The Saints lost 1-0 to Carno FC tonight in the semi-final of The Central Wales Cup.
A goal in the 88th minute from Greg Brown won the game.
Already missing Ryan Davies, Adi Lawford and Rob Snedden from the team that beat Knighton, just an hour before kick off Steve Morgan had to pull out due to a sickness bug, top scorer Jack Biggs was only fit for the bench as he slowly recovers from a knee injury.
Carno started the game much better than us and this pattern followed throughout the first half, however, we had the first chance when Brendan Hackett was put through by Kevin Jones, Hacketts’ shot hitting the corner of the post.
The rest of the half saw Carno miss several chances or saw them saved by goal keeper Steve Jones. We somehow managed to go in at half time 0-0 when we could of been 3 or 4 down.
We started the second half better and saw much more of the ball but struggled to test Carno keeper Chris Brown, Brown did save well from a Steve Goodwin long range effort.
Up the other end Greg Brown headed wide and also turned well in the box but fired his effort over the bar. It looked like it wasn’t going to be Browns night until 2 minutes from the end, a lovely through ball from Adam Williams found the striker in the box, he rounded keeper Jones and rolled the ball into the net to the delight of his team mates.
Carno ran the clock down to gain a well deserved win and a place in the final where they will meet Cymru Alliance high fliers Guilsfield FC. This will be a big ask but they are on a great run of form at present.
I felt we looked lethargic throughout, that’s to take nothing away from Carno who were excellent on the night, i’m sure their manager Chris Davies must have been thinking ‘Here we go again’ when they missed all those chances in the first half.
Matt Croose was excellent again for us but my man of the match was our keeper Steve Jones, which says it all really.
We wish Chris and his side all the best in the final.
We have an 11 day break now before going to Llanidloes to play either Carno FC or Penrhyncoch FC in The League Cup Final.
Team –
Steve Jones, Jordan Baker, Jake Atkinson, Matt Croose, Rory Hackett(Jack Biggs), Matt James, Stu Davies(c), Steve Goodwin, Tom James, Brendan Hackett and Kevin Jones.
