The heavy conditions at Clydach which the homeside adapted to much better than the Saints.
The Saints bowed out of the Faw Trophy going down 4-2 at Clydach Wasps and can now concentrate on league duty.
It was the homeside who had the first opportunity after a weak back pass keeper Steve Price had to come off his line to block a Clydach effort, in the 12th minute Price once again made a top draw one on one save to keep the score 0-0. The Saints then got themselves into the game and were knocking the ball about well but didn’t test the home keeper. Clydach took the lead in the 24th minute when Stu Davies gave away a free kick out wide right, the ball was floated in and should really have been cleared but somehow found a home striker who gave Price no chance blasting the ball in from 8 yards out.
The Saints were level just 2 minutes later after a good passage of passing down the left between Kev Jones and Phil Davies, Jones crossed into the box for the oncoming Tom Weaver who finished well to make it 1-1.
The home keeper tipped a Jones effort over the bar in the 38th minute with the Saints now on top, Clydach looked dangerous on the break and hit the post in the 43rd minute, just before half time it looked like it was going to be 1-2 to the Saints but Phil Davie’s shot took a wicked deflection and went wide when the keeper looked beaten. ht 1-1.
The second haf was dominated by the homeside although Sam Powell went close in the 47th minute with a header from a corner but his effort went inches wide. Steve Price made numerous saves in the second period but was helpless in the 62nd minute after a break down the right by Clydach’s best player who crossed for the striker to score to make it 2-1.
In the 66th minute it was 3-1 after another cross into the box veteran Nicky Francis finished well from close range.
With the home team still piling on the pressure the Saints broke away and were awarded a free kick in the 84th minute, while the homeside were organising their wall Jones saw strike partner Josh Wisniewski make a run across the box and took the free kick quickly, Wisniewski hit a first time effort which looped up over the keeper to make 3-2.
Any thoughts of a comebaack were short lived as Clydach got the 4th goal with a couple of minutes to go, Francis who was in the corner with three Saints defenders around him somehow managed to come out with the ball and made an inch perfect cross which was finished with ease making the final score 4-2 to the homeside.
I have no complaints as we were second best on the day against a side who were physically stronger than us and seemed to want the win more than us.
I thought Steve Goodwin and Phil Davies stood out in the first half and Sam Powell in the second, but my man of the match for making numerous quality saves throughout the game was Becksy.
Team- Steve Price, Josh Davies, Wes Evans, Steve Goodwin, Stu Davies(c)(Tom Wilkes), Phil Davies, Tom Weaver(Dave Evans), Will Goodwin, Sam Powell, Kevin Jones, Josh Wisniewski.
We wish Clydach Wasps all the best in the next round.