The 1st Team drew their first friendly of the season 1-1 last night against Oreleton Colts FC.
The Gaffer had some worrying news at the end of the game when goalkeeper Tom Lewis limped off with an ankle injury.
Goalscorer was new signing Jack Cripps who netted just before half-time.
Oreleton Colts FC 1 Saints 1.
A ground hoppers report of the game.
After a relatively even opening to the proceedings, the hosts went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute, when a loose ball was fired narrowly wide after a good passing move. Brendan Hackett replied with a speculative 35 yard effort that dropped just over the crossbar three minutes later before Saints goalkeeper Tom Lewis stood tall to make a good save in the 37th minute. But the visitors went ahead, three minutes before the break, when Jack Cripps latched on to a through ball before guiding it past the Colts’ goalkeeper. The hosts had the final opportunity of the opening period, in stoppage time, when an Orleton player drove forward and fired over from 30 yards. Brendan Hackett forced a save from the goalkeeper, two minutes after the re-start, before a Saints defender blocked a close range shot in the 54th minute. But Hay St Mary’s could not prevent the Colts from equalising five minutes later with a shot from at least 30 yards out. Stuart Davies warmed the palms of the home custodian in the 65th minute before Cripps latched on to a poor pass by an opponent but shot wide of the far post. Orleton Colts then had a couple of good chances to net a winner but were unable to find the back of the net as stand-in goalkeeper Jordan Baker made an impressive save whilst deputising for the injured Tom Lewis during the final minutes.
