FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

Just a few seasons ago Newcastle Emlyn proudly carried the local flag in the Welsh League and after relegation back to the Costcutter the prospect of the Reds finishing outside the top three would not have been seriously considered.

But that’s the fate of the club which boasts some of the finest facilities outside senior football in Wales and just when the fortunes appeared at a low ebb Owain Thomas’s charges were thumped 6-0 by newly-crowned champions St Dogmaels in a midweek Division One encounter in the north Pembrokeshire village.

The visitors’ cause was not enhanced by having two players red-carded by referee Josh Townsend.

Saints midfielder Rhys Jones sustained a serious leg injury and will be out of action for the remainder of the season.

For the homesters, who led 2-0 after the opening 45 minutes the marksmen were Louis Harding who bagged a brace, Rhys Jones, Craig Williams, Elliott Wigley and Luke Jones.

Llandysul reached the next stage with a comfortable 5-2 win over Aberaeron Reserves at Llandysul Park while Crannog went through with a 2-1 win over Felinfach after extra time – it was 0-0 after 90 minutes.

Hit by a string of injuries and the unavailability of players St Dogmaels struggled to raise a side for a league game at Lampeter on Saturday and went down 4-0 against a solid outfit.

The rivals renew their rivalry tomorrow (Wednesday) in a Bay Cup quarter-final tie at North Road.

New Quay will meet Dewi Stars in the final of the South Cards Cup – a competition for clubs in divisions two and three – after the former emerged 5-0 winners over visitors Crannog Reserves and Stars were 5-1 away winners over Llanboidy Reserves.