A Jack Biggs brace and a Phil Davies strike helped the Saints to a 3-1 victory over Presteinge FC this afternoon in the ER Jenkins cup, the victory sees the home team qualify for the semi-final stage.
Saints v Presteigne.
Phil Davies opens the scoring.
After a couple of days of rain it was decided to play this cup tie on our bottom pitch which drains much the better out of the two.
With the wind at their back it was the visitors who started the stronger but they never really tested the Saints defence and keeper, in fact it was the home side who had the first couple of chances, midfielder Brendan Hackett went close but scopped his effort over the bar as did Steve Goodwin from the edge of the area, both chances came after two fast counter attacks.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute, after Chris Preece and Hackett played a one two through the Presteigne midfield, Hackett then fed the ball to the over lapping Phil Davies, Davies shot across the visitors keeper to put the home side 1-0 up.
Midfielder Chris Preece.
Biggs heading in his first.
The Goodwin brothers and Biggs’ after the strikers first goal.
Presteigne thought they had equalised when one of their players prodded home a rebound, however, the player was rightly flagged for offside.
On the half hour mark another quick counter attack saw Hay awarded a corner, Hackett took it and just like last week striker Jack Biggs out jumped everyone, his glancing header flew into the back of the net for 2-0.
The homeside were now in the full ascendancy, a ball from the back was flicked on by Rob MaNamara to what looked like a lost cause, Biggs had other ideas, he somehow stretched and reached to get the ball, he got back up and hit a first time left footed shot from the edge of the area in the right hand side bottom corner of the goal to make it 3-0.
Presteigne had a couple of half chances but a couple of last ditch blocks from Tom James and captain Stu Davies kept the 3-0 lead in tact. Ht 3-0.
The visitors started the stronger in the second half and with 55 minutes gone a good headed goal by Nick Evans saw the lead cut to 3-1. Presteigne caused a few panics in the next 5 minutes but after that it was the Saints who took control of the game again and if it wasn’t for the visitors keeper and some wayward finishing there could of been a couple more goals added to the tally.
Ft 3-1.
Tom , Josh and Stu, the Saints back three.
A tough game against a good side, with the wind blowing I was hoping to go in at half time at 0-0 so to go in 3-0 up was a massive bonus, but like the Presteigne chairman said sometimes having the wind can be a hindrance and that’s how it panned out today.
Presteigne had both their centre backs missing today but i’m not sure if they would have made a huge difference the way our front men performed . I thought Brendan Hackett was outstanding in the first half playing in the hole as was Jack Biggs who seems to be getting better each week now he’s playing up top.
Jack Biggs.
Thanks to Stu Townsend for the photos.
Manager Tom Weaver was a happy man after the game, he said ” That was a good team performance, we look strong across the back and our attacking play was top drawer”. I asked the gaffer who was his man of the match and he said “The whole team played well, Preecy worked real hard in the middle but for the second week running I would have to give it to Biggsy”.
If you’re reading this Biggsy, it’s all very simple, stay in on a Friday night and look what happens!
Next up Llanfyllin away in the Central Wales cup.