Aled Jones completed a sparkling ten minute hat-trick as Builth Wells pulled off a 5-1 victory over Presteigne in the Spar Mid Wales League on Wednesday night.
Jason Samuel’s side bounced back from their opening day defeat at Berriew to really get their season up and running after forging a two goal interval lead against a much changed Presteigne. Builth controlled the opening exchanges with Harry Bastable heading wide from Tom Brown’s free-kick before Phil Draper put Shane Pritchard in to round keeper Simon Hamer.
Bastable turned in Pritchard’s cross to increase the lead and Greg Lawrence headed wide from a cross by Stephen Parry whose lob then went over.
Presteigne’s only real first half effort came five minutes before the break but Builth keeper Rhys Hughes did well to deny ex-Knighton man Connor Bird.
Presteigne were definitely more in the game in the second half and sensed they could salvage a point when Johnny Bird rifled home from 15 yards on 76 minutes.
But the visitors had not accounted for Builth sub Jones who regained their two goal advantage four minutes later.
Jones then netted with a superb header from a Kevin Lewis cross in stoppage time and completed his hat-trick with another header just as ref Gwilym Lewis was about to blow the final whistle.
Newbridge failed to make the most of a couple of early chances at home against Llanidloes Town who went on to record a 4-1 win at Penbont. Luke Boundford headed over and Dwayne Ramsden and Stuart Mills squandered further openings before Rhys Evans put The Daffs in front.
Matthew Savage added a second after a long throw-in but Newbridge pulled one back before half time with Ramsden heading in John Foster’s free-kick. Barry Bellis regained Llanidloes’ two goal advantage early in the second half with Jack Bermingham completing the tally leaving Newbridge’s Kevin Price admitting: “We will need to improve sooner rather than later.”
Berriew are the early pacemakers following an impressive 4-1 win at Carno.
Wil Thomas fired a hat-trick with Rhydian Molrris the other marksman as Peter Rees replied for Carno.
Llanrhaeadr and Llansantffraid Village also made it two wins from two. Late strikes from Ken McKay and Emyr Roberts gave Llanrhaeadr a 2-0 success at Waterloo Rovers while Matthew Jones got the only goal as Llansantffraid triumphed 1-0 at Dyffryn Banw.
Gwino Ap Dafydd and Dean Evans were on target as Bow Street, now under former Aberystwyth Reserves manager Emyr Jones opened up with a 2-0 home verdict over Dolgellau while Penparcau already have ground to make up.
Mattie Davies, Mark Gornal and Mikey Gornal netted for the defending champs but could not prevent them slipping to a 4-3 defeat at Tywyn/Bryncrug.