CWFA CUP DRAW

We have been drawn away at Presteigne St Andrew FC in the Central Wales Football Association Cup first round draw.

Tie to be played October 13th.

Full draw is below –

FAW TROPHY

Tom James in action

The Saints are out of the FAW Trophy after a 2-1 defeat at Carno FC.

After a dominant first half we led 0-1 from a Matty Tong half volley which was struck from the edge of the area. The only downside of the first half performance was the scoreline, we should of gone in at least two up if not three.

Goal scorer Matty Tong.

Carno to their credit were much better second half and two headed goals from Andy Evans and Richie Evans saw them go ahead 2-1. In the 84th minute Jack Biggs got the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside.

Ft 2-1

Harry Hooper in action.

I thought we were excellent for the first hour, my only complaint would be we should of scored more goals. All of us thought the first Carno goal shouldn’t of stood due to the ball going out of play for a throwing but the linesman said in his opinion all the ball didn’t go out!

A close call for man of the match between Adam Finn and Callum Maddy.

Will Goodwin and Adam Finn.

Callum Maddy and Jack Biggs.

Tom James.

Richard Meredith.

Greg Preece

Will Goodwin

Adam Finn

Matty Tong.

Photos by Tim Evans.

Results

The first team put in a poor performance and went down 2-1 at Abermule.

Leading 0-1 at the break from a Jack Biggs penalty, Abermule were level a minute into the second half.

A quick counter attack on 55 minutes saw us fall 2-1 behind. We had several chances to equalise but the ‘Muler’ keeper put in a man of the match performance to stop us.

The reserves won their first game of the season 5-4 on Friday night under the lights at Forest Road.

The score was 3-3 at half time, the second half was a tight affair but two late goals saw us go 5-3 up. A goal of the season contender from Liam Mcanally from the half way line ended the nights scoring. 5-4

Our goals were scored by Chris Asitari(2), Rhod Jones(2) and Richard Meredith.

Weekend Fixtures.

The Reserves are home tonight(Friday), they face Brecon Norcote Reserves in what could be a close game on current form.

Tomorrow(Saturday) the first team travel to Abermule FC which is always a tough place to go.

Manager Gareth Jenkins welcomes back Brendan Hackett, Adi Lawford, Liam Pike and Harry Hooper. Unavailable are Darren Horrigan and Richard Meredith.

Friday

Saints Reserves v Northcote Reserves Kick Off 7.30pm

Saturday

Abermule FC v Saints Kick Off 2.30pm.

Home Loss.

The Saints were beaten 2-5 against a young Newbridge side this afternoon at Forest Road.

Trailing 0-2 early on, just before half time goals from Matty Tong and Jack Biggs leveled the score going in at the break. The second half saw us push for a winner but two Ollie Woods goals and an own goal by Jamie Howard saw the visitors deservedly win 2-5

We were slow starting and soon found ourselves on the back foot with Newbridge pressing us high up the pitch. Tom Lewis made an excellent save from a first-time half-volleyed effort but was soon picking the ball out of the net moments later when the visitors were awarded an 11th minute spot-kick for a handball from the subsequent corner.

In a rare attack Matty Tong could only pull his shot wide of the goal after latching on to a through ball.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 22 minute, a cross from the right wasn’t dealt with and Ollie Woods netted from close range 0-2.

Saints manager Gareth Jenkins changed our formation and within a minute we pulled a goal back. Midfielder Jamie Howard sent a through ball to Tong who this time guided it past the Newbridge keeper. (1-2)

Straight from kick off a lovely cross from the left was headed over the bar by Woods for Newbridge. Just two minutes later it was 2-2, midfielder Jack Biggs scored from close range after a cut back from Tom Landon. We nearly went in at the break ahead but Tong’s first time shot from Bigg’s flick on flew over the bar.

Ht 2-2

The opening exchanges of the second half saw us well on top for the first time in the match, a Biggs through ball again found Tong  but his effort from 20 yards out went wide. Biggs then saw his effort go wide after a good passage of play on the edge of the Newbridge area.

The visitors regained the lead in the 70th minute, a good run down the left by Powell saw him find Woods some 22 yards out, the young striker shot into the corner giving Lewis no chance. (2-3)

Woods completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute after latching onto a through ball and again finishing well inside the area. (2-4)

Veteran Tom Weaver went close with two efforts in the last five minutes, but it wasn’t to be and a break away saw Matt Merediths shot deflect off Jamie Howard for a 5th for the visitors.

Ft 2-5

A poor performance by us after last weeks game, Newbridge are a very good side and will be up there at the end of the season.

Many thanks to Tom Weaver for sponsoring the game, Tom chose Callum Maddy as man of the match.

Weekend Fixtures.

The Saints host Newbridge-On-Wye tomorrow(Saturday) at our Forest Road ground.

The visitors who we beat recently in the away fixture showed in the opening 40 minutes how good a side they can be. Once they had a player sent off we exploited the space and scored at will. This will be a tough game, they have had two very good wins lately and have moved up in third in the league.

Manager Gareth Jenkins informs he will be without Brendan Hackett, Harry Hooper and Adi Lawford who are all on holiday. Darren Horrigan faces a late fitness test. Back into the squad come Callum Maddy and Matty Tong after their holiday.

Saints v Newbridge-On-Wye FC Kick Off 2.30pm

The Reserves travel to Newcastle FC in what is always one of the toughest away fixtures of the season.

Newcastle Upon Clun FC v Saints Reserves Kick Off 2.30pm

Dyffryn Banw 0-7 Saints

The Saints made the long trek to Dyffryn Banw against a side that had won 1 and drawn 2 of their first 3 games.

