We bowed out of the league cup final after one of our worst performances of the season in losing 1-4 to Montgomery Town FC, saying that the visitors were excellent from start to finish and deserved their place in the final.
Our goal scorer was Tom Landon.
The Saints first team host Montgomery Town FC in a double header today(Saturday). The game will be a league fixture and the semi-final of the league cup, the league committee decided due to the previous bad weather and backlog of fixtures it was the best option.
Saints First Team v Montgomery Town FC k.o. 2.30pm
Refreshments available, before, during and after the match.
Match sponsor J.Evans.
The Saints inflicted a first league defeat on champions Builth Wells FC tonight after a 2-1 win under the lights at Forest Road.
Both sides were missing several key players, manager Gareth Jenkins once again had to name himself in the starting line up.
Clear goal scoring opportunities were at a premium in the opening stages of this match as Saints defender Wilf Ratcliffe fired an effort at the Builth Wells goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area and a Wyesiders’ midfielder fired a 21st minute free-kick from out on the right straight at Jordan Bailey in the Hay St Mary’s goal. Bailey made an incredible one-handed save to turn over a pile driver from no more than 15 yards out.
Both teams came close to breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time, as firstly the visitors saw a 46th minute free kick for a backpass deflected behind for corner, before the host’s player/manager Gareth Jenkins saw a close range shot on the turn saved.
Ht 0-0
Jenkins was denied by the Builth Wells custodian in the opening minute of the second-half following a low cross swung in from the right before the visitors saw a header from a 48th minute corner clip the top of the Saints’ crossbar.
The Wyesiders took the lead six minutes later when they broke down the right and the subsequent cross was converted by former Llandrindod Wells striker Richie Powell. But the visitor’s were only ahead for two minutes as Jack Biggs’ header from Adam Finns’ free-kick into the Builth Wells penalty area found the back of the net. Hay St Mary’s turned the match around in the 67th minute when skipper Chris Preece eventually headed the ball home from close range after the Wyesiders’ failed to deal properly with a corner.
Saints goalkeeper Jordan Bailey was forced into a full-length save save in the 71st minute before the hosts went down the other end of the pitch and Adi Lawford saw his 30 yard effort saved. Builth Wells applied the pressure in the closing minutes as they saw a header from an 89th minute clear the crossbar before Preece was forced to clear a dangerous cross heading towards the far post. But the champions were unable to find the elusive equaliser to preserve their unbeaten league record.
Goal scorers Jack Biggs and Chris Preece.
Match report and photos by Stu Townsend
Man of the match Jack Biggs.
League Champions Builth Wells FC are the visitors to Forest Road tonight.
Saints manager Gareth Jenkins will probably have to start again due to his injury hit side being short in numbers.
Saints v Builth Wells FC. kick off 6.45pm
Match Sponsor: Fil Wisniewski
The Saints retained ‘The Hay Senior Cup’ after a hard fought 3-1 win over Brecon Northcote FC.
Goal scorers were veteran player manager Gareth Jenkins, Matty Tong and Adi Lawford.
After the defeat the previous day to Brecon, ‘The Gaffer’ decided to change the formation into a more attacking style with two up top. To everyone’s surprise he started himself due to several people pulling out through injury or being unavailable.
For the first time in weeks we started very well, pegging Northcote back whilst we pressed high up the pitch. In the fifth minute a header back towards goal by a ‘Cote’ defender nearly deceived their keeper but he managed to save it with Jenkins looming.
In the 20th minute a long kick from Saints keeper Jordon Bailey saw ‘Cote’ captain Frazer Mcanally and the keeper collide, they were both trying to clear the ball whilst under pressure from player manager Gareth Jenkins. The ball dropped loose and Jenkins chipped it up with his back to goal before scissor kicking over them from 25 yards out, two defenders tried chasing it back but the ball found the back of the net to put us 1-0 up.
Harry Ratcliffe was causing problems for the ‘Cote’ defence with his long throws which Biggs was flicking on but we couldn’t get the final touch on them due to some good defending by Mcanally and his men.
