Costcutter Ceredigion League Round-up / by JOHN ADEY

ST Dogmaels, chasing a hat-trick of Costcutter Ceredigion League titles, are back on top of division one after notching a 2-1 win against Crannog at the Urdd Centre in Llangrannog.

Seven days previously Crannog had lowered the colours of high-flying Llanboidy on their opponents’ patch, but it was a different story against the Teifi Estuary high-flyers who showed their pedigree in taking over top spot.

Saints went ahead in the opening quarter when free-kick specialist Adam Williams found front-runner Peter Almond – back in Saints colours and showing up well – who returned the ball to Williams to smash an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

The lead was doubled soon afterwards when Williams again pin-pointed a free-kick and this time Almond headed  home over the goalkeeper.

Just before the interval home striker George Colven chased a ball over the top and slotted past Aarron Walters, but the Saints held firm in the second half for their 10th league win.

Earlier in the season there were those who fancied Ffostrasol to challenge for the title, but despite a 5-2 win over visitors Cardigan Town, the Troedrhiw Park side, with five defeats, are running out of games.

Striker Carwyn Morgan fired the homesters ahead, Steffan Evans netted a penalty, awarded for a handling offence, and Dion Phillips got Ffostrasol’s third goal of the game.

Steffan Evans put the ball into his own net, but Dion Phillips was again on target for Wanderers, before Town striker Liam Doherty found the roof of the net with a speculative effort from near the halfway line.

Iolo Thomas wrapped up the points for the home team, who are one point adrift of the new league leaders, but having played five more matches.

In a relegation battle at Llanddewi Brefi, Dewi Stars and New Quay shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, with Rupert Geddes netting for Stars and Ben Young for the Seasiders.

Llandysul showed improvement on recent results by battling to a 3-3 draw against Felinfach in the Aeron Valley.

Joe Jenkins netted twice for the Milkmen, with Paul James getting the third goal, while Tudur Davies, Joshua Martin and Zak Morgan replied for the homesters.

Division Two strugglers Aberporth suffered another defeat when doing down 2-1 against Aberaeron Reserves at the Square Field.

Jack Lester and Dafydd Evans netted for the Black and Ambers, with leading marksman Mathew Smith replying for the Airmen.

Bargod Rangers  meanwhile kept up their challenge for promotion into division one with a comfortable 5-1 away win over Llandysul Reserves.

David Davies was on target for Llandysul, while the visitors netted their goals through Mathew Evans, Gethin Rees, Owain Thomas, Tom Rogers and Jac Griffiths.

In round one of the South Cards Cup it was close between Llanboidy Reserves and their visitors Ffostrasol Reserves, who prevailed 2-1.

Michael Wilcox and Dean Phillips hit the target for the visitors, with Chris Bowen getting the home goal.

In a round two tie visitors Crymych Reserves came out on top 5-2 against St Dogmaels Reserves.

Mathew Williams was the goalscoring hero for the Preseli men with a well-taken hat-trick, and the other marksmen were Aled Morgan and Gruffydd Edwards, with Leon James and Tommy Furbear netting for the home side.

This weekend's fixtures: Saturday, March 12:
Division One: Crannog v Dewi Stars; Crymych v New Quay; Felinfach v Cardigan Town; Ffostrasol v Lampeter; Llanboidy v St Dogmaels.
Division Two: Llechryd v Crannog Reserves; Llandysul Reserves v Aberaeron Reserves; St Dogmaels Reserves v Aberporth.
Division Three: Maesglas Reserves v Felinfach Reserves.
South Cards Cup First Round: Cardigan Reserves v Bargod. Second Round: Pencader v Maesglas.