The Saints defeated current Mid Wales South leaders Rhayader Town 3-0 today in the Central Wales Cup.
Manager Fil Wisnieski made some changes to the team that beat Rhosgoch midweek some enforced and some tactical.
Hay started the brighter but it was Rhayader who nearly scored in the 3rd minute when a long range effort deceived keeper Bryan Kirkham and hit the bar. That was the Saints wake up call and they then started to knock the ball around with fullbacks Phil Davies and Steve Jenkins causing the Rhayader back four all sorts of problems by over lapping and cutting balls back for the front two of Ollie Cooke and Rob Snedden. Paul Davies in the Rhayader goal made several good saves to keep the Saints out. Rhayader were very quiet in the first half going forward with Stuart Davies and Chris Preece looking very solid in the Hay defence. The Saints first goal came on the 25 minute mark when Phil Davies fed Tom Weaver who crossed for Skipper Steve Jenkins to ghost in behind the Rhayader full back and bury the header past Davies in the Rhayader goal. The Saints were now in total control and could have added to the total but some poor finishing and good goal keeping kept the score at 1=0 at the break. HT 1-0.
After a good talking to Rhayader came out pumped up for the second half. The next twenty minutes was fairly even but Rhayader never really caused the Saints any problems on goal. Tom Weaver along with Gary Keeble then took control of the midfield again, with Weaver sending some lovely through balls for the strikers and Keeble covering every blade of grass on the pitch. Weaver sent Snedden through to be one on one with the keeper with about five minutes to go, Sneds tried rounding him but again Davies saved only for the ball to pop out for Snedden who was then brought down by the full back for a penalty which he got and put away with ease to make it two nil. Two minutes later Preece cut in from the right and crossed for Josh Davies who had come to replace winger Jamie Howard to head home the Saints third of the afternoon. FT 3-0.
After the game Rhayader Manager Dylan Mcphee said “I have no complaints with the result. We expected a tough game and got one. Hay are a good footballing side”.
Rhayader were missing several regulars but so were the Saints. I thought Tom Weaver was the man of the match and I also thought the boys put in a very commanding performance dominating a large parts of the game keeping Rhayaders scoring chances down to the very minimum. Thats three very good wins in a week.