Finally the first round Central Wales Youth Cup game was played although the away side were lucky to get there as they came via Abergavenny and Capel y Fyn!!
Toby Johnson worked ever so hard to get the lads together for the game and did alot of running round. Thanks Toby superb effort mate.
It took the Saints youngsters a while to settle down playing up the slope first half and only some good defending from the back four and good goalkeeping from Jack Bradley kept the score level. The Saints started to get back in to it and when the ball got forward to Will Goodwin and Ed Gwynne Harris we looked dangerous. In midfield Toby started to have an influence along with Jack Cripps who was again showing great promise out on the left.
Lampeter went ahead though when their no. 7 ran through to finish well past Jack in goal. The Saints were level before half time though with young Cripps finishing well at the far post after good work from Ed, Stu Sneds and Toby. HT 1-1.
The second half was real end to end stuff and the away side started to find a way through the Hay defence on a number of occasions. The Saints though then probably had their best spell of the game and went 2-1 up with another good finish from young Cripps out on the left.
Lampeter then made a change and pushed their no 5 forward who caused havoc with his pace and a number of times. Only last ditch defending or some good keeping from Jack kept the Saints in the game. The pressure told in the end though with the away side going 3-2 up due to breaking through the home defence, on both occasions giving Jack no chance in goal.
To be fair to the lads when we went forward we looked as dangerous as they did and we got our reward, although a little strangely when a fairly weak Will Goodwin free kick was missed by the keeper to draw us level. Unfortunately though the away side broke through straightaway and their no 5 ran through to give Jack no chance. Still we were not finished and Will Goodwin was put through on the edge of the box and he went forward and smashed the equaliser in to the roof of the net.
The referee soon blew his full time whistle and because of the late start we had to go straight to penalties.
Five very brave young men put themselves forward to take the penalties – Will Goodwin, Jack Cripps, Josh Barrell, Ed Gwynne Harris and Luke Arrowsmith. Will and Jack scored with the first Lampeter player also scoring. Jack Bradley then made another super save to give the young Saints the advantage. Penalties were then traded with Josh and Ed scoring for the Saints. Luke then had the chance to put us through to the next round with the 5th penalty but unfortunately saw his shot beat the keeper but go over the bar. Lampeter then scored their 5th to make it 4-4.
Now to sudden death and Toby Johnson put himself forward but unfortunately saw his penalty saved by the away keeper. There were no more heroics from Jack in goal and we went out 5-4 on penalties.
I would just like to say that everyone who put themselves forward for the penalty shoot out were a credit to themselves whether successful or not. It takes alot of courage to put yourself in that position and you will be all the stronger the next time you are in that position.
The 12 who represented the Saints were fantastic on the day when you consider that they had played no football this season. Their attitude was first class and they were a credit to themselves and their families. Thank you lads.
Team; Jack Bradley; Robbie Davies; Nick Rodell Jones; Matt Williams; Josh Barrell(C); Toby Johnson; Stuart Snedden; Ed Gwynne Harris; Will Goodwin; Tom Prosser(Luke Arrowsmith); Jack Cripps