into the second half as Jordan Williams bagged his third goal in two games by tapping home after Bay failed to clear Ryan Brobbel’s corner.
However, the Seagulls found their leveller on 69 minutes when Aeron Edwards, who won nine league titles with TNS, met Jamie Cummings’s cross and squeezed the ball beyond Nathan Shepperd.
Caernarfon Town remain top of the JD Cymru Premier following a 2-0 win over Bala Town at the Go Goodwins Stadium.
Following a goalless first half in which the Cofis hit the post, the turning point in the game came on 61 minutes when Bala midfielder Lassana Mendes was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle from behind on Danny Gosset.
Caernarfon took the lead nine minutes later when Phil Mooney’s strike from distance took a deflection off Harry Dean to wrongfoot Joel Torrance, before the hosts sealed their third consecutive victory late on as substitute Osebi Abadaki – who signed from Bala in the summer – tapped home the rebound from Sion Bradley’s saved effort.
Penybont climbed to second in the table with a 2-0 home win over Llanelli Town, who remain without a point from the first four matches of the season.
Bont needed just 12 minutes to take the lead as Mael Davies headed home from Kane Owen’s corner, while Llanelli came agonisingly close to an instant equaliser through Sean Cronin but a remarkable fingertip save from Archie Matthews kept out the close range effort.
Nathan Wood’s thunderous strike from distance rattled the crossbar, but the hosts soon had their second of the afternoon thanks to Chris Venables, who scored for the 23rd consecutive top-flight campaign by firing home from Wood’s corner.
Rio Booth and Alex Bonthron both hit the woodwork in the second half as Llanelli improved, but Bont saw out the contest to earn back-to-back victories.
Cardiff Met were denied their first win of the season as Robbie Willmott’s stoppage time equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw for Barry Town United at Cyncoed Campus.
Met found the breakthrough in the 63rd minute as Harri John’s saved effort fell straight into the path of Sam Jones, who made no mistake in firing home the rebound for his first league goal of the season.
However, there was late heartbreak for the Archers – who have now drawn all of their first four league games of the campaign – as Willmott raced onto Josh Bernard’s through ball and sent a low drive into the bottom corner.
Monday results in full:
Briton Ferry Llansawel 0-1 Haverfordwest County
Caernarfon Town 2-0 Bala Town
Cardiff Met 1-1 Barry Town United
Colwyn Bay 1-1 The New Saints
Penybont 2-0 Llanelli Town
Connah’s Quay Nomads 3-2 Flint Town United
