CEFN DRUIDS are up and running - and it was hard work on the training ground that helped secure a 1-1 draw with Cardiff Met.

Jamie Reed scored his second goal in as many games, the experienced striker collecting a pass from Tom Reilly before firing home the opener at The Rock.

It was a goal that came as a result of hard work, assistant head coach Jayson Starkey revealing: “It’s a goal we are really pleased. We saw something from the game against Flint last Wednesday and addressed it.

“We worked hard in training on patience in our build-up and that paid off when Jamie scored.”

Unfortunately for Druids, who went into the game having suffered back-to-back 2-1 defeats at the hands of Bala and Flint, Met snatched a point as Liam Warman grabbed an equaliser seven minutes after the interval.

“Overall, a draw was probably a fair result,” continued Starkey. “We felt we had chances that could have given us all three points, but speaking with Christian Edwards after the game they felt they could have scored a winner if they’d tidied up in the final third.

“But it was good to answer the question of when we would get our first points on the board.”

Cardiff Met’s equaliser prevented Dawid Szczepaniak from finishing his competitive debut in goal for Druids with a clean sheet.

Szczepaniak, on-loan from Wrexham, replaced the experienced Michael Jones between the posts.

“It was a very tough decision,” said Starkey. “Mike is club captain and he’s been performed very well over the years he’s been with us.

“The staff had a discussion and we felt that Dawid was going to be able to help us play out from the back better. He gave us a platform with his technical ability.”

The introduction of Szczepaniak didn’t solve all of the Ancients’ issues, however, Warman’s leveller coming from a set-piece.

“It’s another goal from a set-piece, so it’s back to the drawing board,” continued Starkey. “It’s disappointing, but we will work on them again in training.”

Druids went into the game after the FAW issued a statement regarding the postponement of the Wrexham-based club’s matches against Haverfordwest and Flint due to “non-compliance with the regulations”.

A statement read: “The board have supported that decision following a review. The board has reminded Cefn Druids of their obligation to the Safer Return to Play Protocol and has decided that no further action is required, taking into account their efforts to rectify the breaches, which has since allowed the club to commence their season.”

Next-up for Druids is a trip to Newtown tomorrow night.

The Robins were held 1-1 by Aberystwyth, who have signed ex-Wrexham youngster Jack Thorn.

Neil Mitchell grabbed a late leveller for Newtown to cancel out Jamie Veale’s opener for Aber.

Bala Town thumped Penybont 5-1 as Will Evans and Chris Venables scored two apiece, the latter netting one from the spot, and Kieran Smith also struck.

Penybont led through Lewis Harling, but Kane Owen’s 29th minute red card turned the game on its head.

Andy Morrison saluted a “magnificent” performance as Connah’s Quay Nomads cruised to a 4-1 win at Haverfordwest County.

Craig Curran’s brace and solo efforts from Aeron Edwards and Declan Poole wrapped up all three points for Nomads.

“I’m really, really pleased,” said boss Morrison, who handed new signing Brayden Shaw a debut as a late substitute.

“We were magnificent. We got three goals in the second-half, but we were better in the first-half. From the start we dominated.

“These will take points off teams here. They are strong, organised, they’ve got good competitors and a bit of pace up front, so we will look back on this as a very good result.”

Captain Sean Pemberton netted Haverfordwest’s goal as the two teams went in level at the break.

The New Saints are top of the table, two points ahead of Nomads after they overcame Caernarfon Town 4-0.

The game at The Oval burst into life just before the hour mark as Saints scored three times in 11 minutes through winger Louis Robles’ brace and striker Dean Ebbe.

Ben Clark wrapped up Saints third consecutive victory with a late fourth goal after stepping off the bench.