ABERAERON maintained their bright start to the new season in midweek with a 3-1 home win over Bow Street in a no-holds barred derby battle in the Spar Mid Wales League division one.

Manager Jason Jones will be delighted with the way his side hit back from being a goal down to take the points with goals from Rhodri Edwards, Mattie Davies, from the penalty spot, and Gareth Severs.

What the match may have that lacked football quality, it made up in intensity, with both teams finishing with 10 men.

Aberaeron were on the front foot from the start, and with Gareth Evans running at the visitors at every opportunity, some panicked challenges disturbed the flow of the game during the opening exchanges.

Bow Street regrouped and a long punt through the middle let in Ifan Burrell, who was brought down by Anthony Evans, and Tom Williams stepped up to coolly slot home from the penalty spot.

The Magpies looked to impose themselves, but after a series of late challenges the referee grew impatient and when Tom Williams kicked out at the industrious Gareth Evans, he showed a straight red.

With Bow Street down to 10 men, Aberaeron gained ascendancy and when an Rhodri Edwards was effort tipped onto the bar from a corner, Edwards emphatically crashed home from 10 yards out.

After the interval, 10-man Bow Street were resigned to occasional forays into the Aberaeron half, but from a long ball over the back line Anthony Evans caught the trailing foot of an attacker and, having already been shown a yellow card in the first half, the right back was then sent off.

Good counter-attacking by Aberaeron saw Daniel James pass inside to Gareth Evans, who stepped away from his marker, only to be taken down from behind in the box. Mattie Davies stroked the penalty into the bottom right for a 2-1 advantage.

Bow Street nearly levelled matters when Ifan Burell was denied by the onrushing Barry Edwards, low down to his left. Aberaeron, however, finished strongest and Gareth Severs saw an effort go just over the bar, before their killer third goal.

Good work by Jamie Owen and James Hemming saw the ball come to Severs, and with a Robson-Kanu-esque turn allowed him time to poke the ball home.

Mattie Davies then had a chance at the end to put some gloss on the scoreline, but he was unable to force the ball home.

Carno slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat against last year’s runners-up Knighton Town, who sealed victory courtesy of goals from Mark Jones and Sam Williams.The Greens finally reduced the defecit when clever free kick involving Andrew Evans and Ger Jones caused havoc, and was bundled into the net for an own goal, with Ben Jones waiting to tap the ball home.

Hay St Mary’s drew 1-1 with Radnor Valley under the lights at Forest Road.

The Saints were punished when Joey Price ran onto a through ball and scored, but they equalised before the break when a ball over the top found Steve Morgan, who chipped the visiting goalkeeper.

Llanrhaeadr breezed to a 7-0 win over a Welshpool Town side that had goalkeeper Ed Harding sent off for handling outside the area after just 20 minutes. Keiran Evans scored twice, with Ben Whitw, Tom Evans, Marc Griffiths, Iain Edmonds and Iwan Matthews also scoring.

Montgomery Town registered their first points as Connor Stacey and Tyler McCathy completed a 2-1 win against Berriew, who led through Richard Davies.

Andrew Page struck a brace of goals as Machynlleth triumphed 4-2 away against Tywyn/Bryncrug, with Jack Petrie and Callum Page also on target, while Aled Davies and Aston Heath replied.

Llanidloes Town were meanwhile crushed 4-0 on Wednesday evening against Llandrindod Wells, who scored their goals through Ryan Sims, Shaun Nicholls, Jeff Jones and Robert Nicholls.

In division two, Liam Lewis netted for Borth United, but Dolgellau hit back to draw 1-1 through an equaliser from David Edwards, who also missed a late penalty.

A Phil Ruell goal meanwhile earned Penybont a 1-1 draw with Presteigne.