A much improved Knighton went away from Forest Road with a point they fully deserved for their first half performance in which they were much the better side.
Knighton were on top right from the kick off with their midfield being full of running and first to the ball in the early encounters, Simon Hamer on his home debut had to tip a shot around the post from the impressive Oliver Richards, the resulting corner was again well saved from Hamer after a header from the away side. The Saints couldn’t get any passing going due to the quick closing down of the Knighton midfielders, another corner resulted in the visitors taking the lead, a corner to the near post was met by Jack Bowen who make it 0-1. The Knighton keeper did have to make one good save from Kevin Jones which he tipped around the post,a couple of minutes later Sam Mayglothling had a chance but it fell on his wrong foot and the ball rolled to saftey. ht 0-1.
The Saints started much better in the second half although Knighton could of made it 0-2 when one of their midfielders missed an open goal, 10 minutes later was 1-1 when Mayglothling released Ben Bevan down the left he shot across the advancing keeper to make it 1-1. The Saints were still celebrating the equaliser when Oliver Richards made it 1-2 to Knighton when the home defence had several chances to clear the ball but failed. More Saints pressure followed and Jones had a couple of chances but each one seemed to fall on his weaker right foot, good saves and blocks stopped him netting the equaliser. Another goalmouth scramble resulted in Sam Mayglothling side footing a curling shot into the far left corner to make it 2-2. The Saints were well on top in the last 10 minutes and had 2 big hand ball shouts but referee Jack Watkins waved them away, Jones hit bar with a screamer and the rebound was cleared off the line, up the other end a Stuart Jarvis header from a corner was headed off the line by Gavin Williams. The Saints had once last chance when Jones outmuscled his marker for a one on one with the keeper, his shot ending up a couple of inches wide to the despair of the homeside. ft 2-2.
Knighton will definately be serious title challengers next season if they add one or two more players, we can’t argue that they desreved their point but with a bit of luck with the goalmouth scrambles late on we could have got all three points.
I thought our best players on the night were Gavin Williams and Sam Mayglothling especially his second half performance.
Team- S.Hamer, R.Jones, C.Preece(c), M.Havard, G.Williams, B.Bevan, S.Mayglothling, S.Powell, J.Mayglothling, K.Jones, J.Wisniewski(J.Daw) L.Pugh.