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.
