Each major Welsh football team across the top four divisions were in action last night and they all marked their last game of the calendar year with a victory.

Yousef Salech was the difference for Cardiff again as the club’s top scorer led the Bluebirds to their seventh successive league win at home.

Relief for Newport as they earn their first league win in two months and the first under new manager Christian Fuchs.

Wrexham won their second successive league game to come four points away from a play-off position.

Vitor Matos’ gets his first away win as Swansea manager as they beat Oxford United on the road courtesy of Zan Vipotnik.

Cardiff come from behind to maintain lead at the top

Last night saw the second highest scoring team, in the form of league leaders Cardiff, take on Stevenage who boasted the best defence in the league so far and sat at fifth in the table.

Facing another defensively adept team proved difficult in the first half for the hosts as chances were few despite seeing most of the ball.

Their situation worsened in the second half when Stevenage winger Phoenix Patterson curled a fine finish into the far corner to give the visitors the lead.

But Cardiff were not short on belief, and responded well just seven minutes later. Callum Robinson made an attempt at goal from a loose cross which was cleared off the line, only for the ball to land straight back to his feet.

The 30-year-old attacking midfielder made sure of the rebound to level the score.

The Bluebirds had momentum now and made a crucial breakthrough in the 82nd minute. With quick ball movement across the edge of the box, Chris Willock fired the ball into the path of Salech who redirected it past goalkeeper Filip Marschall to make it 2-1 and secure another three points.

“It’s a good place to be [top of the league]. I’d rather be there than anywhere else. Trying to stay there is the challenge,” said Cardiff manager Brian Barry Murphy.

“I’m really pleased with the players and the way they played, especially when we went behind in the game.”

Wrexham push for play-off spot after Preston win

Wrexham extended their unbeaten home run in the league to 10 matches with a victory over Preston North End.

The Lilywhites were unbeaten in their last seven games, one of which being a draw against Wrexham at home earlier in the month.

There were not many notable chances before the scoring opened late in the first half, but it was the combination of Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore again that broke the deadlock at the Stok Cae Ras.

Moore returned the favour to his fellow Welshman who set up his second goal in the Sheffield United game last Friday. He produced good footwork on the wing and an even better cross to give Broadhead a free header that he bounced off the floor and into the corner to make it 1-0.

With the advantage, Wrexham suffered a loss when Moore was forced off with an injury at the end of the first half.

The game was put to bed by two substitutes in the 77th minute when George Dobson sent a ball through the heart of the Preston defence to Ollie Rathbone whose precise, first-time finish made it 2-0.

The visitors put the pressure on soon after when Alfie Devine fired in a true finish from outside the box after incisive passing through the midfield. Wrexham held their nerves though, and saw the game out to take all three points.

This victory saw the Town win back-to-back games for the first time this season and boost their playoff hopes as they now move just four points away from sixth place.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson praised his team’s win last night:
“I’m very pleased. I felt it was important that we backed up the Boxing Day win and performance and we spoke to the lads about that mentality.”

Swansea get back on track with win over Oxford

Swansea enjoyed their first win away from home under new boss Vitor Matos as they saw out a slender lead in Oxford last night.

The two sides met in Wales at the start of the month where Swansea triumphed 2-0 and Matos got the first win of his tenure.
He now produced the double away from home against a managerless Oxford United who, despite their struggles, were coming off the back of a big win on Boxing Day against Southampton.

It was Zan Vipotnik who claimed the winning moment just 14 minutes into the game after a strong start from Swansea. A deep, searching ball from Josh Tymon on the left side was connected by Vipotnik who sunk the header firmly into the bottom corner to score his 10th league goal.

Despite scrappy moments in the game, Swansea mainly stayed on top of their opponents and in control of their lead. Though a free kick from Oxford’s Brian De Keersmaecker came close towards the end, it was off target and Swansea secured their fourth win in six games.

Matos addressed his team’s performance:
“We’ve had two difficult away games, Coventry and Oxford, and this was a massive win for us.
The concentration of the team was brilliant.”

Newport rise from rock bottom with first win under Fuchs

Last night saw a straight flush of major victories across Welsh football, and after going 10 games without a win, Newport County were crying out for three points.

After a goalless draw with Barnet on Boxing Day, Newport’s new manager Christian Fuchs was pleased with his team’s defensive improvement, but they lacked the goals.

Crewe made a strong start and tested the hosts with keeper Jordan Wright required to make a great save from a point blank header in the six yard box.

It was a Newport corner that broke the deadlock though as Sammy Braybrooke found the head of Courtney Baker-Richardson whose initial attempt was denied but the rebound was knocked home.

Crewe responded with Tommi O’Reilly’s driven attempt outside the box and it was parried out as far as James Connolly who failed to draw level as his rebound blazed over the bar from close range.

Newport were building momentum in the second half and extended their lead in the 76th minute as a blocked shot made its way out to Braybrooke who hit it hard and low to bring jubilation to Rodney Parade.

This victory drags Newport off the bottom of League 2 and sees them now just one point behind 22nd place Bristol Rovers.

“When you look at the last six games we’ve played, we have got six points overall and there are a lot of good things happening here,” Fuchs explained.

“It was a very good performance from the team.
You felt it coming. The boys believe in themselves and we’ve built the confidence now.”

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