If there is any team that appears capable of giving The New Saints a run for their money in domestic Welsh football at present, then it is Penybont.
They may be third in the table behind both the Saints and Connahs Quay, but there’s something about the Bont battlers that seems to unsettle the kings from Park Hall.
At the weekend, Penybont went to the TNS home and came away with a 1-1 draw, a perfect dress-rehearsal for this weekend’s JD Welsh Cup semi-final clash.
The last time they met, back in November, they played out a goalless draw.
A Nathan Wood penalty 11 minutes from time earned Penybont a draw in the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference and proved once again that Rhys Griffiths’ side will never lie down.
The two teams will do it all over again in Carmarthen on Saturday when they play out a repeat of last season’s Cup final, which TNS were thankful to win 3-2 in the end.
“This side never gives up no matter what people throw at them and I’m immensely proud of the players,” said Griffiths after his side’s second draw with the champions.
“In the context of the season it is an absolutely huge result. Looking ahead to the semi-final, we’ll be going there to win rather than draw.
“We need to be a little bit more of a threat going forward, but I thought that between the boxes we were the better side and we need to build on that in the next meeting.”
TNS looked to be on course for another three points, which would have taken them to the brink of the another title, after Leo Smith’s 18th minute opener but Wood’s penalty earned third-placed Penybont a vital point.
“We’re disappointed and angry with ourselves for not winning the game. We felt we deserved a bit more, especially from the officials,” said Smith.
“It’s always tough playing Penybont, but we know that by now. But I didn’t think it was a penalty.”
Second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads are now a mere 15 points behind TNS after their 2-1 home win against Cardiff Met, secured by a stoppage-time goal from Ryan Harrington.
Ben Nash had put the hosts ahead 10 minutes before half-time.
Lewis Rees thought he had secured a point for the visitors when he levelled in the 87th minute, but Harrington forced a dramatic winner in the first minute of time added on.
In the battle between the bottom two in the Championship Conference, Newtown came out on top in a five-goal thriller with Bala Town.
Adam Roscrow put visitors Bala ahead in the 10th minute and Aaron Williams didn’t level for the hosts until just after the hour mark.
Roscrow restored Bala’s lead on 64 minutes and the game appeared to be up for Newtown when they had Shane Sutton sent off 11 minutes from time.
But there was a dramatic finish as Callum Roberts equalised on 90 minutes and Louis Robles grabbed the winner a minute later.
Airbus UK Broughton’s miserable campaign continued as they shipped seven at home to Aberystwyth Town on Friday night. – going down, 7-1.
The hosts, cast adrift at the foot of the Play Off Conference, have now lost 24 of their 25 matches this season.
Adam Davies gave them hope with a goal three minutes after half-time after Harry Arnison and Mark Cadwallader had put Aberystwyth 2-0 up before the break.
But that hope was quickly extinguished as Cadwallader added his second just before the hour mark, and then the floodgates opened.
Iwan Rhys Lewis made it 4-1 before Louis Bradford, Jake George Canavan and Alex Darlington completed the rout in the final 10 minutes.
At the top end of the Play Off Conference, Caernarfon Town drew 2-2 with Flint Town United.
Lloyd Marsh-Hughes put the home side ahead after 12 minutes but Zack Clarke levelled for Flint midway through the first half.
Sion Alun Bradley restored Caernarfon’s lead four minutes into the second half, but James Owen had the final say as he netted Flint’s second equaliser nine minutes from time.
Second-placed Haverfordwest County were beaten 2-1 at Pontypridd United.
Former Wales international Jazz Richards put the visitors ahead on 24 minutes but Jarrad Wright levelled for Pontypridd nine minutes later and Kieran Lewis hit the winner on 50 minutes.
