Saturday 3 and 10 March
"All kinds of results to catch up on; its been an exciting couple of weeks in both the league and cup competitions.
We start in Cardigan, where Bow Street tumbled out of the Cwpan Ceredigion at the round 4 stage thanks to two Simon Jones goals. Mark Evans got the Magpies consolation; this was to be the start of a difficult couple of weeks for the Cae Piod side.
Meanwhile in the Cambrian Tyres League cup round 3 Padarn survived a close game to overcome Division Two side Machynlleth by three goals to two. Paul Benjamin (2) and Damien Knight were on target for the first division strugglers, while Sion Jones grabbed both of Mach's goals.
In the Len & Julia Newman Memorial Trophy Round 2, Talybont disposed of Bow Street Reserves 4-1 thanks to goals from Seiriol Evans, Carl Jones, Anthony Southgate and Rob Southgate, with Joe Walters replying for Bow Street Res.
Away from the cups and into the league, my 2-2 prediction was sadly deficient as Penrhyncoch Reserves smashed Llanilar by six goals to nil at Castle Hill Park. Gareth Hughes (2), Gareth Kelsall-Hughes, Deian Thomas, Ashley Stephens and Dylan James were the scorers in Penrhyn's rout. Suprisingly the game was actually close at half-time, but Llanilar, perhaps mindful of their upcoming Emrys Morgan semi-final, substituted some key players, leaving the rest to be put to the sword.
On the other hand, I did get the Penparcau-Aberdyfi score right, as the home side emerged 3-1 victors at Min-y-Ddol, thanks to strikes from Steve Wellsby, Ishmael Abberton and Matthew Davies, with Sam Evison getting Aberdyfi's consolation.
Tregaron also took advantage of Bow Street's cup involvement to move closer in the league with a 4-0 victory over Llanrhystud. Rhydian Garner (2), Caradog Daniel and Dorian Coleman were on the mark for the Turfs, who moved to within four points of the leaders.
In Division Two, both the leading sides enjoyed big wins, Aber Town Thirds defeated Corris 7-0, and Tywyn/Bryncrug Res hammered Trawsgoed 12-0. Third placed Penrhyn Thirds defeated Penparcau Res 4-3, UWA Thirds defeated Talybont Res 4-0, and Dolgellau Res overcame Llanon 4-1.
The disappointing weather in midweek unfortunately put paid to Llanilar's Emrys Morgan Cup semi-final with Rhosgoch on Tuesday night, but Tregaron were able to advance to the final of the Cambrian Tyres League Cup on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over Bont at Penrhyn's Cae Baker ground. John Evans (2), Cerith Davies and Dorian Coleman scored for Tregaron, with Wayne Gornall and Ben Jenkins on the mark for Bont.
Unfortunately for Bont, it didn't get any better on Saturday, as strikes from Martin Williams (2), Gerwyn Loosely and Mark Evans saw Bow Street record a 4-1 victory at Cae Piod. The loss sees Bont drop further into mid-table obscurity, while Bow Street moved six points clear at the top.
That was because Tregaron could only grab a point at Penrhyn, and that was only thanks to an own goal, in reply to a Dylan James strike, which secured a 1-1 draw.
We are now therefore in an interesting position in the league. Bow Street lead Tregaron by six points, but the Turfs have two games in hand. Goal difference favours Tregaron, but only by four goals - not a lot in the district league.
Penparcau could yet have a say in the matter, as they are just a further point back, but they have a game less in hand than Tregaron, and they will be relying on slips by the top two. As for Penrhyn, it seems the points deduction has put the title just beyond their reach.
Elsewhere, Llanilar won an important bottom of the table clash by defeating Padarn 3-1. Martin Davies, Peter Tooze and Richard Pugh got Llanilar's goals; Padarn's reply coming via Jason Davies.
Things now look bleak for Padarn, three points adrift at the bottom, and only Aberdyfi have played more games. Llanilar are still a point behind Aberdyfi but retain five games in hand on them.
UWA Reserves are also in the lower reaches, and their position was not improved with a 2-0 loss to Dolgellau at Blaendolau.
Dolgellau have surprisingly played only eleven games in the league this season - if they won all their games in hand on Bow Street they would be in second place!
It's something that could add an interesting dynamic to the end of the season - they could have a big impact on the teams at both ends of the table."
Elsewhere, Talybont and Llanrhystud fought out a 2-all draw. Dafydd Davies and Dean Tinsley were on the mark for Llanrhystud, with Jamie Barron grabbing both Talybont's goals. Both teams remain fairly comfortably in mid-table.
In Division Two, there was a surprise as Dolgellau Reserves held Aber Town Thirds to a 3-all draw at Blaendolau.
This enabled Tywyn/Bryncrug Reserves to stretch their lead to four points at the top with a 2-1 win at Machynlleth. The Thirds retain two games in hand, however. Elsewhere, third-placed Penrhyn Thirds defeated Llanilar Res 2-0, Llanon gained a 4-1 win over fellow strugglers Corris, Trawsgoed overcame Penparcau Res 3-1, and UWA Thirds and Bow Street Reserves fought out a 2-2 draw.
In the Central Wales Challenge Cup, Penparcau sadly tumbled out at the fifth round stage with a 2-1 loss at Four Crosses.
That brings us to the big Emrys Morgan semi-final between Bow Street and Tregaron. In many ways this was the biggest game of the season - the holders against the pretenders in the Cup, first v. second in the league.
Played out at a rainy Cae Baker, the match was close, as would be expected in such an important game. Eventually going to extra-time, it was frequent Tregaron goalscorers Rhydian Garner and Cledan Davies who ensured it was the Turfs who went through to the final.
Could this be a turning point in the season? Could Tregaron be breaking up the 'old firm' Bow Street-Penrhyn-Penparcau dominance in league and cup competitions? Only time will tell, but perhaps this result could turn out to be bigger than just a cup semi-final victory.
Or maybe I'm just blowing the game out of proportion. More next week!
Written by Lee Taylor from Aberystwyth.
Lee Taylor's Match Reports Index...Fixtures...Division 1 Table... Division 2 Table...