Hay started the better and had a lot of possession in the opening stages. Tom James and Harry Hooper were a constant threat down the right hand side and the deadlock was broken on 15 mins after good work from Brendan Hackett and a cross from James was headed in by Jack Biggs who managed to beat the keeper to the ball. Five minutes later the lead was doubled when a nice pass from Jack Biggs played in Hackett who slotted past the keeper into the far post from 14 yards. A few minutes later it was three, after a corner was semi cleared by the home side, the ball rolled out to Tom James who hit the ball first time from 35 yards which flew into the top corner. The Saints were playing some brilliant football and keeping possession  well. The defence also looked very confident and dealt with the rare attacks from the home side. Hay goalkeeper Tom Lewis was called into action on the half hour mark and made a decent save from the head of the Banw striker. The Saints put themselves 0-4 up on 35 mins with another brilliant goal. The home side again semi dealt with a cross from the right, the ball looked to have been cleared but the hard working Tom Wilkes somehow managed to bend his foot around the ball and overhead kick it over the keeper into the back f the net for his first goal of the season. H.t 0-4

The home side started the second half brighter and created a few half chances early on but the Saint’s went on a counter attack down the left with Tom Landon who passed to Biggs who was brought down just inside the area after a clever turn. Biggs picked himself up and gave the keeper no chance from 12 yards to make it 0-5. The Saints continued to have a lot of possession but Tom Lewis had to make a good save with his feet after a quick counter attack from Banw. Hackett made it 0-6 after a neat one-two with Biggs, he then chipped the keeper from 20 yards. Six became seven when Biggs did a virtually identical finish and chipped it in this time from 18 yards. The visitors had to play the last 12 minutes with 10 men after substitute Darren Horrigan pulled his hamstring and was unable to continue with all three subs being made. F.t 0-7

It was a brilliant away performance with some superb football being played. We looked lethal in front of goal and had a few contenders for goal of the season. It was also very pleasing to get a third clean sheet in five games. Jamie Howard, Tom Lewis and the back four all put in good performances to limit the home sides opportunities. Hackett and Biggs were outstanding in the middle of the park and the wingers and front men worked tirelessly and always looked threatening.

A Win On The Road.

Top scorer Jack Biggs netted a hat-trick.

The Saints continued their good away form with a comprehensive 0-7 win at previously unbeaten Dyffryn Banw FC.

Goal scorers were Jack Biggs(3), Brendan Hackett(2), Tom James and Tom Wilkes.

Weekend Fixture.

The First Team have an away league fixture this Saturday and will make the long journey to Dyffryn Banw FC.

The hosts have started the season well and at present are undefeated after an away win and two home draws.

Manager Gareth Jenkins travels with a similar squad to what he had mid week, we are still waiting on international clearance on a player and have others away on a lads holiday, winger Adi Lawford is also unavailable.

Dyffryn Banw FC v Saints Kick Off 2.30pm⚽️⚽️

Saints Go Top.

The Saints had to dig deep tonight in defeating Rhayader Town FC 2-1.

The result means we go top which is a good response after losing our opening game of the season.

Goal scorers were Jack Biggs and Chris Preece.

Rhayader scorer Jamie Evans.

Hay St Mary’s goalkeeper Ton Lewis made a couple of key saves in the opening stages to keep the scoreline goalless including keeping a header out from an 11th minute corner.

The Saints responded five minute later when Jack Biggs saw a close range effort saved after Brendan Hackett had played a free-kick into the Rhayader Town penalty area. Biggs was on target shortly afterwards when he forced the ball home from close range, after Hackett had played the ball back into the danger area, when the visitor’s defence failed to clear an 18th minute corner properly.

Darren Horrigan nearly doubled the lead for the hosts but he was unable to keep his effort on target from a 20th minute cross as he stretched to meet the ball. A second goal arrived for the Saints in the 24th minute when central defender Chris Preece emphatically headed home from a corner.

Lewis made a smart save two minutes latter, to preserve the two-goal advantage, after a Rhayader Town forward had latched on to a through ball. The home custodian saved a header from a cross out on the right flank in the 31st minute to maintain Hay St Mary’s 2-0 advantage at the interval.

Ht 2-0

The Thin Red Line came close too halving the deficit in the opening minute of the second-half but the ball fitted wide of the near post following an early corner on the right. Rhayader Town saw a 25 yard drive flash across goal in the 53rd minute before Biggs saw a effort from a similar distance fly over the crossbar some 11 minutes later.

The visitors halved the deficit in the 71st minute when young striker  Jamie Evans headed a cross from the right past goalkeeper Lewis.

Lewis was then forced to turn away a shot from outside the penalty area in the 82nd minute. Hay St Mary’s did not test the Rhayader Town custodian as much during the second-half as substitute Jamie Howard saw a header saved from a Hackett free-kick with three minute remaining. The Mid Wales League (South) champions piled on the pressure in the closing stages and they came close to netting an equaliser deep in stoppage time, after pouncing on a defensive error, but Lewis made another fine save to send his team to the summit of the early table.

Match report Stu Townsend.

Ft 2-1

We didn’t play well last night but picked up three points so that can’t be bad. The team is doing well at present, due to holidays etc manager Gareth Jenkins hasn’t had a full squad to pick from and it looks like it will be another two weeks before he does. If we can keep picking points up until we are at full strength we could be in with a chance of challenging at the top.

I thought once again our two centre backs had very good games, Tom James put in a good performance but goalkeeper Tom Lewis was man of the match for pulling off several top saves.