Wiz at the double in Saints win

July 24th, 2010

 

Josh Wisniewski.

The Saints claimed their first pre-season victory with a comprehensive 2-0 win against AFC Panteg at Forest Road. The hosts had to be patient, eventually breaking through the Panteg back-line in the final fifteen minutes when Josh Wisniewski expertly finished. Wisniewski added a second moments later before Panteg saw a late penalty kick well-saved by Ian Jones, to safeguard his clean-sheet.

The first-half lacked many decent chances at either end, although the away side should have done better when a long ball over the back-line wasn’t dealt with, and their striker’s attempted lob over the out rushing I. Jones fell wide of the mark. At the other end, a good move saw Wisniewski cross for Kevin Jones, who saw his placed left-foot volley well blocked. Wisniewski flashed a volley off-target before K. Jones’s powerful free-kick flew over the bar.

Phil Davies.

Soon after a soft penalty appeal was turned away for Panteg, Hay started to take control in the second-period with their attacking threat finding form. K. Jones smashed an effort against the post as the hosts searched for the opener. They were eventually awarded for their persistence when K. Jones nut-megged a defender and delivered a cross to the back-post to Wisniewski. The striker took one touch to bring the ball down before curling a brilliant right-foot shot around the ‘keeper. He soon added a second with an emphatic finish from inside the box after good work by sub Colan Badham. With the two goal lead intact, Hay really should have extended that lead but Tom Weaver somehow missed from little over three yards out with a free header, that bounced before clearing the cross-bar. In the closing moments, Chris Preece was penalised for handball, but Panteg couldn’t register a goal, as Ian Jones guessed the right way to palm the spot-kick away to safety.

Stu Davies and Gav Williams.

Hay took a while to get going in the game, but once they did they looked decent, with good energy in the middle of the park and both strikers looking dangerous up top. Man of the match though goes to Josh Davies, who gave nothing away at right-back today with an impressive display.

Hay: I. Jones, J. Davies, Preece, Havard, P. Davies, J. Atkinson, S. Davies, T. Weaver, G. Williams, K. Jones, J. Wisniewski. Subs: J. Howard, T. Wilkes, C. Badham, W. Goodwin.Hay 2-0 Panteg