Brecon Corries prove too strong for Canton

Brecon Corries consolidated their top-six position in Elite Stands UK Ardal South East following a 4-1 victory Canton at the Rich Field.

The hosts made a bright start to the proceedings on an overcast afternoon as Jay Hughes broke into the Canton penalty area but saw his close-range effort kept out by Cohen Riella.

Hughes then had a low shot saved from the edge of the penalty area before Jamie Williams drove towards goal, but directed his strike straight at Riella.

The Cardiff outfit responded when Steve Price in the Corries' goal was forced to turn Jordan Carey's 25-yard drive on to the crossbar and David Trace headed the rebound over the target.

The hosts opened the scoring after 14 minutes when a long ball played towards the Canton penalty area was headed goalwards by Joel Evans for Luke Roughley to finish from 10 yards.

The lead was doubled within 60 seconds of the restart when Williams' initial effort was saved by Riella and Joel Evans pounced on the loose ball to find the back of the net.

Canton reduced the deficit after 18 minutes when Lyes Mihoubi converted a Tyrell Webbe cross.

The visitors looked to build upon that goal as Thomas Bell went close with a 25-yard effort.

Joel Evans had an opportunity to score his second of the afternoon when he managed to close down Riella, but the Canton keeper recovered in time to prevent another goal.

Hughes was unable to keep his header on target after Joel Evans headed a 35th-minute free-kick into the penalty area before Mihoubi's strike from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Price.

The visitors had an opportunity to level the scores in the first minute after the interval, but Bo Cordle directed his header wide of goal.

Canton suffered a blow to their hopes in the 50th minute when Webbe was shown a straight red card by referee Dale Randall for a challenge on Devon Davies.

Roughley sliced a shot wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area before the Corries regained their two-goal advantage in the 61st minute when Joel Evans headed home his second goal of the afternoon from a Roughley free-kick.

Williams was denied by Riella from close-range after a corner was not cleared prior to the visiting goalkeeper denying Kai Saurin following another corner for the hosts in the 68th minute.

Price was then called into action to turn Bell's close-range effort behind from a deep cross on the left flank.

Joel Evans headed over the crossbar from a 75th-minute cross from the right prior to Price denying Mihoubi from the edge of the penalty.

Williams broke into the Canton penalty area in the 79th minute, but could only direct his effort straight at Riella before the goalkeeper denied Saurin six minutes later from 25 yards after a corner was partially cleared.

Corries substitute Leo Williams struck the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the opening minute of stoppage-time before Joel Evans completed his hat-trick four minutes later.

The forward converted a Corey Evans' cross from the left wing to net his 12th league goal of the campaign in the process and make it five wins from the last six league matches for the Rich Field club.