Following the impressive 1-1 away draw at Rhayader Reserves last Friday, the Saints were downed 3-1 at home to Brecon Northcote this evening. The visitors went in front late in the first-half when a close-range header beat Tom Bevan, before Kevin Goodwin trickled home a left-foot shot in the second period to equal matters. Northcote however scored two goals in the closing 20 minutes to grab the three points, and on the balance of play, probably deservedly so.
With Kevin Jones leading the line up top in the first-half, the Saints were looking to him at all opportunities to hold the ball, with Goodwin, Kyle Harding and Jack Cripps supporting from midfield. Tom Weaver had a couple of early opportunities to fire goalwards from the edge of the box, forcing the ‘keeper into two decent parries. At the other end, the Northcote number 10 tried his luck with some long-range Ronaldo-esque free-kicks but they were off target. Goodwin then past the near-post after good work from Cripps, whilst a Sam Bradley header was deflected just past the woodwork from a corner. The visitors though took the lead towards the end of the first-half; a corner from the right was headed back across goal by the lively Northcote striker and an unmarked player headed past Bevan from close-range.
Northcote were playing some neat football, and using the large pitch to their advantage, but it was the Saints who were creating the best opportunities. K. Jones cut in from the right and his shot back across goal narrowly missed the bottom corner. Hay were presented with an opportunity to get back into the game when Goodwin raced onto a through ball and was adjudged to be felled, perhaps harshly, inside the area. K. Jones stepped up from 12 yards but saw his left-foot shot blocked by the ‘keeper’s legs. The striker, keen to make up his for penalty miss, then flashed a 30 yard thunderbolt goalwards but again the ‘keeper thwarted him with a strong palm to deny the swerving ball. Goodwin then hit the bar with a sliced cross that nearly deceived the ‘keeper, before Hay finally found the equaliser. K. Jones found space on the edge of the box and he played in Goodwin on the left side of the box, and he placed the ball under the out-rushing goalie to level proceedings. The lead didn’t last long though as Northcote went back in front; a cross from the right looked to have been claimed by Bevan but the ball squirmed loose and the Northcote left-winger picked it up and hammered through the crowd to make it 2-1. With Hay pushing forward in search of their second and having seen a goalmouth scramble cleared after both Adi Lawford and Bradley had half-chances to knock the ball home, Northcote struck the sucker punch with five minutes remaining. A free-kick from 20 yards was superbly pushed away by Bevan, but much like the first-goal, a Northcote player was free to tap in the rebound to make the scores 3-1. Hay continued to huff and puff in the remaining moments but to no avail, and it was the visitors who picked up an impressive three points.
On the balance of chances, Hay should have won the game but credit to the youthful Northcote team. They defended well, kept the ball well, and took their chances when needed. In particular, their ‘keeper pulled off some excellent saves and Guy Williams marshalled the defence confidently. The Saints need to pick themselves up now for Friday’s trip to Llanidloes Town Reserves – kick off is at 7.30pm.
Saints: Bevan, Hackett, Bradley, D. Jones, Snedden, Harding, Powell, Weaver, Cripps, Goodwin, K. Jones.
Subs: Scaife, Ratcliffe, Lawford, Lewis, Emmet.
Jack Cripps beats the ‘keeper to the ball