The Saints knocked out higher graded Four Crosses today in a game that had extra time, 5 goals and 3 red cards.
Player manager Tom Weaver rolled back the years with a brace and won a penalty which Brendan Hackett converted.
The Saints arrived at Foxen Manor home of Four Crosses under no illusions how tough a task lay ahead, the homeside lay in second place in the league above us. They have applied for promotion to the Cymru Alliance league and need to extend their stand to pass the criteria otherwise the ground is up to standard, I was impressed with the set up they have there.
We started off very well knocking the ball around and looking the better side in the opening 15 minutes, in that period we had two penalty shouts when Stu Davies and Thomas Wilkes were clipped in the box, I thought the Wilkes one was a definate but the referee waved play on, Davies also went close when the ball fell to him in the box but his left foot effort went over the bar.
The homeside got into the game and on their first attack opened the scoring with a well worked goal and a quality finish giving Josh Davies no chance. Crosses then showed their class by going 2-0 up after 25 minutes, a free kick into the box saw their striker unmarked and he headed into an empty net.
I have to admit at this point I expected the floodgates to open up with us fielding such a young side but to be fair the back four defended very well, Crosses did miss one other good headed chance but we also broke an a couple of occassions and the one chance saw Wilkes in on goal but he blasted his effort too high. ht 2-0
I’m not sure what Tom Weaver and Preecy said at half-time but we came out a different side in the second half and within 5 minutes had pulled a goal back, the overlapping Tom James layed it off to Stu Snedden who then threaded an inch perfect ball to Weaver, the player manager placed his shot into the corner making it 2-1.
The Saints were now dominating and the homeside were starting to lose their rag which saw the ref start to dish out several yellow cards for dissent including one for our own Phil Davies. In the 55th minute fullback James went on the overlap again and chipped in a ball to Weaver who turned his marker inside out, the defender then tripped Weaver before he could pull the trigger, the ref blew and pointed to the spot, he showed the defender a yellow card when maybe it should of been red . Up stepped the impressive Brendan Hackett who sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-2.
With time running out the homeside number 7 was shown a red card for more dissent, the Saints did have chances to win it in the 90 but failed to take them so it was down to extra time to try and seperate the sides.
Again we started the brighter and 5 minutes into the first half of extra time went ahead for the first time, Stu Davies splitting the homesides defence with a throughball and Weaver finished well, very simular to his first goal, 2-3.
Crosses then threw everything at us but Preece and his defence stood firm, youngsters Rory Hackett, Adam Finn and Tom James all standing up to a bigger stronger side, the experinced Sam Bradley had to use his pace on many occassions to get us out of trouble.
The second half of extra time saw plenty more incidents, Stu Davies broke down the left he knocked the ball on too far and had to dive in to win it, the ref thought he did fairly but the player who had been booked earlier for the challenge on Weaver didn’t and chopped Davies down, younger brother Phil came running across to remonstrate with the opposition player which ended up with both seeing red, Crosses were down to 9 and the Saints 10 players.
Crosses had a couple of corners at the end which was a bit nerve racking but they were dealt with by the defence, their keeper had come up for the one so a break was on after a quick throw out by Davies which found Weaver running towards an empty goal on the half way line, Hackett was up in support with him and screaming for the ball but as Weaver was about to pass someone from the crowd shouted “shoot” which he did and hit the corner flag!
Shortly after the ref blew up and the Saints enjoyed a deserved victory over higher graded opponents ft 2-3
Youngster Tom James in action.
Player Manager Tom Weaver after the game.
When I arrived at the ground and was told we had no Kevin Jones, Gav Williams, John Daw, Rob Snedden and the Goodwin brothers I thought oh dear this could be a hammering, I also confess to moaning all first half about Tom playing himself upfront, 2 goals and a penalty won shut me up good and proper, one more confession, the guy that screamed “shoot” when Tom should of passed, that was me too!
A fantastic team effort from a very young side, everyone played well, Stu Davies was outstanding, his brother and Brendan covered every blade of grass, the defence all had good games as did Joshy in goal but my man of the match and i’m eating that humble pie now goes to Tom Weaver.
Saints- J.Davies, R.Hackett, C.Preece(c), S.Bradley, T.James, B.Hackett, T.Wilkes, S.Davies, P.Davies, S.Snedden, T.Weaver. Subs A.Finn, W.Ratcliffe, J.Howard.