LLANIDLOES Town paid the price for defensive frailties as they lost 4-2 to Berriew at Victoria Avenue, to lose ground in the Spar Mid Wales League Division One.

It proved another closely fought encounter but the visitors capitalised on lapses at the back, to keep themselves hard on the heels of league leaders Rhayader Town.

“We gave away four poor goals,” admitted Llanidloes manager Hugh Clarke.

“We had plenty of scoring opportunities ourselves, but you just can’t afford to leak the sort of goals we did in this match.

“They’ve now beaten us twice in the league, and we’ve beaten them twice in the Cups. Considering that they are second in the league, there’s nothing in it.”

It was the Daffs’ first action since defeating the Rhiewsiders 3-2 in the third round of the Central Wales Senior Challenge Cup back on 7 January, which had ended their visitors’ 17-match unbeaten run.

The Daffs, however, paid for a poor start as top scorer Richard Davies netted after a poor kick from goalkeeper Jake Brown.

A 35-yard strike from ex-Daffs player Karl Seliaerts then flew into the top of the home net to double their advantage.

Gareth Owen pulled one back before the break with a good finish in the box, but Matt Bumford then broke through from inside his own half to restore the two goal cushion for the visitors after the interval.

Ed Clarke pulled back a second goal with a neat strike into the top corner, but Ross Harris sealed the win when heading home after more defensive hesitation.

• CARNO stretched their unbeaten league run to 16 games by beating Radnor Valley 3-1, having gone ahead inside 90 seconds when Gregg Brown played in Peter Rees to curl the ball in from 20 yards.

Good work by Harry Holt allowed Peter Rees to tee up Gregg Brown to fire the second goal on the half hour, and then Richie Evans missed a penalty on 40 minutes after Peter Rees was clattered inside the box.

The Greens put the game to bed within five minutes of the second half when Harry Holt was upended in the box, and Evans this time converted from the spot.

Evans also had a goal ruled out for offside, and fired wide from the edge of the box, but Radnor scored a consolation goal with five minutes to go when midfielder George Davies broke through and fired into the top corner of Kris Williams’ goal.

• RHAYADER remain in pole position in division one after they secured a comfortable 8-1 triumph over Machynlleth, after two early penalties by Tom Bethell had given the Red Kites a flying start.

Ifan Burrell then made it 3-0 at half time, and another quick start after the break saw Christian Jones add a fourth goal.

Burrell then netted his second of the game and two goals in quick succession by Richie Powell made it 7-0 to the Kites.

Rhys Thomas grabbed the eighth goal, before Mach netted their late consolation effort when Callum Page found the net.

Llandrindod Wells won 5-0 away at Llanrhaeadr, with two goals by Darren Murphy, and singles by Robert Nicholls, Jonny Williams and Kieran McCarley.

Connor Bird scored twice, with Ieuan Crowe and Sam Williams also scoring as Knighton beat Montgomery Town 4-0.