Tiny Harding’s Reserve team bounced back from their disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Brecon Northcote on Tuesday with a 2-1 away victory at Llanidloes Reserves. Will Goodwin’s header handed the visitors a slender half-time lead before Kyle Harding rounded the ‘keeper to make it two. A late Llanidloes goal ensured a nervy finish for the Saints but they held on for an excellent three points.
On an excellent surface which the home team can be proud of, Hay made early in roads, playing some neat football with W. Goodwin linking up in the attack with the midfield, and it was the striker who opened the scoring. Jamie Howard’s whipped free-kick saw W. Goodwin beat the ‘keeper to the ball and nod into an empty net from eight yards. Llanidloes rarely threatened but when a through ball between Dan Jones and Stu Rees was raced onto their striker, he was denied by a smart stop by Tom Bevan. The hosts also saw a shot from 10 yards blocked after sloppy defending, and a header go narrowly past the post, but in truth, these were the only chances and Hay were creating the better opportunities. Harry Gilbert twisted and turned in the box but lost balance with a left-foot shot, whilst Harding’s ambitious 35 yard lob was pushed over the bar by the goalie. Joe Emmet also had a powerful header tipped over by the busy home goalie in a first-half that should have seen Hay more than a goal to the good.
Luckily, they didn’t have long to wait in the second period. Rory Hackett’s tidy footwork allowed him to break away from his man and feed a neat slide rule pass, which W. Goodwin dummied and Harding latched onto, rounding the ‘keeper and firing home from an acute angle to make it 2-0. Further chances followed as Harding avoided a handball decision but fired off-target and Howard’s long-range effort was caught by the ‘keeper. The home side began to press men forward in the closing twenty minutes and Bevan reacted well to push away a 25 yard shot that made its way through a crowd of players. Llanidloes did pull a goal back with around five minutes to go; Bevan raced out of his goal but mistimed a tackle earning himself a yellow card in the process, and a free-kick was given to Llani. It was well-struck, from 20 yards with Bevan parrying it but it landed at the feet of the Llanidloes striker who poked home from close-range. The hosts pressed forward for the final moments but the Hay back-line stayed strong and in particular, Jones and Rees, who were superb throughout.
A great result to bounce back from the Northcote defeat. It was a real team effort from Hay, with manager Harding saying that there was no man of the match as all players played their part. The W. Goodwin and Harding partnership worked well, with the former holding the ball up well and linking play, and the latter using his pace to get in behind. As mentioned, the defence was impressive, and it was also good to see Howard back in a Saints’ shirt, pulling the strings in the centre of the park. Next up for the Saints is the visit of Llandrindod Wells Reserves on Tuesday evening, before Builth Wells Reserves also come to Forest Road for some more Friday night football.
Saints: Bevan (Y), Scaife, Jones, Rees, Gilbert, K. Goodwin, Howard, Emmet, Hackett, W. Goodwin (1), Harding (1).
Subs: Workman, Ratcliffe.
Kevin Goodwin on the burst
Will Goodwin flicks home to open the scoring
Harry Gilbert on the stretch
Kyle Harding scores to make it two
Rory Hackett on the ball
More pictures from this game and the Northcote game are on Facebook.