This was a must win game after dropping 2 points against Newcastle, if Gwernyfed had won they would have gone 3 points clear with a game in hand. A large crowd watched a hard fought battle between the top two sides in the Mid Wales South.
The Saints were the first to attack when Sam Maygothling released Rob Snedden in the 1st minute, Snedden went around Matt Myles and then Austin Mellor and whipped in a cross which was cleared to safety just before Kevin Jones got on the end of it. Gwernyfed settled after this and got on top for the next 10 minutes with Liam Bannister making a couple of penetrating runs through the middle but his final ball was poor, a back pass from skipper Chris Preece back to keeper Bryan Kirham was sliced to Bannister who again burst through the middle only to be foiled by a good save by Kirkham. The Saints then settled after some harsh words from Preece, again Snedden was tormenting Mellor and Myles on the right hand side, his cross once again cleared to safety. Russ Jones intercepted a Myles back pass and squared for Kev Jones but Alan Davies streched out his foot to save what would of been the opening goal. There was a great battle going on between Kevin Jones and Alan Davies neither player giving an inch early doors, Davies though left his defensive duties on 40 minutes to make a crunching tackle on Sam Powell but the ball fell to Mayglothling who played it first time to the unmarked Jones, Jones played a lovely reverse pass to strike partner Josh Wisniewski, Martin Norwood came running out of his goal but Wisniewski dinked the ball over him into the top corner for a cracking finish to put the Saints 0-1 up. A couple of minutes later the Saints won a corner on the left, Snedden sent over a deep cross which Kevin Jones hit first time but Norwood pulled off a wonder save tipping it over the bar. The back four performed excellent throughout the half, Gwernyfed danger men Gavin Perry and Rob Mac not having a shot on goal during the half. ht 0-1.
The Saints started the second period like they ended the first on top winning the individual battles and keep the ball in the home sides half, Jones was now starting to get the better of Davies, the two Gwernyfed wide players were having to drop deep and play like fullbacks due the Saints pressure. On the hour mark Mayglothling sent in a deep cross which the home keeper and centre half both went for, they collided and the ball fell to the advancing Rob Snedden who blasted it in to make it 0-2. Gwernyfed replaced Ben Rees with Ryland Warren, Rees having a torrid time trying to mark Gavin Williams, Snedden then picked the ball in is own half and ran at the Gwernyfed defence with his midfield partner Sam Powell in support Snedden played him in, Powell hit a 20 yarder but Norwood saved well. Gwernyfed made another change bringing on veteran Scott Powell for the ineffective Rob Macnamara, Powell made a few clever runs behind the Saints defence but Havard and Preece swept up well and cleared to safety. Gavin Williams made way for Ben Bevan and Phil Davies (who again was quality on the left) made way for Joe Mayglothling, the Saints closed the game out without Kirkham having a save to make since the Bannister one early doors. ft 0-2.
A great win for Fil and the lads which was thoroughly deserved, after a good start by the home side the lads settled and took control of the game especially the second half when there was only one team in it. Gwernyfed are a very good side and I can’t see many teams winning in Talgarth. We have to keep playing like that every week and not the foot off the pedal now we have pulled the points back.
The back four were all excellent today reducing the home side to one shot on Bryan’s goal, Kevin won his battle with Tipper which was hard and fair, Wiz scored a wonder goal, the midfield all won their individual battles, my man of the match goes to Sam Mayglothling.
Team- B.Kirkham, R.Jones, M.Havard, C.Preece(c), P.Davies(J.Mayglothling), G.Williams(B.Bevan), S.Powell, S.Mayglothling, R.Snedden, K.Jones, J.Wisniewski.
Gwernyfed- M.Norwood, A.Mellor, S.Potts, A.Davies(c)(A.Latham), M.Myles, L.Bannister, B.Dyer, M.Drew, B.Rees(R,Warren), G.Perry, R.Macnamara(S.Powell).