Hay Reserves drew 2-2 in a top of the table clash at Rhayader Reserves. Ceri Ward and Rob Snedden had handed the Saints a two goal advantage at the break but the hosts fought back in the second-period to snatch a point.
The first-half saw both sides fail to get a hold of the ball on a bobbly pitch; Rhayader thought they had a case for Saints’ keeper Chris Lloyd to be sent-off when the attacker beat him to the ball in the corner, and the goalie hacked down the striker, but Lloyd only received a yellow card. Hay took the lead when a challenge on Snedden on the edge of the area saw the ball break to Ward, whose first-time shot beat the ‘keeper in the corner. Hay doubled their lead when a Jake Atkinson pass was hit by Snedden, with a similar end result to Ward’s opener, with the ball flying into the corner. Rhayader had their chances at the other end, with Lloyd saving a centrally struck free-kick and also pushing a strike around his near-post. Towards the end of the half, early sub Will Goodwin’s low cross was met by Kevin Goodwin inside the box but he failed to make a true connection with the ball and the ‘keeper saved with ease.
The second-half saw Rhayader have more of the ball and threaten in front of goal, especially from set-pieces. The hosts eventually managed to gain a foothold in the match when a cross from the left was finished by an acrobatical overhead kick, which beat Lloyd. Snedden forced a flying-save from the ‘keeper with a set-piece as Hay went in search of that elusive third goal, whilst Alec Winstone’s burst from defence saw him receive a pass inside the box but his low-effort was well blocked. Rhayader drew level with fifteen or so minutes to go when a corner into the box wasn’t cleared and after a light scramble, the ball was hammered home from close-range. The Saints lost a little bit of their discipline towards the of the encounter, with Snedden shown a red-card for a second bookable offence, whilst Liam Pugh and Jamie Howard were also booked to add to Lloyd’s card in the first-half. Rhayader nearly took all three points when a spectacular free-kick from their sub had Lloyd stranded but the ball rebounded off the frame of the goal and away to safety.
A draw was probably the fair result on the day although Andrew Harris will no doubt be disappointed that his side couldn’t hold on to their two goal lead. The Saints lacked strength when going forward, and I’ll be the first to say up top, where they missed the pace and power of John Sly. Man of the match goes to Ward for a solid display at the back, which he capped with the opening goal of the game. They return to league action this coming Tuesday when they visit Sennybridge.
Hay Reserves: C. Lloyd, G. Keeble (W. Goodwin), C. Ward, L. Pugh, A. Winstone, G. Jenkins (T. Johnson), J. Howard, T. Wilkes, R. Snedden, K. Goodwin (Z. Snape), J. Atkinson.
Other Results.
Builth Wells 7 Talgarth Rovers 1.
Newbridge Reserves 2 C P Llanandras 2.
Newcastle 0 Rhosgoch 2.
Sennybridge 3 Radnor Valley 1.
Talgarth Town 6 Penybont United 0.
Presteigne Reserves 5 St Harmon 0.