No game at Llanandras Park this weekend, but the awards night will take place on Saturday evening

Presteigne Reserves’ scheduled final match of the Mid Wales League (South) season has been called off.

Mark Weiland’s side was due to play Knighton Town Reserves at Llanandras Park in what would have been a 1.00pm kick off.

But news has come through tonight that tomorrow’s game is off as Knighton Town Reserves are unable to raise a side.

Normally, they might well have been able to draft in a few first-team players for the game, but Knighton Town are also in action tomorrow as they will play the final game of the Spar Mid Wales League, second division game in which they will host champions-elect, Llanfair United at Bryn-y-Castell.

It’s not yet known how the league will view Knighton’s problems over the scheduled match at Llanandras Park, but they will face some kind of punishment, presumably either in the shape of a points deduction or a fine.

Whether or not the game will be rescheduled remains to be seen, as clearly there is not too much time left in the league season.

As soon as we know what the league decides, we will post the information on the website.

At least there is nothing riding on the game in terms of the league title as this has gone to Rhayader Town Reserves after they beat Knighton Town Reserves 5-0 at The Weirglodd on Thursday, 16 May.

Meanwhile, a reminder the Awards and Presentation evening will get underway at 7.00pm on Saturday, 18 May – here’s hoping we have a good turn out and a good night is had by all.

Llanandras Park will be the place to be on Saturday evening

A final reminder that Presteigne St Andrews FC will hold its annual Awards and Presentation night on Saturday, 18 May.

This event will be at the clubhouse at Llanandras Park and will get underway at 7.00pm.

It is hoped as many players, officials and supporters of the club will make the effort to attend as it is usually a good night and a chance for everyone to let their hair down at the end of a long, hard season.

The food will take the form of a hog roast, while there will be live entertainment in the shape of a band with the bar being open for business for the duration.

If you haven’t yet got hold of a ticket for this event, then speed is of the essence now as we need the numbers finalised as quickly as possible.

The tickets cost £12.50 and we will need the money beforehand as this avoids the need for committee members to be running around doing mundane admin stuff on the night – they do enough of that during the rest of the year!

If you are planning on being there, then please contact club chairman Alan Randell at your earliest opportunity by calling him on: 07917 606127.

One title already resolved, and another could be this evening

Congratulations to Llanidloes Town who have won the Spar Mid Wales League, first division championship.

As reported on the site last week, it was looking as though it was going to come down to a ‘shoot out’ at Montgomery Town last weekend when Llanidloes were the visitors.

Essentially, Montgomery had to win that one and their remaining matches, and also hope The Daffs would slip up against already-relegated Dolgellau if they were to take the title.

Few thought it would happen, but The Daffs got the job done anyway on Saturday when they won 3-1 at Monty to put the issue to bed.

Montgomery might well have had something of a hangover from this defeat as they then went down 2-1 at home to Carno on Wednesday, 15 May and so Llanidloes will go into the final round of games with a 10-point advantage.

Builth Wells are favourites to finish third – they have finished their games and have a three-point advantage over fourth-placed Four Crosses.

Crosses would need to win their final game at home to Aberaeron by four clear goals if they were to overhaul Builth.  That would take the sides level on goal difference, but Four Crosses have already scored more goals than the Lant Field side.

It is going to go to the wire at the foot of the first division – either Dyffryn Banw or Newbridge will join Dolgellau in being relegated.

‘Banw’ are outside the drop zone at the moment, but only on goal difference and they have Montgomery at home in their final game.

Such is the difference in goal difference – 37 goals in Banw’s favour – that this won’t be an issue for Newbridge, who have to better Dyffryn Banw’s result on Saturday to stay up.  Newbridge will end their season with a home game against Tywyn Bryncrug.

The second division issues are all resolved with Llanfair United due to round off their Championship-winning season on Saturday with the only day of the game at this level which will be at Knighton Town.

In the Mid Wales League (South), Rhayader Town Reserves could clinch the title this evening [Thursday, 16 May] with a home win over Knighton Town Reserves.

Were they to beat Knighton’s second string, they would then move four points clear with one game remaining.

