The Saints Reserves beat Carno Reserves 3-2 with a 89th minute winner from Matty Tong.
Our other goal scorers were Tom Bevan and Darren Horrigan.
Carno scorers were Jordan Jones and Carwyn Williams.
The Saints played with the strong wind in the first half and dominated proceedings, however, it took a Tom Bevan goal in the 30th minute to break down a stubborn Carno defence. The Saints keeper kicked the ball out of his hands and one bounce later it was in the back of the net 1-0.
Five minutes later the home side doubled their lead, Matty Tong hit a shot from the edge of the area, the visitors keeper made a good save only for it to fall to Tong’s strike partner Darren Horrigan who smashed it in from 6 yards for a 2-0 lead.
The Saints tried to get a cushion of a three goal lead but to Carno’s credit they dug in and held out, Adi Lawford going close with a header but it wasn’t to be. Bevan also saved well from a header to keep the away side out.
Ht 2-0
We knew it was going to be hard in the second half with Carno having the wind, so after a team talk of don’t let them get an early goal. Unfortunately that’s exactly what happened in the 47th minute, a good move was finished off by a Carno striker for 2-1.
Bevan made a brilliant save in the 53rd minute to keep us ahead. We looked dangerous on the break with Horrigan and Harry Hooper’s pace, however,Horrigan had to leave the field of play after a bad challenge from a Carno defender on the hour mark.
In the 75th minute Hooper and Tong linked up well but Tong’s effort was saved well, Hooper also went close when he was played in by Tong but again his shot was blocked, the ball was cleared up the field and Carno equalised. 2-2
Things got worse for The Saints in the 80th minute when defender Dan Scaife was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.
Keeper Bevan made two great saves to keep the visitors out, the second save he tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.
Captain Danial Elvestad pushed his men forward instead of sitting back, the outstanding Callum Maddy who had covered every inch of the pitch joined the attack. With a minute on the clock Lawford won a tackle out wide right, beat his marker and crossed into the area to Tong who rounded the keeper and scored to the delight of his team mates.
Ft 3-2.
A good team performance from a very young Saints side. I thought we had blown it when they pulled it back to 2-2 and they had the win plus a man advantage but we kept going and got our just rewards with a last minute winner. The Gaffer chose Callum Maddy has his man of the match.
Team –
Tom Bevan, Harry Gilbert, Dan Jones, Danial Elvestad(c), Dan Scaife, Rory Hackett, Callum Maddy, Harry Hooper(Nathan Heighway), Darren Horrigan(Kyle Harding)(Kiegan Powell), Adi Lawford and Matty Tong.
Goal scorer Matty Tong.
Goal Scorer Darren Horrigan.
Goal Scorer Tom Bevan.
Man of the match Callum Maddy.
Dan Scaife is red carded for violent conduct.
Photos by Stu Townsend.