Penybont secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Colwyn Bay to preserve their unbeaten record at the start of the Cymru Premier season. Substitute Owain Pritchard scored the decisive goal in a match that saw two of the home side's summer signings forced off early through injury.
Owain Pritchard made the difference after coming off the bench. He pounced on a mistake from Colwyn Bay goalkeeper Mark Halstead and finished from close range. The goal proved enough for all three points at Penybont's home ground.
The win lifts Penybont to sixth place in the early league standings. This builds on a solid foundation from the previous campaign, where the club finished sixth in the final 2025 table with 41 points from 32 games. Their form at the end of that season was mixed, recording two wins, two losses, and a draw.
The match was disrupted for the hosts within the first 20 minutes. Two key summer additions, Jonathan Leko and Ryan Hill, both sustained injuries and had to be substituted. Their absence forced manager Rhys Griffiths into an early reshuffle. The full extent of the injuries is not yet known, and the club's injuries page will provide updates.
Despite the setbacks, Penybont created chances. Veteran attacker Chris Venables struck the crossbar during the contest. At the other end, goalkeeper Daniel Higgs was called into action to deny efforts from Colwyn Bay's Callum Bratley and Ethan Roberts.
Mark Halstead's error for the goal was a rare blemish in an otherwise competitive performance from the visitors. Colwyn Bay pushed hard for an equaliser throughout the second half, applying sustained pressure on the Penybont defence.
Penybont held firm, however, to secure a clean sheet and the victory. The defensive resilience was important, as the team conceded 49 goals last season while scoring 39, finishing with a negative goal difference. This result shows an improvement in defensive solidity early in the new campaign.
The focus now shifts to the next fixture. Penybont will travel to face Cardiff MET on October 30th.
This result provides a positive start as the team looks to build on last season's mid-table finish. They ended the 2025 season 39 points behind champions The New Saints. The current standings show their early progress. Manager Rhys Griffiths will hope the injury concerns for Leko and Hill are not serious as his squad prepares for the challenge ahead.
