Weekend Fixtures

The Saints are away tomorrow(Saturday) at Caersws FC and then home on Bank Holiday Monday against Berriew FC.

The management team are once again at their wits end with the amount of players unavailable through injury or unavailability. In all my years of being involved I’ve not known anything like it, with a first team squad of 20 there are 10 players not available for the trip to Caersws. Manager Gareth Jenkins will once again have to don his boots.

Saturday

Caersws FC v Saints Kick off 2.30pm

Monday

Saints v Berriew FC Kick off 2.30pm

Derby Day Win

The Saints won an end to end derby last night beating Radnor Valley 2-1 with goals from Greg Preece(24) and a penalty from Jack Biggs (49).

Joey Price(65)replied for the visitors with a trademark free.

The match started in damp conditions on a grey and dull evening with the match well-attended by supporters of both clubs. The home team had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the ninth minute but Greg Preece did not meet a low cross from out on the right with the best connection and Fowden saved.

Elliot Morris nearly opened the scoring at the other end of the pitch when he headed wide of the far post from a 15th minute corner.

Preece went on a driving run towards the Radnor Valley penalty area in the 22nd minute but saw his low shot saved by Will Fowden. The former Hereford FC youth team forward found the net two minutes later though after a counter attack saw Matty Tong find Preece, he cut in from the left flank and curled his shot into the far corner of the Goats’goal to hand Hay St Mary’s the initial advantage.(1-0)

The visitors pressed for the equaliser and earned a number of corners and free-kicks around the Hay St Mary’s penalty area. Radnor Valley talisman Joey Price saw his low 25 yard free-kick parried by James Barker in the home goal before the Saints custodian made a smart save from a follow-up effort in the 41st minutes.

Jack Biggs went close with an instinctive long-range effort three minutes later before Jack Evans saw his stoppage time effort deflected wide of the target for a Hay St Mary’s corner.

Ht 1-0

The hosts made the perfect start to the second-half when Goats defender Matthew Venables tripped Tong in the penalty area as the striker was about to shoot on goal. Jack Biggs stepped-up to convert the spot-kick awarded by Steve Bradford. (2-0)

Despite going 2-0 behind for the third match in succession, the New Radnor visitors never gave-up and looked to find a way back into this derby, with Callum Matthews finding a way through on goal but denied by the legs of Barker in the 63rd minute. The Goats halved the deficit just two minutes later when Joey Price found the bottom corner of Barker’s goal with another of his trademark free-kicks from 25 yards.

The visitors were now pushing for an equaliser with Price cutting in from the left flank in the 75th minute but saw his effort deflected wide of goal and saw his near post effort turned behind for a corner by Barker three minutes later. Hay St Mary’s defended resolutely in the closing stages of the match, despite the pressure applied from the Goats’ forward line, to claim the derby spoils under the Forrest Road floodlights.

A very good game to watch for the large crowd which in all honesty could of gone either way but on the night we took our chances and put bodies on the line to stop Radnor scoring. The average age of last nights squad was 20 which is great for the future.

I thought we were good right throughout, besides Joey Price giving me a few more grey hairs with his free kicks (always on target) we defended so well as a team.

A massive thank you to Stuart Townsend for sponsoring the game, Stu chose striker Greg Preece as his man of the match.

Preece defending last night

Team –

James Barker, Harry Hooper, Liam McAnally, Frazer MAnally(c), Liam Pike, Jack Evans, Callum Maddy, Jack Biggs, Darren Horrigan(Adi Lawford), Matty Tong and Greg Preece

Harry Ratcliffe, Gareth Jenkins

King Richard Booth

Sad news has reached us that one of our Honorary Presidents Richard Booth has passed away.

Richard, known to everyone in Hay has ‘King Richard’ was the main driving force in turning Hay into the second bookshop capital of the world.

Richard was a main sponsor of the club for many years.

Saints in League Action Tonight

The Saints will host Radnor Valley FC tonight(Tuesday) in a MMP division league division one fixture at Forest Road.

Radnor are under new management with former referee Rob Evans in charge and he’s being assisted by former Vale of Arrow and Rhosgcoch player Phil Davies. They have had a slow start due to players not being available and trouble getting international clearance with new signings although reports suggest they could be at near full strength tonight.

The Saints management team are hoping to have a few players back themselves after Saturday where over half the team were unavailable.

Saints v Radnor Valley FC Kick off 7.30pm

All Square at Forest Road

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The Saints drew 1-1 with visitors Welshpool Town FC.

Striker Matty Tong put ‘The Saints’ 1-0 up in the 17th minute after sprinting through and shooting  into the bottom right corner past the diving Welshpool keeper.

Veteran striker Kevin Jones came out of retirement to play in goal due to both the clubs keepers being on holiday. Jones saved a penalty in the 71st minute tipping the ball over the bar at full stretch.

