Hay St Mary’s XI 4 Rhosgoch Rangers XI 2
Brecon Road: Friendly
To celebrate the 50th birthday of the Hay St Mary’s chairman, Martin Tong, he arranged a fixture between some of the leading players involved with the host club over the past 40 years and a team representing the Saints’ old foes that folded back in the summer. Both teams had a fair sprinkling of current players players in their respective squads to add some youthful legs to the proceedings. The match was also part of a fundraising day to help raise money for the construction of a new stand on the main pitch at Brecon Road as a party took place at Hay Castle in the evening. It would have been useful it it had been in place today as the wind and rain swept across the ground for much of the match that took place on the lower pitch. A good crowd turned out for this special match despite the best efforts of the elements.
The Saints went ahead in just the second minute when Brendan Hackett latched on to a through ball before sweeping it past Adam Jones in the Crows’ goal. The visitors equalised when current Hay St Mary’s player Steve Morgan fired past Brecon Corries goalkeeper Steve Price from a narrow angle. Hay St Mary’s regained the lead two minutes before the break when former Rhosgoch Rangers player Matt Croose converted a cross from the left. The Crows levelled the scores midway through the second-half when Radnor Valley striker Joey Price beat a couple of defenders and drove a fierce shot beyond Price. The Crows nearly went ahead minutes later before Hay St Mary’s took the lead in the 73rd minute. Rob Snedden did well to deliver a cross from the left and Josh Wisniewski fired a low shot past the substitute goalkeeper and a minute later the hosts doubled the advantage when a cross from the right was turned into his own net by Ian Jones a Rhosgoch Rangers defender.
A big thank you to Rhosgoch Ranger Old Boys for playing in this friendly match and help drink the bar dry by 7pm. (Literally)
Thank you also to the managers on the day, Fil Wiz and Jenk, the bar men Tigs and Sean, referee Chris Baynton and his assistants.
Saints Squad From –
Stephen Price, Steve Jenkins, Wes Evans, Chris Preece, Ben Childs, Rob Snedden, Mike Havard(c), Brendan Hackett, Kevin Jones, Gavin Williams, Josh Wisniewski, Jay Probert, Derek Keeble, Matty Tong, Kevin Lloyd, Matt Croose, Matt James, Anno Finn, Fred Prendrgast, John Evans, Jack Biggs, Steve Goodwin.
Unfortunately a couple couldn’t make it.
Photos from Stu Townsend.
Around Four and a half thousand pound was raised on the day.