The Saints beat local rivals Talgarth Town 3-2 tonight at Forest Road in front of a bumper crowd.
The game started scrappy with neither side really getting their passing game going, the visitors started to edge the game and on ten minutes player manager Gavin Perry burst through the middle and saw Saints keeper Josh Davies off his line and lobbed him from just outside the box to put Talgarth 0-1 up and silenced the home supporters.
It took the homeside a good twenty minutes to get into the game and from their first real menancing move a one two involving Kevin Jones and Phil Davies saw the latter blast his shot past the diving Bowen in Talgarths goal to make the score 1-1.
At this stage the homeside started to get on top and it wasn’t long when the impressive Steve Goodwin burst down the left and outmuscled Gavin Perry, he then blasted the ball past Bowen to make it 2-1 just before half-time, one minute later Goodwin hit a 20 yard curling shot which again had Bowen beat but it agonisingly came back off the post. ht 2-1.
The homeside dominated long periods of the second half but when they did a get a shot in on goal they found Bowen in inspired form, the young keeper showing good potential for the future.
On the hour mark Saints bruiser Kev Jones was tripped in the box, referee Rob Evans had n o hesitation in pointing straight to the spot, usual penalty taker Jones who struggled all game with a groin strain asked Goodwin to take it, he obliged and made no mistake in putting the hosts 3-1 up.
At this point in the game it seemed a matter of how many the homeside would score but some dogged defending by the visitors and the loss of Jones and Goodwin saw Talgarth come back into the game and with three minutes left they pulled a goal back after a goalmouth scrammble in the area, however, this turned out to be just a consilation as Rob Evans blew for the final whistle with the score 3-2 to Hay.
Two goal Steve Goodwin.
A bumper crowd at Forest Road.
Manager Tom Weaver told the website after the game “I’m unhappy with the performance especially after the way we played at Abermule but I know it’s hard in derby games, however, we played in front of a massive crowd and we have a lot of youngsters who were very nervous”. He also said ” I can’t complain too much as we came away with the 3 points which has put us back on top of the league albeit it’s early doors, I’m more than happy with the way the season has started”.
Tom was pleased with the performance of Kevin Jones and Steve Goodwin but chose defender Sam Bradley as his man of the match.
Man of the match Sam Bradley.
Ft Saints 3 Talgarth Town 2.. Attendance 317.