The visitors equalised late in the game with minutes left on the clock whenn Dan Bowen finally got a shot past Jones.

The Gaffer had this to say –

It was a superb team effort with so many players unavailable and one not turning up on the day. The back four, Preecy and Joey were rock solid and threw there bodies on the line. Also a great penalty save by Joey. Midfielders and strikers put in a big shift closing down and creating own opportunities. All eleven were superb but mom goes to Liam McAnally who was outstanding throughout.

Also well done to the gaffer who had to start himself due to being so short of players.

League Action at Forest Road

Tomorrow is FAW Fair Play day throughout our league which “The Saints” backs.

The Saints are home tomorrow(Saturday) when they host Welshpool Town FC. Last seasons top scorer Will Thomas will be the man to watch, once again he’s hit the ground running by scoring 4 goals on the opening day at Carno.

Due to being away I’ve not heard any team news besides Jack Cook, Will Goodwin and Tom Jenkins are on the long term injury list.

Saints v Welshpool Town FC Kick off 2.30pm

Home Loss

The Saints lost at home last night 0-2 to a very good Builth Wells FC side.

After a bright start by us the visitors took control and were the better side for most of the game.

Jack Hammond continued his good start to the season by putting Builth 0-1 up in the 19th minute. They didn’t get that all important second until the 86th minute when the experienced Tom Bethell hit a beaut of a free kick from 30 yards giving new Saints keeper James Barker no chance of saving it.

A quick update on youngster Jack Cook who found out last night after a trip to A and E that  he’s broken his collarbone and will now be out the foreseeable future. Everyone at the club wishes Jack a speedy recovery and hopes to see him back in the green and white soon.

FT Saints 0 Builth Wells 2

Line up –

Home League Fixture

Tomorrow night(Wednesday) we host one of the favourites for the title when Builth Wells FC are in town.

Builth finished last season very strong culminating in winning the league cup 2-1 against Caersws FC. Manager Dylan McPhee has destined all of last seasons squad and added more quality to it. They beat Berriew FC 3-2 on the opening day who themselves have been tipped to be not far off this season.

Manager Gareth Jenkins will be without striker Greg Preece (holiday), however, Jack Biggs joins the squad after missing the first game through illness. Harry Hopper, Liam Pike and Harry Ratcliffe are added to the squad.

The bar is open before, during and after the game.

Saints v Builth Wells FC Kick off 7.30pm

The match has been kindly sponsored by Oti Kalo of Brecon. Give them a follow on Facebook for more details.

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Away Win

The Saints put in a great performance away from home at Llansantffraid Village FC on the opening day of the new season securing all three points after 1-7 win.

What was so good about this win was the number of players missing and the average age of the squad that travelled with over half the team being teenagers.

Jack Evans continued his impressive pre season form by putting us 0-1 up, the lead was soon doubled when striker Greg Preece made it 0-2.

Llansantffraid pulled a goal back (1-2) but striker Matty Tong soon added our third after being set up by Preece 1-3.

Ht 1-3

We continued our good form into the second half and it wasn’t long before winger Adi Lawford put us 1-4 up. Preece then made it 1-5 before setting up strike partner Tong again who added his second and the teams sixth 1-6.

It was left to midfielder Callum Maddy to net our last goal and make the final score 1-7.

Ft 1-7

The management team of Gareth Jenkins and Colin Preece were happy with the performance and result but know much tougher challenges are ahead.

Adam Finn was excellent in defence as was Greg Preece up front after netting two and also he was involved in three assists.

Team –

James Barker, Jordon Ingram, Frazer McAnally, Adam Finn(c), Liam McAnally, Jack Cook, Jack Evans, Callum Maddy, Adi Lawford, Matty Tong and Greg Preece.

Our goal scorers were –

Matty Tong (2), Greg Preece (2), Jack Evans, Callum Maddy and the experienced Adi Lawford.

More to follow

New Season

The new season is nearly upon, the league starts tonight with a game at Radnor who host local rivals Llandrindod Wells FC. As I lay here  in the sun in Spain I’m already seeing tweets saying the game could be in doubt due the weather.

Tomorrow(Saturday) we make the long trip to Llansantffraid FC . We’ve not had the best of summers, losing Brendan Hackett to Wellington was a major blow, we’ve also picked up several injuries in pre season a couple of them being long term. New signings Tom Jenkins has broke his toe,Kieran Patel(holiday), Liam Pike(work) the evergreen Will Goodwin has tore ankle ligaments, Richard Meredith(ankle), Tom and Matt James(unavailable),  Callum Maddy is 50/50 and Jack Biggs misses out due to illness.

Manager Gareth Jenkins is expecting a tough opening month until he can get all his players fit.

Llandantffraid Village FC v Saints Kick off 2.30pm