ABERAERON had a stiff test of their strength in depth as they travelled to face Kerry with key players out injured - but they emerged as convincing 4-0 winners at Dolforgan Park, with Matty Davies leading the way with a hat-trick.

On a very heavy pitch, Aberaeron settled in to the game and became dominant in midfield, with the defence, brilliantly marshalled by Elwyn Edwards, nullifying the Kerry attacks.

They also put together a number of good moves, playing their way out of defence and getting the ball to Matty Davies, who caused havoc in the home defence.

A well-worked corner routine saw the visitors take the lead, with the ball being driven low into the box, where Matty Davies connected and the ball crossed the line via a deflection.

Aberaeron, with their tails up, created a number of opportunities and Davies netted his second goal when he headed in cleverly from a near post corner for 2-0.

It was total domination as Aberaeron came close on a number of occasions through Davies again and Chris Aldritt, who was also impressing in the midfield.

Just before half-time a sweeping move that was started by keeper Ollie Farebrother saw the marauding Davies cut in from the left and unleash a shot that was brilliantly saved, only for the deflection to find Ianto Evans, the Aberaeron youth player, who slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

As expected, Kerry began the second half strongly and were unlucky to see a thunderous 30 yard shot hit the crossbar, and a few minutes later they also hit the post.

Aberaeron rode their luck, but the defence also stood firm with some terrific performances from David Evans at left back and the imperious Elwyn Edwards.

Keeper Farebrother was also outstanding throughout with excellent distribution, handling crosses as well as making key saves to maintain his clean sheet.

Aberaeron made a couple of enforced changes, bringing on talented 16 year-old Sam Brammeld for his debut, and Matthew Clark after recovering from injury.

Brammeld had an immediate impact with his confident ball carrying and precise distribution. He had a couple of opportunities himself, but was unlucky.

From one good move he hit a 25 yard shot that cannoned off the crossbar, and was gleefully put in the net for his hat-trick by Davies.

That was the final nail in Kerry’s coffin and ninth-placed Aberaeron will take heart from a superb team effort, ahead of this week’s home match with Carno.

Kerry’s fifth home defeat keeps them fourth-from-bottom in the standings.

Llanidloes Town saw their Spar Mid Wales League challenge fade in a 5-1 defeat to of one of their chief rivals, Llanrhaeadr.

Defeat leaves the Daffs trailing leaders Welshpool Town by 10 points with two games in hand, but they are now four points adrift of Llanrhaeadr, who have also played three games fewer.

The visitors never looked back after taking a seventh minute lead when Tommy Evans fired in the loose ball, after a strike from Iwan Matthews from the edge of the box had been parried by goalkeeper Aaron Warrick.

That advantage was doubled by Tom Bailey, who smashed a loose ball in the box into the roof of the net on 15 minutes, before Evans notched his second seven minutes later after Dan Graham had nodded back Jack Brayne’s right wing cross.

Llanidloes steadied the ship and reduced the arrears five minutes before half time, courtesy of a neat finish from Ashley Owen.

The result, however, was settled midway through the second half as Graham netted the fourth, before Evans completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game.

Borth United had an afternoon to forget as they travelled to Berriew and were comprehensively beaten in a 7-1 away defeat.

The hosts scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and controlled the first half to such an extent they went in for half time with a 5-0 lead.

Two goals each from Harry Watkins and Luke Vickers, and a goal apiece from Jake Mann, Jack Weaver and Dewi Hughes completed an emphatic win for Berriew, with Borth’s only reply being a second half penalty from Ryan Davies.

Llanfair United edged a nine-goal thriller against Radnor Valley 5-4, having gone two goals up through Josh Astley and Toby Evans.

Radnor hit back with a 30 yard strike from Sam Loyd and a Joey Price penalty to make it 2-2 at the interval, and in the second half the visitors went 4-2 up, courtesy of further goals by Price and Callum Matthews.

Llanfair, however, fought back and Alun Hughes made it 4-3 on 78 minutes, before they snatched victory in a frantic few minutes.

With nine minutes to go Karl Seliaerts levelled matters, and then on 83 minutes Josh Astley scored what turned out to be the winner.

Welshpool Town meanwhile extended their lead at the top of the division one table to six points with a hard-earned 2-1 win away against Llandrindod Wells.

Goals from Ian Probert and Adam Davies secured the three points for Pool, whilst a Ryan Sims goal kept the Wellmen in touch.