WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - Druids virtually safe as McGinn seals late victory
Chris McGinn's injury time header virtually secured Newi Cefn Druids' Welsh Premier League status at The Recreation Ground last night as they beat Caersws 2-1.
The forward was first to meet Osian Jones' free kick from the left to beat Andy Mulliner, finding the corner of the net in a game of two halves.
Colin Reynolds had given the hosts a surprise lead midway through the second half when he stooped to meet a right wing corner at the near post to head into the roof of the net.
It was a surprise lead with The Ancients looking the closer to scoring in the first half.
In the 15th minute a free kick found McGinn in space inside the Caersws box but he snapped at his shot and hooked the ball harmlessly wide.
Druids' best opportunity to open the scoring came after 28 minutes.
McGinn weaved his way through the home defence and when his low shot was only parried, Kevin Holsgrove's follow up was cleared off the line.
Three minutes later McGinn spurned another opportunity when he fired high and wide after Karl Connolly played him in on the edge of the box.
After the restart Caersws started to apply more pressure on the Druids goal but without really threatening until Reynolds struck the opener.
With Druids chasing an equaliser, they made what proved to be an inspired substitution with 18 minutes remaining. Khoz Hematinafar and Jones came on to replace Paul Mazzarella and Holsgrove.
It was Hematinafar who supplied the cross for the equaliser after captain Aled Rowlands fed him the ball down the left. The Iranian-born winger's pinpoint cross found Mike Thompson unmarked to head past Mulliner.
McGinn scored the winner in injury time and victory means that Porthmadog are now unable to move above Druids, with Llangefni requiring 13 points from their last five matches to surpass the Ancients' current total.
Meanwhile, Lee Jones injury is not as serious as first thought after the Druids joint player- manager visited a specialist in Wrexham.
Jones, who feared for his career after hearing his knee pop in the defeat at Neath has been told there is not enough swelling for it to be a cruciate problem.
The striker is to remain on crutches until having it re-assessed early next week to find out the extent of the injury.
Llanelli moved ten points clear at the top of the table with a hard fought 2-1 win at Aberystwyth.
The table toppers were forced to come from behind after Tiago da Silva had put the hosts in front with his first league goal after 18 minutes.
Mark Pritchard levelled shortly before the break and midway through the second period, Antionio Corbisiero snatched what proved to be the winner for the visitors to leave them needing five points from their last four fixtures for the title.
n Gap Queens Park, who had looked so invincible since the start of the year, lost their second game within the space of three days as they went down 4-3 at Bala Town.
It looked as if it was going to be a rout when hosts Bala went 3-0 up with the game less than 20 minutes old. On target had been Craig Papirnyk, Llion Roberts and Warren Duckett with a clever chip.
Ashley Wilson pegged a goal back with the last action of the first half and when Ricky Evans was upended inside the box on the hour mark, he converted the resulting penalty to make it 3-2.
It had been a real mud bath of a game but Evans picked out Wilson again in the 75th minute and Gap were back on level terms.
All their good work was undone when Evans was sent off and Bala's Duckett fired past John Rowley to secure the three points.
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Last Updated:
26 March 2008 1:31 PM
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Source:
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Location:
Wrexham