Hay lost their first league game of the season, with a 2-0 away defeat at Knighton Reserves. After a defensive lapse, their nippy striker rounded Ethan Tunley to net the opener, before a swift counter-attack saw them add a second late in the first-half. The Saints reacted in the second-half, with the majority of the possession, but failed to find that elusive breakthrough, with Tom Weaver smashing a penalty against the crossbar.
Hay found it difficult to create chances in the first-half, with Weaver’s left-foot shot held at the near post, Toby Johnson heading a corner wide, and Kevin Goodwin toe-poking into the ‘keepers arms. Opponents Knighton looked relatively quiet in front of goal until Johnson’s lapse of concentration saw a ball escape his intentions, and the hosts little number nine nicked in to round Tunley and finish into the open goal. Knighton added a second with a swift counter-attack after a Hay corner was cleared; a break through the middle of the park eventually led to a cut-back from the right-wing being fired past stand-in ‘keeper Dan Jones, after Tunley was subbed off due to injury.
In the second-half, Hay started to dominate possession but were lacking a cutting edge in front of goal. They could have found themselves a further goal down but for a fine stop by Jones to deny the Knighton striker. The Saints had an ideal opportunity to pull a goal back, and claw a route back into the game after Goodwin was bought down inside the box, but Weaver’s penalty kick rattled the crossbar. Having returned from travelling, Josh Wisniewski came off the bench to add to the attacking prowess of the Hay squad, and he nearly marked his return with a goal, firing just past the far post with a left-foot shot. Mis-control let Stuart Davies down inside the box after a dinked cross found him, whilst Weaver missed the target with a headed effort after a corner from the right.
It was one of those days when Hay could have played for hours on end without finding the back of the net. Knighton were well drilled, and the two first-half strikes killed off the encounter. The Saints need to pick themselves up immediately for a clash with Builth on Tuesday at Forest Road in the Radnorshire Cup.
Hay: Tunley, Jones, Bradley, Johnson, Hackett, J. Davies, S. Davies, Preece, Atkinson, Weaver, Goodwin.
Subs: Howard, Snedden, Wisniewski.