The Saints went down 3-1 against local rivals Gwernyfed in The Pip Samuels League Cup, their last defeat was 205 days ago when they lost to Llandrindod Wells in a league fixture.
The Saints dominated the early exchanges but didn’t test Price in the Gwernyfed goal until the 18th minute when he saved a Rob Snedden 20 yard effort, a minute later he made another good save this time from Ben Bevan. On 24 minutes Kevin Jones flicked the ball on for the advancing Snedden whose shot just skimmed the bar, Jones then had the beating of Gwernyfeds Captain Alan Davies out wide, Davies pulled up injured as Jones crossed into the box but Sam Powell fired over the bar when in on goal. Rob Mac went close on a rare Gwernyfed attack when put in on goal by the hard working Liam Bannister, up the other end Price saved again from Jones, the breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Jones put in Bevan down the left who cut in and scored on the near post past Price 0-1.
On 41 minutes Perry put in Macca but again he shot wide, it was 1-1 in the 46th minute when a Gav Perry free kick took a slight deflection off Chris Preece and flew in past Ian Jones, the goal lifted Gwernyfed and in the 49th minute Mike Havard lost the ball on the half way line to Perry who sent an inch perfect pass wide left to the advancing Rob Mac whose shot took a deflection off the luckless Preece and went into the back of the net to send them in at half time 2-1 up.
Gwernyfed dominated long periods of the second half with Scott Powell going close with a clever lob on 50 minutes his effort just going over the bar, Ian Jones then came to the Saints rescue twice first denying Powell and then Macca both times saving well with his legs. On 68 minutes the game took another turn for the worse for the Saints when Rob Snedden who had been booked earlier for a late challenge was shown a second yellow for kicking the ball away in frustration, 2 minutes later Jones again saved well from Macca using his legs, then for some reason Gwernyfed started to panic and the Saints got on top for a 10 minute spell but never really looked like scoring only a Josh Wisniewski effort came close after Jones had crossed into the box. The game was over in the 85th minute when Perry scored a goal worthy of winning any game direct from a free kick about 25 yards out. ft 3-1.
Gwernyfed deserved their win on the day, a mad 4 minutes changed the whole game when they scored 2 quick goals it gave them belief and they played excellent in the second half. Our lads didn’t perform to the best of their abilities on the day.
Congratulations to Gwernyfed.
Team- I.Jones, R.Jones, C.Preece, G.Williams, B.Bevan, S.Mayglothling(S.Davies), S.Powell(O.Cooke), R.Snedden, K.Jones, J.Wisniewski(J.Daw). unused subs J.Mayglothling, T.Wilks.