MATTIE Davies scored a hat-trick as Aberaeron marched on into the first round proper of the JD Welsh Cup with an exciting 4-3 win at Welshpool Town.

The visitors started brightly, with Liam Jaques terrorising the right back, but in one of their first serious attacks Ian Probert opened the scoring for Welshpool.

Aberaeron responded positively, and in the second half the hard-working Davies slotted the ball under the keeper for their equaliser.

The visitors stepped up to create chance after chance, before Davies finished off clinically for a 2-1 lead.

Aberaeron were not finished, however, and Davies out-muscled the defence and clipped the ball beautifully into the top corner to complete a well taken treble.

Davies then unfortunately picked up an ankle injury and had to be replaced, and this spurred the home team on, with Probert scoring his second goal to make it 3-2.

Aberaeron skipper Sion Clark, however, then restored the two-goal advantage as he lost his marker and thundered in a header.

The final 10 minutes saw Probert complete his hat-trick, but despite late home pressure, Aberaeron held out for an excellent win.

In addition to Davies’ hat-trick, Liam Jaques impressed with some scintillating dribbling, whilst Dan James and James Hemmings put in a superb midfield display and full back, Anthony Evans was also outstanding.

Llanidloes Town were back on song as they cantered into the JD Welsh Cup’s first round with a convincing 3-0 victory over Barmouth and Dyffryn United at Victoria Avenue.

The Daffs never looked back after taking the lead through Drew Reynolds, as Rhys Evans and Steve Jones, from the penalty spot, sealed a deserved victory.

The only downside was a late dismissal of Reynolds for a second yellow card.

The Daffs also had no fewer than four goals disallowed, two contentiously for offside, but manager Hugh Clarke preferred to concentrate on the positives.

“We were good for the whole 90 minutes, and never looked like losing,” said Clarke. “The win was spoiled by Drew’s sending off, which was disappointing as there was not a bad tackle in the game, but I don’t want to say too much.

“The pleasing thing was our performance throughout the team, which we’ll be looking to take into Saturday’s game at Aberaeron.”

Reynolds had put Llani on track when he turned well to fire into the top corner, and Rhys Evans tapped in a second before half-time.

After the break, Steve Jones sealed the win from the penalty spot, following a foul on Rhys Evans, and the Daffs had more chances to have been further ahead.

Borth United meanwhile let a two goal lead slip as they bowed out of the competition with a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Abermule.

The visitors had taken the lead when Clive Morgan’s through ball ran perfectly into the path of Daniel Hopton, to slide the ball passed the advancing goalkeeper.

Within three minutes, Borth had doubled their lead, as Hopton set up the unmarked Lee Jones, to score with a left-footed lob.

Borth kept up the pressure, with Jay Walker’s low shot missing the far post by just inches, only for Tommy Jones to reduce the arrears when his fierce shot from the left wing evaded everybody and nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Borth’s defence had done well to contain the strike attack of Barry Bellis and Dave Anthony in the opening half, but a mix-up then allowed the ever-alert Bellis to score with a low shot beyond keeper Jamie Evans.

Then, in the last 10 minutes, Bellis was in the right position to score again for what proved to be the winning goal for Abermule.

Carno scraped through courtesy of a 2-1 win over Llandrindod Wells, despite a below-par performance.

Ioan Humphreys saw a header come back off the bar from a Peter Rees corner, and Rees then saw a header saved, but Llandrindod took the lead just after the half hour when their striker went one on one with the keeper and finished well.

Carno, however, were back on level terms moments later, when Adam Williams was fouled inside the area and Andrew Evans stroked home the penalty.

The Wellmen continued to look dangerous on the break, with a long range effort crashing back off the bar, but Carno went ahead as a Peter Rees corner was nodded down by Ioan Humphreys and Andrew Evans fired their winner.

Bow Street are though to the first round after recording a 2-0 win at Knighton, with goals by Dean Evans and Tom Wyn Roberts.

Two goals from Khyam Wyton and a shot from his own half from Dale Evans earned Llanraeadr a 3-1 win over Kerry, who replied through Luke Mumford.

Karl Seliaerts scored a hat-trick as Berriew won 7-0 at Llansantffraid, with Dewi Hughes adding a brace, whilst George Davies and Dave Roberts also netted.