The Saints travelled to Bartestree in a confident mood having to make only one change in the starting eleven with Steven Jenkins replacing the injured Liam Pugh (groin strain). After a cagey opening the Saints started to take control after ten minutes with Ben Walsh troubling the opposing full back with his pace on numerous occasions and Tom Wilkes and Gary Keeble starting to take charge in midfield with their relentless persistence and closing down. At the back Hay looked more composed than at any other time this season mostly due to better communication led by Steven Jenkins which seemed to spread throughout the side. It was around twenty minutes before Hay carved their first opening with Gary Keeble unleashing a terrific shot from twenty yards producing a fine save from the opposing keeper. Hay continued their spell of dominance winning numerous corners and created many half chances until finally on the stroke of half time they got their rewards with a Tom Wilkes goal. A fantastic move started on the right by Mike Ward who played a neat one two inside to Jacko Thomas and on given the return pass fed the ball to Tom Wilkes who hit his shot first time on the edge of the box giving the keeper no chance.
Half time 0-1
Despite the advantage of playing down hill in the second half Hay once again started with caution and were punished five minutes in when some good work by Bartestree on the left allowed a cross to come across the edge of the box which was tucked into the corner neatly by the advancing winger.
This seemed to make Hay raise their game and they started to pass it around and create some openings, although changes had to be made after fifty five minutes however when a lovers tiff ensued between Chris Bounds and Jacko Thomas became a heated exchange on the pitch, leaving manager Andrew Harris in no doubt that they would both have to come off. This brought the arrival of Graeme Keeble and Will Goodwin into the game -the latter having impressed last week with a ten minute appearance from the bench- and brought more balance to a Hay side that had lost concentration during the aforementioned quarrel.
Just as Hay seemed to be getting back on top disaster struck as a free kick from some thirty yards out seemed to get carried (by the wind) over keeper Darren Laurie who could only palm it onto the cross bar allowing one of Bartestrees’ forwards to tap in from a yard.
Hay dug in and with the arrival of Jamie Howard -making his first start since his European excursion- went into their best spell of the match with John Sly having a great headed equaliser disallowed for what seemed by many as a generous off side ruling for the home side. However Bartestree could not cope with Hays dominance and after a great through ball from Howard Hay’s equaliser finally came. Will Goodwin used great strength to shield the ball out on the left hand side before cutting back in and smashing the ball into the far corner with what is sure to be the first of many in a Saints jersey.
The effort of getting the equaliser seemed to affect both side as tired legs stated to make the game far more open in the middle of the park, half chances came and went for both sides with neither doing quite enough to force a winner. After a John Sly header was cleared off the line with a few minutes to go everyone seemed to expect that a draw would be on the cards. That was however until lady luck once again conspired to deny Hay the result that they deserved with a tangle on the edge of the box resulting in a free kick given for a challenge by Jamie Howard (although in fairness this was deemed harsh by many). So it was literally with the last kick of the game that the free kick was smashed home to break Saints hearts for the second week running.
F/t 3-2
Saints reserve manager H was certainly not disappointed with his teams effort and performance today and knows that the results will soon change with the added bonus of some on the injured list also due to return. Despite a great effort throughout the side today Tom Wilkes was awarded man of the match after the game for a swashbuckling performance in the middle of the park