Barry Town United 1 Connah's Quay Nomads 1
Manager Andy Morrison rued a missed opportunity after league leaders Connah’s Quay were held to a 1-1 draw at title rivals Barry Town United.
Despite having their chances and dominating large spells, the Nomads had to settle for a share of the spoils after Michael Bakare cancelled out Jonathan Hood’s opener for Barry, with both goals coming in the first half.
The draw means the Nomads are now two points clear at the top, but Morrison said: “We had five, six and seven decent opportunities, but were not clinical enough and did not ask their keeper enough questions.
“Barry have been exceptional at home this season, but we went down there and pummelled them, which is testament to our performance, but we couldn’t get that second goal.”
Barry, buoyed by their last gasp 2-2 draw at TNS the week before, were in front after 15 minutes when a break down the left saw Jordan Cotterill pull the ball back for Hood to drive home a low shot.
But the Nomads were back on terms nine minutes later when John Danby sent a free kick into the box from half way and Bakare smashed home a curling 15-yard shot via the bar after home keeper Mike Lewis had fumbled following a collision with his defender Luke Cooper.
The visitors could have been ahead at the break, with Adam Barton glancing a header against the post while Andy Owens failed to find the target from another promising position.
The Nomads lay siege for long spells in the second period, looking particularly threatening from Jake Phillips throw-ins, but lacked the decisive touch when it mattered.
Michael Wilde headed against the bar and Danny Harrison was also denied by the woodwork with a crisp strike from outside the box. Chris Hugh did likewise for Barry at the other end when his fizzing 30-yarder cannoned against the bar, but for most part the Nomads were on the front foot.
Their efforts drew a blank, with Barry showing plenty of resolve at the back to survive some late goalmouth skirmishes to earn a share of the spoils.
Llandudno 4 Llanelli Town 2
Llandudno produced a late, late show to keep alive their hopes of Welsh Premier League survival by overcoming basement rivals Llanelli 4-2 in a dramatic finish at Maesdu Park.
It looked like Tudno - having been reduced to 10 men - would have to settle for a point as the Reds clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit to level in the first minute of injury time.
But there was another twist to a topsy turvy Play-Off Conference encounter when Danny Hughes pounced to regain the lead moments later before Alun Webb settled the issue by completing his hat-trick in the dying seconds of stoppage time.
Victory took Tudno off the bottom of the table, but they remain nine points adrift of the next side above them, Carmarthen Town, with six games remaining.
Assistant boss Mark Cowan praised his side’s fighting spirit, adding: “After going down to 10 men and to concede an equaliser a minute into injury time, the lads showed real heart and desire to win it at the end.”
An incident packed encounter saw the hosts spurn a golden chance to take an early lead when George Harry’s penalty was saved low down by keeper Scott Coughlan after Webb had been brought down in the box.
After bossing the early stages, Tudno almost fell behind when the visitors hit the post with a headed effort while forcing Shaun Pearson into a good save moments later.
The breakthrough came on 58 minutes when Les Davies fed Webb, who broke beyond the defence before slotting a calm finish past Coughlan.
Webb then gave the hosts some breathing space with his second of the game from close range after good work from Toby Jones.
He went close to a hat-trick when denied by Coughlan, but Llanelli got themselves back in the game with a Chris Jones penalty on 77 minutes after Mike Pearson was ruled to have fouled in the box and subsequently sent off.
Down to 10 men, the home side looked to have missed a chance of victory as sub Andy Hill struck a leveller for Llanelli a minute into injury time.
But Tudno showed their resolve as Hughes immediately restored the lead before Webb completed a vital win
and his hat-trick six minutes into injury
time.
Carmarthen Town 0 Cefn Druids 1
Cefn Druids took a giant step towards safety after making it back-to-back wins in the league for the first time this season when prevailing 1-0 at Carmarthen Town.
Defender Nathan Peate, returning from a three-match ban, headed the only goal of the game on 72 minutes to secure a third win of the season against the Old Gold.
Victory at Richmond Park lifted the Ancients above their hosts in the Play-Off Conference, and boss Huw Griffiths hailed the efforts of his charges against tough opposition.
He said: “We created enough chances to have been up at half time and, although they would feel disappointed to hit the bar with a header late on, we fully deserved the win.”
The visitors started brightly, with openings for John Owen and Dean Rittenberg. Owen failed to capitalise when through on goal before Naim Arsan threatened from 20 yards, but keeper Lee Idzi was equal to his effort.
After the break, Arek Piskorski, sub for injured Owen, was denied by Idzi, while Kenny put another chance just past the post. Peate powered his header into the net from a corner. Carmarthen almost drew level with a header, but Kenny for the visitors was denied by Idzi in the dying moments.
Watch: Andy Morrison after Connah's Quay vs Prestatyn
Bala Town 2 Newtown 2
Bala Town ’s second half onslaught salvaged a point, but the Lakesiders could have had more to show for their efforts in their first competitive action at Maes Tegid in six weeks.
Having taken the lead through Kieran Smith’s 16th minute opener, they trailed at the break to goals from Craig Williams (29) and Callum Roberts (36), but improved significantly in the second period, with Henry Jones levelling on 69 minutes, but their sustained pressure was unable to bring a winner.
“You’ve got to try and win every home game, so it was two points dropped, particularly the way the second half went,” said Bala’s man-of-the-match Anthony Stephens. “They hardly got out of their half in the second half, and on a different night we could have gone on to win the game, but that point could still be useful come the end of the season.”
Playing their first league game since January 12, Bala start brightly with top scorer Steven Tames threatening, and it was the striker who teed up Smith to slot the opening goal on 16 minutes. But the Lakesiders lost their early intensity as Newtown hit back to go in front at the interval through Williams’ free kick and a Roberts strike.
Introducing Ian Sheridan and Evan Horwood for the second half meant Bala provided more purpose going forward. Midfielder Jones put a golden chance just wide, Stephens then drove a shot inches over and Tames was denied by Robins keeper Jack Perry.
Sustained pressure eventually paid off as Jones netted from sub Horwood’s pass, but a winning goal proved elusive as Newtown held firm to collect a point.
With games to make up, Bala, who stay sixth in the table, head to Connah’s Quay Nomads on Tuesday as they attempt to close the gap on the sides above them.
