A DEPLETED Carno consolidated their top three position in the Spar Mid Wales League division one with a last-gasp 2-1 success against Aberaeron at Ty Brith.

An injury-time strike from Danny Pierce denied the visitors a share of the spoils, after Dan James had cancelled out Richie Evans’ opening second half goal.

Manager Chris Davies was without eight key players for the game, including Ben Richards, Colin Reynolds, Ash Owen and Gregg Brown (all injured), Luke and Harry Holt (both unavailable) and Ioan Humphreys and Peter Rees (both suspended).

Aberaeron started brightly, with Kris Williams being forced into making an early one-on-one save, whilst at the other end Richie Evans and Jordan Jones had penalty appeals waved away.

The beginning of the second half was closely-fought, but the breakthrough came on the hour as Carno substitute Adam Nottingham played a pass across the box for Richie Evans to beat the keeper with a scuffed shot.

Aberaeron equalised from a corner 15 minutes later, when a poor clearance fell to Dan James, who fired into the net from 12 yards out.

Both sides had chances to take the lead in the final minutes, and a mazy run and shot by Richie Evans forced the keeper into a smart save, whilst at the other end Kris Williams made a good stop at his near post as the game entered into injury time.

Then, two minutes into added time, Ger Jones played a ball into the box and as Jordan Jones challenged, the ball bounced out to midfielder Danny Pierce, who calmly volleyed the ball into the top corner to snatch a crucial three points.

Rhayader Town extended their lead at the top of the table to six points with a 3-1 win over Montgomery.

In a dominant display from the league leaders, the score would have been well into double figures had it not been for the heroics of the visiting goalkeeper.

Rhayader eventually made the breakthrough when Mark Davies whipped a great ball into the box, where Richie Powell was waiting to tap in, but a Montgomery defender challenged him and he put it into the net.

From the kick-off, Rhayader scored a second goal, when Ifan Burrell pounced to neatly slot the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Monty pulled one back when keeper Joe Prosser was caught in no mans land and Tony Meredith lobbed home from a long way out.

Rhayader, however, put the game when player-boss Gareth Hughes smashed the ball home with 15 minutes left, and the hosts also had three goals disallowed by the away team’s linesman.

Second-placed Berriew let a two-goal lead slip as they had to settle for a 3-3 draw at home to Hay St Mary’s.

The Saints took the lead through a well worked move and a good finish by youngster Callum Maddy.

Berriew responded well with the league’s top scorer, Rich Davies firing in the equaliser on 25 minutes.

Five minutes later, a Berriew free kick was headed home by Matt Mumford, with the help of a deflection, to make it 2-1 at the interval.

A mistake on 65 minutes then let in Rob Pritchard who put the hosts 3-1 up, and at that point it seemed like there was no way back.

Pressing higher up the pitch, the Saints replied on 72 minutes when captain Brendan Hackett was put in on goal and he fired across the keeper into the bottom corner, from a tight angle.

Four minutes later Adi Lawford chased a ball down in the corner and crossed into the box for Jack Biggs to head in an equaliser for 3-3.

Berriew, however, had one more chance from a corner, but Steve Goodwin’s clearance flew just inches over.

Knighton’s Ieuan Crowe scored the winner in a 1-0 win over Bow Street, whilst a Ricky Litchfield brace earned Welshpool a crucial 2-0 win over Radnor Valley.

Goals by Kieran McCarley and Stuart Williams earned Llandrindod a 2-1 win at Tywyn/Bryncrug, who opened the scoring via Ben Holt.