Hay St Marys opened their MMP with Norman Lloyd Central Wales League (South) campaign with a 3-2 win over border rivals Presteigne St Andrews at Forest Road.
Following a relatively even start to this derby encounter, the visitors had the first real chance of the match when Sezar Cakmak fired wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 10th minute, before the same player latched on to a through ball 10 minutes later but was unable to keep his shot under the crossbar.
The Saints broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when Adam Corbet latched on to a Thomas Gardiner through ball, following some confusion in their opponent’s defence, before lifting the ball over Jordan Bailey in the Presteigne St Andrew’s goal.
That goal seemed to boost the home team, as Rueben Rodell was denied by Bailey after a 27th minute corner was only partially cleared, before Dan Price fizzed a 20-yard drive narrowly over the crossbar six minutes later.
The lead was doubled in the 35th minute when Darren Horrigan drove into the penalty area and his low cross was turned past Bailey by Cakmak.
Presteigne St Andrews halved the deficit in the 44th minute when Corey Blythin-Williams broke free towards the home penalty area before his fierce drive beat Scott Warren at the near post to put the visitors back in the match in the stroke of half-time.
Saints manager Jowi Hewitt would have been pleased by the opening 45 minutes, given the significant change of personnel at Forest Road since last season, and the opposition management of Steve March and Duane Anning would have similarly been pleased with elements of their side’s first-half performance.
Hay St Marys looked to hit back four minutes after the interval as Horrigan raced through on goal but was denied be a brave Bailey who blocked the ball at his feet.
Rodell saw his low 25 yard free-kick turned behind for a corner by Bailey in the 69th minute before Charlie Ward went close for the Saints two minutes later from just outside of the penalty area.
Adam Corbett picked-up the ball in the 80th minutes and drove towards goal but was unable to keep his 20 yard effort under the crossbar before Noah Cripps saw his 25 yard free-kick saved by Bailey within 60 seconds.
Cripps went close to finding the back of the net in the 83rd minute when he surged into the penalty area and saw his ensuing shot turned behind for a corner by former Hay St Mary’s goalkeeper Bailey.
Horrigan tried his luck two minutes later from 25 yards before the Saints virtually secured victory in the 88th minute when Charlie Ward latched on a to a Darren Horrigan through ball before finishing past Bailey.
Presteigne St Andrews did net a late consolation goal five minutes later when Steven Marsh eventually forced the ball home from close-range after the Hay St Mary’s defence failed to clear the ball from their penalty area.
