The Saints lost 0-1 to Waterloo Rivers FC in their opening game of the new season.
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The early stages of this opening day encounter were relatively even as both teams tried to gain a feel for their opponents. The visitors from Welshpool had the first real effort on goal, coming in the 25th minute, when a fierce 25 yard effort flew just over Tom Lewis’ crossbar. The Saints responded with a Brendan Hackett free-kick, some six minutes later, that found the side netting of the Waterloo Rovers goal.
The visitors eventually broke the deadlock when a 38th minute corner was headed home at the far post. Hay St Mary’s thought they had equalised, with two minutes of the first-half remaining, when the Rovers custodian did well to react and turn a near post flick over for a corner.
Jack Biggs had a good opportunity to score, when the visitors failed to clear a 48th minute corner, but the tall striker could only prod his effort at the visiting goalkeeper. The Welshpool outfit responded with a low 20 yard free-kick that went just wide of Lewis’ goal six minutes later. Biggs had a shot blocked in the 62nd minute after a good cross from the left found him at the far post. The visitors saw an low shot fly wide of the near post seven minutes before Brendan Hackett clipped the Waterloo Rovers crossbar from just outside the penalty area in the 71st minute. Hay St Mary’s afternoon was summed-up with five minutes remaining, following a cross from Adi Lawford, which substitute Rob MacNamara turned goalwards put the ball was turned behind by the Rovers goalkeeper with a good reaction save.