It will be a 7.00pm start for the Annual Awards and Presentation Night

Presteigne St Andrews FC will hold its annual awards evening and presentation night on Saturday, 18 May at the clubhouse at Llanandras Park.

Chairman Alan Randell has outlined details of the evening, which will cost those attending £12.50 per head.

The food will be in the form of a hog roast and all those attending are urged to be there by 7 o’clock for a 7.30pm start.

There will then be the presentations of awards to the first team, Reserves and Under 18 players of the season, as well as the managers’ players of the season awards.

There will also be other assorted awards and this will be followed by live music and the bar will be open for the duration.

Anyone who would like at ticket is asked to contact Alan as soon as possible – he is contactable on 07917 606127 but please don’t leave it until the last moment as we need to know the numbers in advance.

Oh, and one other thing – when Alan says he wants everyone there by 7 o’clock, he genuinely means 7.00pm, that’s not 7.15pm, or 7.30pm – but 7.00pm.  Alan asked me to try to put this message across as clearly as possible – hope that worked!

Hay St Marys celebrate their Otway Cup win

Congratulations to Hay St Marys who claimed their first-ever Otway Cup title on Sunday, 12 May when they beat Knighton Town 4-3 in the final.

Brendan Hackett scored the winning goal three minutes into stoppage time after a dramatic game in which fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout.

The first half saw Hay look far more assured on the ball, but Knighton created the better chances with Connor Bird a constant threat when breaking forward.

The Robins took the lead in slightly curious circumstances when a Hay defender under pressure from a couple of Knighton attackers planted a firm header past his own keeper and into the back of the net.

This proved to be only a temporary setback for Hay whose pressure paid off as they hit back to score twice before the interval ensuring they went in 2-1 up at half-time.

But Knighton came out the stronger after the break while Hay had dropped off the pace a little and the pendulum swung back in favour of the Robins as Connor Bird scored twice to put Knighton in front.

You have to feel for Connor who looked sharp every time he went forward and yet he was destined to end up on the losing side.

Hay levelled to make it 3-3 but, with the presentation party and most of those in the stand resigned to watching a half-hour of extra time, Brendan Hackett popped up to win the game when he broke down the right-hand side and fired a low drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Both sides contributed to what was an entertaining side and well done to Knighton who were gracious in defeat.

Our grateful thanks to Karl Chapman from KC Electrical Services for their kind sponsorship of the Otway Cup this season and to Rob Evans who travelled up from Bargoed to referee the match.

The Reserves were good value for their point

Presteigne Reserves came away from Builth Wells Reserves with a deserved point from a 2-2 draw in a result that could just prove terminal to the home team’s Mid Wales League (South) title hopes.

If Builth Wells Reserves felt there would be send-of-season feel to the game from the visitors, the they were to be sorely disappointed in what was an entertaining match throughout.

Presteigne took the lead early on when there was a mix up at the heart of the Builth defence which saw an attempted clearance cannon off a defender and into the path of Alan Stocker who gratefully accepted the gift.

In what was a good, open game, both sides had chances with Presteigne’s next best effort of the first half coming when Ioan Hughes went on a mazy run from the right-hand side right across the face of the area, only to see his final shot come back off the post with the keeper beaten.

But Builth Wells Reserves showed just why they are pushing for the title when they drew level before the break.

A Builth player took full advantage of a square-looking back four and got to the by-line before pulling the ball back to a team-mate who couldn’t miss from around eight yards out.

It was all square at the break, but Presteigne Reserves will be wondering just how they they didn’t go on to take all three points after the break as they created enough clear chances to win three or four games.

The Builth Reserves’ keeper made at least three saves from one-on-ones, while Presteigne also had at least three efforts cleared off the line, and Ioan Hughes again rattled the frame of the goal when his cross-shot came back off the bar.

But while Presteigne had the lion’s share of the chances, it was Builth who scored next and the small group of travelling supporters were left thinking this was going to one of those days.

With time running out, Presteigne Reserves kept applying the pressure and they were rewarded when a quality ball in from the left was met by Max Powell who headed home a deserved equaliser.

