Presteigne St Andrews FC booked their place in the third round of the Central Wales FA Cup after a 5-2 victory over Radnorshire rivals Newbridge-on-Wye at Llanandras Park on Saturday, 25 November.
Matt Strangwood was on great form as he scored four times to help Presteigne ease their recent goal drought.
My thanks to vice-chairman Tom Ammonds for supplying me with the following match report.
“Presteigne comfortably won this tie even though it started with the home side going 1-0 down inside the first minute in bizarre fashion.
“The ball broke to a Newbridge with the home defence appealing for offside but, unfortunately the linesman was standing in the wrong position – running the wrong line – so the referee Mike Hughes had to give the goal.
“Thankfully he then positioned them in the right position for the rest of the game.
“Presteigne got back into the game within ten minutes through Matt Strangwood who finished a neat move with a tidy finish.
“The home side then dominated the game with Newbridge possible guilty of trying to play too much football on a heavy pitch across their back line.
“Presteigne took the lead from a corner which wasn’t cleared and again Strangwood was hand with a super left-foot strike from 15 yards to give the goalkeeper no chance at all.
“Strangwood then secured his hat-trick after another good move which resulted in a poacher’s goal after the keeper made another fine save.
“To their credit, Newbridge kept playing football but Llanandras Park after all the rain was heavy to say the least and Presteigne went in at half-time with a 3-1 lead.
“After the break, the home side came out all guns blazing and scored the fourth after a fine through ball from Kieran Lusher sent “Strangy” away one-on-one and he duly applied the finish by crashing it under the advancing keeper.
“Manager Shaun Harris began then to ring the changes due to home side picking up bookings left , right and centre – seven in total.
“Tom Crichton entered the fray and within minutes should have scored but somehow managed to miss when it looked easier to score.
“But he was not to be denied as he scored to make it 5 -1 and continue his rich vein of form in front of goal.
“Newbridge did score late on to make the score 5-2 but they can have no complaints about the scoreline as Presteigne progressed to the next round.
“This was a very pleasing performance from the home side especially as they had not found the net in any of their previous four games.
“The only down side being the amount of bookings being picked up – something we really need to address but onwards and upwards.
“Disappointingly we have no game this week and then make the daunting trip to face Abersytwyth University on Saturday, 9 December, where three points will be needed if we are to rediscover our early-season league form.”