Knighton were on top from the off, the Saints had to defend in numbers leaving Kevin Jones up top as a lone striker. In the 11th minute Jordan Baker tripped ConnorBird giving referee Gwilym Lewis no other choice than to award the visitors a penalty. Midfielder Mark Jones stepped up but blasted the ball high over the bar to the relief of the Saints supporters.
From a corner Bird saw his header cleared off the line as the Radnor Robins piled on the pressure. The visitors finally took the lead in the 18th minute when top scorer Bird finished from the right side of the area. 0-1.
In the 21st minute Brendan Hackett cut inside his man and shot which Dave Exhall in the Knighton goal saved, however, the rebound went staright to Kevin Jones who made no mistake from close range. 1-1.
After the equaliser the Saints came more into the game but it was still the visitors who held the upper hand and nearly scored on the stroke of half time when a deflected effort looped up high but Tom Lewis managed to tip it over the bar. Ht 1-1.
The second half saw the home side get on top for the first time in the match, a through ball saw Rob McNamara in on goal but his effort was well saved by Exhall. The Saints supporters shouted for a penalty on striker Jones after a wrestling match with Adam Farmer but in my opinion the referee got it right by ignoring the appeals.
Jack Biggs and Brendan Hackett were causing the robins a lot of problems on the right side of their defence and after a good jinking run by Biggs he was tripped on the edge of the area, a free kick was awarded. Hackett bent the ball around the wall to put the Saints 2-1 up in the 81st minute.
Hackett then had a good chance to put the game out of reach when he found himself one on one with Exhall but his effort went inches over the bar.
The Saints tried to run the clock down by holding the ball in the corners but Knighton being driven on by player manager Adam Worton were determined to get something from the game. That something came in the 92nd minute, a lovely inswinging corner was met at the back post by Dan Dawson who headed in the equaliser to the delight of the large contingent of Knighton supporters. Ft 2-2.
A great game by two good footballing sides, Knighton are the best side in the league that we have come up against by a country mile. It was gutting to concede so late in the game but over the 90 minutes I think a point is a fair reflection of how the day went. Having spoke with both managers they too agreed it was a fair result.
Man of the match Steve Goodwin.
Team –
Tom Lewis, Tom James, Jordan Baker, Stu Davies(c), Steve Goodwin, Josh Davies, Brendan Hackett, Jack Biggs, Rob McNamara, Kevin Jones(Will Goodwin), Matt James. Unused Subs Adam Finn and Rory Hackett.
Photos by Stu Townsend.