What a difference a week makes for Presteigne St Andrews FC’s first team as they became the first team in the Spar Mid Wales League, second division this season to take a point from leaders, Llanfair United.
The sides drew 3-3 at Llanandras Park and – while it was generally felt a draw was about right on the day – it was only a tremendous 25-yard strike from a Llanfair player deep into injury time to deny Presteigne the win and to deny Llanfair a tenth straight league win.
Presteigne went in front in the first half when a fierce drive from Frankie came back of the bar and Adie Bennett was on hand to head home.
Llanfair equalised, but Presteigne were back in front before the break when Frankie was brought down inside the area and Joe Mayglothling again proved he is the man from 12 yards as he stuck away the penalty.
It was 2-1 at the interval and Presteigne were in dream land in the second half when Ieuan Crowe finished neatly to make it 3-1.
Back came Llanfair and they reduced arrears but still it looked as though Presteigne might hold on, only for the wonder strike in stoppage time to deny Danny Williams and his side what would have been a famous win.
But early reports suggest this performance was a vast improvement on that we witnessed in last weekend’s heavy defeat by Machynlleth.
Incidentally, when mentioning at the top of this report it was a case of: ‘What a difference a week makes’, it was pretty much the same for Machynlleth.
Last week they were celebrating a famous 7-1 win at Llanandras Park, but today they were hammered 9-1 at home by Llandrindod Wells who moved to within a point of Llanfair United at the top of the second-division table.
Meanwhile the Reserves also picked up a point from their Mid Wales League (South) game at Brecon Town which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Anthony Vernalls was on target for the first Presteigne goal, and it’s thought Ioan Hughes got the second, although this is yet to be confirmed as the information was being relayed to me after a glass or two of ‘Chateau Farmers’ and things might have been a little clouded!