The new football season kicked off in style this weekend with mixed fortunes for the area’s top clubs. Find out how your local club did with mywelshpool’s results round-up
Welsh Premier Super 12
This summer’s European adventures have obviously not disrupted The New Saints of Llansantffraid and Oswestry’s (TNS) domestic preparations as it was business as usual for Mikes Davies’s side on Friday night.
The reigning champions cruised past a strong looking Prestatyn side in front of 330 fans to launch the defence of their crown with a 5-2 win.
Chris Sharp and Craig Jones put TNS 2-0 up after 12 minutes before Lee Hunt reduced the arrears a minute later. Sharp’s second restored the two-goal cushion and Danny Holmes added a fourth. Hunt’s second made it 4-2 before Sharp completed his hat-trick in the final minute from the penalty spot.
Elsewhere, it was grief for big-spending Neath who were toppled 2-1 at Bangor City, Aberystwyth won 3-2 at West Wales rivals Carmarthen and Newtown got off to a winning start for new boss Andy Cale with a 1-0 win at Haverfordwest County.
Huws Gray Alliance
Technogroup Welshpool’s depleted ranks put up a gallant effort at hotly tipped Gap Connah’s Quay before succumbing 6-0. Graham Evans’ men were still in the game at 2-0 down going into the last 20 but a late flurry saw them hit for six.
Guilsfield struggled to break down the league’s new boys Rhydymwyn who took the lead on the hour. But it was an unlikely combination of right wing back Llion Davies who crossed for left wing back Mike Sawtell, nicknamed Sooty, who swept in at the far post to head in the equaliser.
Elsewhere, last season’s champions Llangefni Town lost at home 1-0 to Ruthin. A solitary strike by Chris Williams was enough to give Rhyl the points at home to Caersws. Daryl Smith also grabbed the only goal of the game at Buckley Town to give Llandudno the perfect start to the season. Newcomers Rhos Aelwyd shocked Flint Town United 2-1 and Porthmadog and Cefn Druids shared the points in a goalless draw.
Spar Mid Wales League Division One
Berriew sent out a clear message to their Mid Wales rivals that will be the team to beat after ruthlessly beating Builth Wells 4-1.
But they were only second when the league table was compiled Saturday night with Carno beating Newbridge 4-0 away for the result of the day. Title hopefuls Llansantffraid and Penparcau played out a five-goal classic with Ray Jones’s men pipping the seaside team to the points. Waterloo Rovers shared four goals with Dolgellau in a 2-2 draw. On Friday night, Llanrhaeadr surprised newly promoted Llanidloes with a 1-0 victory under the Llani lights.
In the first ever game in the newly created division two, Four Crosses and Abermule shared the spoils with a goal apiece.
Welsh Cup qualifiers
Montgomery started their season on the right track with a 3-2 victory from their journey to fellow Spar Division Two newcomers Tregaron Turfs in the first qualifying round of the Welsh Cup. Tregaron took the lead before Ross Harris levelled from a Tony Meredith corner and Meredith put Monty ahead with a well worked goal before the break. Shane Kirkham slotted in a penalty to make it 3-1 before Tregaron pulled one back late to give Clive McNamee's men a nervous last few minutes.
But it was a disappointing opener for Llanfair United who went down 10-3 to Connah's Quay Town.