The Sunday Saints travaled to St Georges Field in Hereford for their final league game of the season and came away with a close 4-3 defeat to second placed Potting Shed FC who missed out on winning the league on goal difference.
The Saints travelled with the bare 11 and started nervy, the home side being more than just aggressive and also volatile with their reckless challenges all over the pitch, this was not helped with the referee not controlling matters and letting so much go.
The Saints never stopped working and defended bravely with player/manager Gareth Ratcliffe, Matt Pugh, Dan Scaife, Paul Willis & Joe Emmitt giving it their all. The visitors kept Potting Shed at bay until finally a good move was finished off with a long range efffort giving Saints keeper Tom Bevan no chance.
Hay had a couple of chances to equalise with Emmitt finding striker Nathan Heighway who shot inches wide, moments later Heighway had another shot tipped around the post as Hay tried everything to get back into the game. Unfortunately “Shed” hit Hay on the counter and made it 2-0 at the break with another good move which was finished well. Ht 2-0
The second half had become more volatile than the first with numerous reckless challenges going in from the Potting Shed players as frustration grew for them knowing that they were not going to score the 25 goals required in order for them to win the league.
A leg breaking challenge on striker Heighway which should of been red was overturned by the ref as the opposition told the ref they would sub him off for being a bit reckless! .
Finally Hay responded through player/manager Gareth Ratcliffe who slotted the ball calmly under the keeper from a tight angle. Shed responded with a further 2 goals but in reality this could have been more if it wasn’t for Hays outstanding keeper Tom Bevan who made numerous saves which included a penalty save. The Saints keeper also went up the other end towards the end of the game and scored a bicycle kick from close range, then Ratcliffe made the score really respectable as he blasted the ball past the keeper for his second goal of the game. f/t 4-3.
In summary it was always going to be tough with 11 men playing against a team with the worst disiplinary record in the league, a man of the match performances all round which the Saints must be proud of. They finished the season in 6th place and now have the Ron Ellis cup final to look forward to on May 10th against Torros FC.
Match report by NH.