News reaches us today that sadly Talgarth Town have informed the Spar Mid Wales League secretary, Phil Woosnam that they are to withdraw from the second division with immediate effect.
This will have a very obvious impact on Presteigne St Andrews FC in that Talgarth Town were due to visit Llanandras Park for a league match on Wednesday, 2 May.
But Talgarth failed to field a side for their scheduled trip to Llansantffraid Village on Saturday, 21 April and then found themselves in a similar position ahead of the fixture at Montgomery Town on 28 April.
Not only will we now be without a league fixture on Wednesday, 2 May, but we will also lose three points.
We are advised that Talgarth Town’s league record for the season will be expunged and so we will forfeit the three points gained in the 3-2 victory at Talgarth in our opening match of the season on 12 August.
But overshadowing all of this is a sadness that Talgarth got so close to the end of the season and then felt unable to get across the line.
While we don’t know the precise reasons for their decision, social media posts would suggest an unwillingness of some players to travel to away games was a factor.
League rules probably dictate Talgarth Town will face a fine and, while it’s true there has to be a system in place to discourage clubs from pulling out mid-season, you can’t help but feel for the Talgarth committee.