THE colloquialism ‘It ain’t over till the fat lady sings’ aptly applied as St Dogmaels snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and knocked Division One leaders Newcastle Emlyn Reserves out of the Easter Monday League Cup with a 2-1 win at Parc Emlyn writes John Adey.

Without regular central defenders Chris Thomas and Johnny Lewis the Teifi Estuary villagers brought in 17-year-old Jason Williams who hardly put a foot wrong throughout and in a man-of-the-match showing snuffed out the threat posed by Emlyn front-runner Phil Furney.

Seven days after lowering the colours of Rhayader Town Reserves in Powys to reach the next stage of the J Emrys Morgan Cup it was another first-rate team performance by the Greens who completed a win hat-trick.

In the final quarter home fans were anticipating their favourites going through as they held a solitary goal lead given them in first half injury time by inspirational midfielder Gary Davies.

Teenage goalkeeper Justin Smith who handled confidently throughout blocked Davies’s initial stab at the target but the following up midfielder prodded home the rebound.

Play swung from end to end during the second period and the result could have gone either way. But with barely a minute remaining Saints winger Tom Phillips, who six minutes earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, headed home at the far post to level matters.

There was more drama to follow in the second minute of injury time as the visitors gained an unlikely passage to the last eight. Creative midfield operator John Curran threaded a deck-level through pass to defender Aled Rees who finished with aplomb to the delight of his team-mates.

* Cardigan Town were the toast of the Costcutter League at the weekend after a superb 4-3 Central Wales Cup round two victory against Newbridge-on-Wye of the Spar Mid Wales League Division Two. And what’s more the Magpies pulled off the giant-killing on their opponents’ own Penbont stamping ground.

Although it was an all-round team effort that carried the day special mention should be made of striker John Lumb who led the home defence a merry dance and his efforts were rewarded with a hat-trick. Also on top form for the visitors was central midfielder Kevin Morgan.

It was nip and tuck early on when Town went ahead when Lumb was in exactly the right spot to turn the ball past Andrew Leonard but Iwan Jones squared matters before Newbridge nudged ahead again through Iwan Jones.

Refusing to throw in the towel Cardigan drew level through Lumb and during a purple patch Lumb completed his hat-trick and Daniel Nash lashed home a fourth goal.

Rhodri Jones hit a third goal for the homesters near the end and with the referee looking at his watch Iwan Jones sent a shot thudding against the Cardigan crossbar with goalkeeper Aled Watkins beaten.

In round three of the J Emrys Morgan Cup Bargod Rangers went down 6-4 at Parc Puw against Llangedwyn of the Montgomeryshire Amateur League who were conquerors of Cardigan Town on penalties in the previous round

Lampeter Town met with better fortune in round two of Cwpan Coffa Dai Dynamo Davies when brushing aside Llanybydder 4-1.

On the league front New Quay’s hopes of winning the Division One title for the fourth season on the bounce are all but over after the Seasiders were held 1-1 by Crannog at the Urdd Centre.

Midfielder Chris Welch was on target for the homesters with front-runner Bryn Evans replying for Quay.

Llandysul put themselves in the right frame of mind for the visit of Newcastle Emlyn Reserves this Saturday with a 2-0 win over Maesglas. Leading marksman Simon Davies fired the Swallows ahead and when the pacey raider was unfairly brought down inside the penalty area Dean Jones beat Graham Keen from the spot.

As Aberporth beat basement boys Aberaeron Reserves 4-1 at Parcllyn marksmen for the Airmen were Andy Gaunt who bagged a brace, Adam Smith and Tom Clemas.

Llanboidy went to the top of the Second Division after a 6-4 win over Llanon at Cae Dandre. Marksmen for the West Carmarthenshire high-flyers were Gerallt Dafydd, Alex Wilson, Caleb Young, Aiden Rainbow, Emyr Davies and Rhys Jenkins.

Previous leaders Felinfach went down 3-1 at Ffostrasol where Daniel Davies, Gethin Davies and Rhodri Hughes were goal-getters for Wanderers.