Some of the locals were grumbling about a ‘first-team player’ scoring, but Max was the only first-team regular in the side, and the more reasonable members of the home support admitted Mark Weiland’s side had been very good value for its point.

The Reserves will look to build on Thursday’s win over Bucknell

Presteigne Reserves will head to Lant Field on Saturday, 11 May when they will attempt to put a major spanner in the works of Builth Wells Reserves’ title hopes.

Builth’s second string have been right up there all season, but know they can afford nothing less than a win against Mark Weiland’s side if they are to keep those hopes alive.

Builth Wells Reserves are a point clear of Rhayader Town Reserves at the top of the Mid Wales League (South) table, but Builth have played a game more so they really have no room for error in this one.

But ‘Weedo’s’ squad will be keen to have their say in the outcome of the title race, and they know a win at Lant Field would certainly represent that.

Last Sunday’s Sparey Cup final at Llanandras Park underlined the sale of the job facing Presteigne Reserves in this one – Builth Wells Reserves looked a good side as they put away Brecon Town 5-1 on the day.

Builth Reserves have been beaten only three times in the league so far this season but they will know Rhayader Town Reserves are most people’s favourites to take the title.

But Rhayader Town Reserves also face a tough game – they are away at a Newcastle side that won the Championship last season.

It should all make for a very interesting afternoon at Lant Field, where the kick off will be at 2.30pm.

No silverware this season for the first team

Presteigne St Andrews FC bowed out of ER Jenkins Cup when they were beaten 4-0 by Llanfair United in their semi-final tie at Llanidloes Town on Friday, 10 May.

Presteigne were reportedly in the game in the first half but still found themselves two goals down by the interval.

Llanfair United then upped their game after the break and doubled their tally to run out comfortable winners.

This was always likely to be a tough test for the first team as Llanfair United have won the second division title with a fair bit to spare.

Sadly, tonight’s result means that is the final game of the season for Danny Williams’ side as the league programme ended on Wednesday night with the 1-0 home win over Llanfyllin Town.

Presteigne warmed up for the semi-final with a home win over Llanfyllin

Presteigne St Andrews FC’s manager Danny Williams is in an upbeat mood ahead of the side’s ER Jenkins Cup semi-final tie against Llanfair United on Friday, 10 May.

Llanfair have won the second division title this season and so will be most people’s favourites to progress, but Danny insists there are genuine grounds for optimism.

“They are a very good side and, when we played them away we lost 5-1 and deservedly so,” he said.

“But when we played them at home we should have won as we were 3-1 up at half-time.

“A very late goal with a shot from 40 yards gave them a 3-3 draw, so I am confident our boys can pull something off on Friday night,” he added.

The tie will be played on a neutral ground at Llanidloes Town FC where the kick off will be at 7.30pm.

It is hoped to have a match report up online at some stage on Friday evening, but here’s hoping Danny and the boys can get the right result and thereby extend their season into the latter part of May.

This was a good fight back by the Reserves

Presteigne Reserves are up to eighth in the Mid Wales League (South) table after they twice came from behind to beat Bucknell 3-2 a Llanandras Park on Thursday, 9 May.

Manager Mark Weiland admitted he had had to stir his side at half-time as they had been off the pace for periods during that first half.

Bucknell took the lead, only for Alan Stocker to level for the home side during that first period.

But any hopes this would lead to the home team stepping things up were to prove unfounded as the Reserves fell behind again before the break.

The words of wisdom imparted unto the assembled squad in the home-team dressing room during the break clearly had the desired effect as the Reserves were far more effective after the interval.

The key moment came when a good cross into the Bucknell box was met by Ryan Stokes, whose goal-bound effort was handled other line by a defender.

The inevitable red card was produced and Ryan then scored from the spot to tie things up at two apiece.

Alan Stocker popped up to score his second and Presteigne’s third goal with a smart finish into the top corner from the edge of the box.

This was a good win for the Reserves and should set them up for a tough-looking game on Saturday, 11 May when they will head to Lant Field for a game against title-hopefuls Builth Wells Reserves.