Presteigne St Andrews FC will have had better days this season than they had on Saturday, 24 February – of that there is no doubt.
Both the first team and the Reserves were beaten by sides pushing hard towards the top of their respective divisions.
We knew going into the Spar Mid Wales League, second-division game against Builth Wells that this was likely to prove a tough test.
Not only are Builth going very well towards the top of the table, but they came into the game with a 100 percent away record in the division this season.
If it looked like a mountain to climb at kick off time for Shaun Harris’ young squad then, six minutes later, it was more akin to trying to negotiate the Himalayas in high heels.
Builth scored twice in that opening salvo and there was never going to be any way back from there.
The early loss of Owen Williams due to injury served only to compound these problems and, while we should give full credit to those youngsters who turned out for the first team in this one, it was literally men against boys at times.
Builth led 4-0 at the interval and went on to close out a 7-0 victory with the visiting keeper scarcely having a save to make all afternoon, although Presteigne did rattle the cross bar in the first half.
To their credit, the majority of Shaun’s side kept working right through to the final whistle but, however you wrap this up, we were very well beaten on the day.
As for the Reserves, they headed to Llanidloes Town Reserves and one goal settled that one.
Sadly, it went against Mark Weiland and Alan Stocker’s side as the Daffs’ second string closed out the win that keeps them three points clear at the top of the table.
But Rhayader Town remain firm favourites to win the title – they went to Hay St Mary’s Reserves and spanked them 8-0 at Forest Road to leave themselves three points behind Llanidloes Town Reserves in second spot, but with three games in hand.
The Reserves are fourth in the table and now have six league matches remaining.