FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

During the run-up to the Costcutter League Division One match-of-the-day between leaders St Dogmaels and second-placed Newcastle Emlyn half-a-dozen or so Saints players were carrying knocks and their involvement in doubt.

But in the event the pacesetters and reigning champions fielded a strong side and showed in a 2-0 win at Parc Emlyn that it is going to take something special to knock them off their perch and relieve them of the title.

Emlyn went into the clash boasting a hundred per cent record after five games, but despite a fully-committed showing were forced to play second fiddle for most of the 90 minutes as the north Pembrokeshire aristocrats turned on the style.

It was a superb all-round team performance by the visitors who never looked in danger of slipping up and with a shade more steadiness in the final quarter of the pitch could have won by a wider margin.

After front-runner Peter Almond headed a Chris Morgan cross straight at the goalkeeper Saints went ahead when Josh Mellor broke down the left and crossed for right-winger Owen Williams to crash a header into the top corner of the net.

The visitors doubled their advantage before the interval through Almond who met a free kick taken by influential midfielder Adam Williams and directed a low header into the net.

As Saints dictated during the second period Aarron Williams and Owen Williams went close to increasing the lead.

With a number of players attending the funeral of former Cardigan Rugby Club player Marcus Heighton who died in tragic circumstances, the game between Aberporth and Cardigan Town was put off until Sunday.

After two inspections the pitch at Parcllyn was deemed playable and Town were pleased about that as they produced a performance brimming with skilful football and romped to a 5-2 win.

The performance will undoubtedly instil confidence as Town attempt to emulate neighbours St Dogmaels this coming Saturday when they go to Parc Emlyn.

To their credit Aberporth stuck to the task and were rewarded for their efforts with two late goals, but the Magpies shone all over the pitch.

It was 3-0 and game virtually over after the first 45 minutes with the visitors leading by three goals and apparently on auto pilot.

Talented teenage striker Liam Doherty bagged a brace of goals for the visitors and the others came courtesy of John Curran who lobbed goalkeeper John Banks from 30 yards, player/manager and dominant midfielder James Evans and Steff Davies.

Despite only one success in five attempts Felinfach showed enough to suggest they can compete with the best around.

And the Milkmen came good at Felinfach Playing Fields when springing a 3-1 win over Llandysul who have hardly set the scene alight in early fixtures.

Central midfielder and skipper Rhys John netted twice for the Aeron Valley side and ace goalscorer Kieran Boyes was also on target.

Having picked up only three points from five fixtures it was not surprising that Dewi Stars were anxious to put points on the board and they did that with a hard-earned 2-1 away win over Ffostrasol.

Wanderers must have wondered how they did not take all three points after controlling the game for lengthy periods, especially during the second half when the visitors were under the cosh and were indebted to goalkeeper Rhodri Edwards and skipper Steffan Owen at the heart of the defence.

The homesters went ahead in the opening exchanges when Caleb Rees headed home at a corner and that’s how it stayed until ten minutes from the break when Daniel Jones netted at a corner to bring the visitors level and soon afterwards Shenkin Jones spotted the home goalkeeper off his line and lobbed the ball into the net from fully 40 yards.

Last season’s league runners-up Crannog made an inauspicious start to the season with one win a draw and four defeats.

But the Llangrannog-based side had a change of fortune when springing a 1-0 win over Lampeter Town at North Road where top marksman George Colven netted the all-important goal which moved the coastal villagers into seventh in the table on seven points.

Maesglas joined New Quay at the head of affairs in Division Two after a 3-0 away win over Aberaeron Reserves.

For the unbeaten Blues the division’s leading marksman Rhodri George, John Midgley and Tom Gardener were the goal-getters.