Cefn Druids ground out a 1-0 victory against Carmarthen Town as they took a big step towards securing their top-six place.
James Davies’ diving header in first-half added time gives Druids a three-point advantage gong into next weekend’s final round of Phase 1 fixtures.
Top-six rivals Barry Town and Llandudno both dropped points on what could prove to be a decisive weekend.
Barry Town were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at Connah’s Quay whilst Llandudno were forced to settle for a point despite leading against Bala Town.
At Richmond Park, Cefn Druids edged their way to maximum points against a toothless looking Carmarthen.
Carmarthen had rallied to successive wins over the Christmas and New Year period but lacked killer instinct as Cefn Druids rarely looked troubled despite being camped inside their own half for much of the second period.
Druids too had lacked cohesion going forward but they were rewarded for showing slightly more craft in their strongest spell.
Carmarthen’s goalscoring keeper Lee Idzi was left to deal with more routine matters this week after he was called into action to beat a fierce Naim Arsan drive before a cross clipped in and met by the diving head of Davies and creeping into the bottom corner right on the stroke of half time.
Carmarthen arguably didn’t deserve to be trailing at the break but they did little to show they deserved an way back into the game in the second period.
Extended spells of pressure inside the visitors half would go unpunished and rarely was Cefn Druids stopper Michael Jones properly tested.
Liam Griffiths near post finish was tipped around the post and debutant Sean O’Kelly took the ball in his stride before seeing his goalbound shot parried over single-handedly.
Cefn Druids should have doubled their lead when Michael Pritchard pulled the trigger from yards out but a last ditch sliding block challenge from Carmarthen defender Dave Vincent denied the Ancients.
In a rare moment of attacking quality, a lovely little flick from Liam Thomas sparked a genuine Carmarthen attack but he could only screw his angled shot wide of the target.
Cefn Druids regain sixth-place in the table boosted by a three point advantage over rivals Llandudno and Barry Town.
Carmarthen Town 0 –
Cefn Druids 1 James Davies 45′
Carmarthen Town
1. Lee Idzi, 2. Luke Cummings, 12. Daniel Sheehan, 6. Lee Surman, 5. Craig Hanford, 4. Dave Vincent, 25. Kieran Lewis, 7. Liam Walsh (9. Kostya Georgievsky 82′), 18. Aidan O’Kelly (20. Danny Thomas 90′), 18. Liam Thomas, 17. Liam Griffiths. Subs not used: 21. Neil Smothers, 22. Resat Islam Khaton
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: None
Cefn Druids
1. Michael Jones, 3. Naim Arsan, 5. Matthew Eckersley (16. Iwan Cartwright 70′), 6. Nathan Peate, 8. Alec Mudimu, 10. Michael Pritchard, 11. James Davies, 15. Aaron Simpson, 19. Fisnik Hajdari, 22. Arek Piskorski (21. Ilan ap Gareth 84′), 23. Lewis Buckley (20. Jonathon Taylor 75′). Subs not used: 9. Ashley Ruane, 30. Jayson Starkey
Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: None
Attendance: 317 Referee: Kevin Parry
