Hay’s Reserve team came through a stern test at Knighton Victoria in the Alfred Sparey Cup, to eventually progress with a 5-3 victory. Dan Jones’s men found themselves 3-1 down at half-time despite having netted, via an own goal . Yet, in the second half they took full control and turned their possession into goals, with Dave Evans, Kevin Goodwin, Stuart Snedden and Ben Bevan finding the back of the net.
On a very muddy and slippy pitch, credit to both teams who were always looking to play the ball along the ground and to feet. The Saints should have been one up when Evans played in Goodwin but his right-foot shot was palmed behind by the ‘keeper. The hosts found themselves in front when a corner from the right was deflected into his own net by Paul Williams. However, minutes later Hay were on level terms when Knighton scored an own goal of their own following good work down the left-wing from Bevan. Knighton struck twice in quick succession to ensure that they led at half-time. A shot from the right deceived Mike Ward to make it 2-1, and soon after, Victoria added a third after a weak back pass from Toby Johnson was latched upon by the striker who flicked past Ward.
The second-half was a completely different story though with Hay upping their game and making full use of the width. A switch of play by Tom Weaver found Goodwin, who forced a good save from the ‘keeper who did well to get his hand to it having slipped. Goodwin beat two men on the right before chipping into Snedden and he in turn found his strike partner Evans, inside the area, and he swept the ball into the goal left-footed. The teams were level soon after when Goodwin was bought down in the box; he picked himself up to slot home the spot-kick with his right-foot. Snedden scored the goal of the game to put Hay in front for the first time when a pass into his feet by Weaver was flicked up and hammered past the home ‘keeper. The Saints continued to dominate with Evans rounding the ‘keeper but seeing a shot blocked on the line, before follow up efforts from Bevan, and again Evans, failed to trouble Victoria. Weaver curled over with his right-foot, whilst Sam Powell’s lung-busting run and long-range effort was gathered by the ‘keeper. In the past couple of minutes, Hay grabbed a fifth when Goodwin’s attempted toe-poke effort deflected into the path of Bevan who slotted past the goalie.
After a poor display in the first-half, Hay’s fitness and use of the width in the second was too hot for Victoria to handle. The experience in the middle of the park, with Powell and Weaver, was telling whilst Hay looked very solid defensively throughout. Next up for Hay is a home game against Rhayader, who have won every game this season.
Dan would like to thank all the players that turned up yesterday at such short notice.
Hay: Ward, Jones (Harrington), Johnson, Preece, Williams, Goodwin, Powell, Weaver, Bevan, Evans, Snedden.