Ten minutes later ‘Cote’ winger Glyn Hobbs crossed from the left and found Jordan Ingram at the back post, his shot found the bottom corner of the net to level the scores at 1-1.
‘Cote’ had a good spell after this which saw Bailey make a good save from a Joel Evans header and again from the resulting corner the same player saw his effort saved by the impressive Bailey.
Captain Chris Preece lifted his men to start pressing again and in the 36th minute Jenkins nearly scored his second after a goal mouth scramble his header hit the post before going out for a goal kick.
Jenkins who was now becoming a menace whilst up front with youngster Matty Tong chased another long ball down which the ‘Cote’ keeper dropped, he cleverly got between the keeper and the spilled ball before laying it back to Tong on the edge of the area, the striker drilled the ball into the top right corner to put us 2-1 up.
Just on the stroke of half time ‘Cote’ keeper Alex Horsley got injured and had to be replaced during the break.
Ht 2-1
The second half saw chances at both ends, both Saints replacements went close, Josh Wisniewski with a header and Zac Snape who had replaced the injured Jamie Howard saw his free kick go inches wide.
Up the other end Preece and Adam Finn with Will Goodwin sat in front of them had their hands full trying to keep the outstanding Joel Evans quiet.
Jack Biggs saw a couple of headers saved but it was in defence were he shone heading cross after cross away from the dangerous Evans.
Adi Lawford gave us some breathing space with a rasping drive from 16 yards which gave replacement keeper Myles no chance. 3-1
‘Cote’ gambled by putting on extra forward players to go all out for the win, this caused them problems when it broke down with the energetic Callum Maddy counter attacking, we really should of added to our total from some of the counter attacks but we couldn’t find the target.
It wasn’t one way traffic at all as Bailey pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to deny the Brecon team another goal.
Ft 3-1
A much better team performance than the day before in difficult conditions due to the heat, today we took our chances at the right times. Brecon Northcote have come on leaps and bounds from the team who entered the MWS a few years ago.
Team –
Jordon Bailey, Chris Preece(c), Adam Finn, Will Goodwin, Harry Ratcliffe, Adi Lawford, Jack Biggs, Callum Maddy, Jamie Howard(Zac Snape), Gareth Jenkins(Josh Wisnieski), Matty Tong. Unused subs Darren Horrigan and Griff Thomas(Both carrying injuries)
Sponsors man of the match Callum Maddy
Match sponsor The Rose and Crown and former player Aston Kinsey (Many thanks from everyone at the club)
Thanks to everyone who helped prepare and help out on the day. The biggest thank you goes to Jenko for all his hard work in organising it.
The Saints went down 2-1 at Brecon Northcote FC this afternoon.
We found ourselves a goal down in the second minute after clearing the ball off the line on three occasions from a corner, the fourth time saw the ball hit the back of the net.
A mistake in midfield in the 20th minute saw the home side break and score a second.
Just before half time we pulled a goal back after Matty Tong cut the ball back from the by line to Jack Biggs, his effort hit a Northcote and flew into the net. Ht 2-1
We were the better side in the second period but wasted numerous chances to grab the equaliser during a scorching hot day in South Powys.
Ft 2-1
Brecon Northcote 6 Kington Town Reserves 4.
A great game for the neutral, Northcote all the way through but Kington stayed in contention until a late goal saw them seal their place in the final.
Northcote will now face host club Hay St Mary’s FC.
Today(Sunday)
Hay Senior Cup Semi-Final
Kington Town Res v Brecon Northcote FC. 2.30pm kick off
Tuesday
Ron Ellis Cup Semi-Final
Ewyas Harold Res v Orleton Colts Res 7.30pm kick off
Darren Horrigan
Winger Darren Horrigan has won the first team player of the month for Feb/March as voted by his team mates, well done Daz.
Finals day will be held next Sunday May 6th followed by evening of music in a marquee at the ground. Tickets can still be purchased although I know there aren’t many left. See Jenko or any of the players if you would like to purchase one.
