The Saints Reserves lost 1-2 to title chasing Knighton Town Reserves.
The opening 20 minutes saw the visitors have more of the play and Tom Bevan in The Saints goal had to turn a couple of efforts around the post to keep the score 0-0. Knighton looked dangerous from set pieces, on two occasions there were goal mouth scrambles but the ball was eventually cleared to safety.
The Saints finally got a foot hold in the game using Kyle Harding and Darren Horrigans pace, however, it was the visitors who went 0-1 up after the Knighton striker had a bit of luck with the ball falling at his feet after he previously lost control, he made no mistake from close range.
The leading didn’t last long, in the 22nd minute a Danial Elvestad free kick was headed against the bar by Chris Preece, it was now our turn to have some luck, the ball fell to the feet of Harding who had 3 defenders around him, the young striker rolling the ball into an empty net from 5 yards out.
The Saints were now on top and another Elvestad free kick was brilliantly saved by Stuart Turpin and a 20 yarder from Matty Tong went inches wide of the goal. Ht 1-1.
The second saw us start off on top, in the 52nd minute Jamie Howard played the ball into Tong’s feet in the area, the striker turned Dan Farmer who in turn upended him, the referee pointed to the spot. Once again Turpin had the better of Elvestad with a double save from the origianl penalty and the follow up.
The game changed when Howard was shown a straight red for something he said to the referee.
Knighton were on top for the next 20 minutes and only some last dich blocks by Dan Scaife, Luke Cohen and Harry Gilbert kept the score at 1-1.
The visitors finally went ahead in the 83rd minute through Jack Hammond, he netted from 12 yards out.
The Saints had two more chances to save the day, in the 88th minute Harding ran the length of the pitch and squared the ball to Tong who shot from 16 yards out, with the keeper diving the wrong way the ball hit a Knighton defender on the back of the head and it rolled out for a corner.
In the last play of the game, Preece played in Tong on the edge of the area, again Farmer tripped him and free kick was awarded. Elvestad hit the free kick into the wall the ball fell luckily to Tong, his shot hit the inside of the post rolled across the line into the arms of Turpin.
Ft 1-2.
Man of the match Chris Preece by a country mile!!!
