Unbeaten Cardigan Town took the festive season bragging rights and another step towards the Costcutter Ceredigion Football League title with a 2-0 win over arch-rivals St Dogmaels in a pulsating clash at King George V Playing Field.

Boasting the most successful run in the club’s history the Magpies completed half their league fixtures, banking maximum points for the eleventh time on the trot and leapfrogging their neighbours to the summit.

In addition Ben Davies and colleagues are involved in four cup competitions and although facing a tough Central Wales Cup assignment in Powys this weekend against higher league opponents Churchstoke of the Spar Mid Wales their chance has to be respected.

After persistent rain beforehand and during the game underfoot conditions were testing and it said a lot for the rivals that they served up attractive fare with an abundance of thrills and spills.

On the evidence of the 90 minutes the Magpies shaded matters and appeared to have something in hand despite conditions not conducive to their preferred free-flowing passing style.

That being the case Saints also had their moments and followers were left to rue former Town favourite and leading marksman Trefor Woodgate being denied by a super save from ex-Saints custodian Casey Walters during the first half when the homesters led by a solitary goal.

Woodgate’s volley had goal written all over it until Walters at full stretch finger-tipped the effort over the crossbar.

At the other end another Saints old boy John Lumb was twice off target before Cardigan got the opening goal through Kevin Morgan.

Lumb made ground down the flank before finding his fellow front-runner who dipped a shoulder and fired into the bottom corner giving Justin Smith no chance.

This Saturday’s cup tie will be the last Town fans will see of Morgan for more than a month as he embarks on a travelling holiday and will obviously be a loss to the side.

The visitors strove to get back on level terms before the break but were again denied by the excellent Walters.

As the game wore on home skipper Davies and Tom Jones pulled the strings in midfield and outshone their opposite numbers Adam Williams and John Curran while Woodgate’s early strike was about the only time he escaped the clutches of defender Osian Williams.

The lead was doubled during the second period after Saints ‘keeper Smith upended influential Tom Jones conceding a penalty. Diminutive midfielder James Evans duly obliged from the spot to seal his side’s 18th consecutive league and cup victory.

In the mid table game between Aberporth and Crannog at Parcllyn the visitors emerged 2-1 winners for their fifth success in 12 outings while Aberporth lost for the ninth time.

Shaun Evans and Lyall Spencer were the goal heroes for Crannog while Chris Jones was on target for the Airmen.

Lampeter retain third spot in the table eight points adrift of the leaders having played a game more after being held to a 3-3 draw at Felinfach.