Radnor Valley returned to winning ways on Saturday in Lock Stock Ardal North East, following three successive league defeats in January, as they overcame Penycae 2-0 at The Riverside.

With the Goats struggling for player availability, following a combination of injuries, suspensions and Taylor Wozencraft transferring to Knighton Town, it was the hosts who created the better of the goal scoring opportunities in the first-half despite a bright start by the visitors during the opening stages. Zac Davies went close for Penycae in the third minute with his shot on the turn from 15 yards narrowly evading Will Fowden's far post.

Thomas Edwards tried his luck with a similar effort for the visitors 13 minutes later before it was the turn of Austin Owen to have an attempt on goal courtesy a low 20-yard in the 18th minute.

Owen had another opportunity three minutes later when he pulled a 20-yard effort wide of the near post before Radnor Valley finally started to find their shooting boots and carve some opportunities of their own after having to withstand a period of pressure from their opponents.

Joey Price tried his luck with a 25 yard free-kick in the 23rd minute before Henry Shipley delivered a teasing cross from the right side of the penalty area less than 60 seconds later but no visiting player could apply the vital touch in front of goal.

Price then went on one of his trademark runs in the 27th minute, after driving inside off the left flank, but pulled his ensuing shot wide of Dan Clark's near post.

Penycae had a good opportunity to break the deadlock two minutes later when Owen was played through on goal but Fowden stood-up to make a crucial save to keep the scores level. The latter stages of the opening half did not provide the same level of scoring opportunities as the match gradually turned into a midfield battle.

Radnor Valley coach Adam Jones would have been pleased at the interval that his charges had kept a clean sheet, following the defensive frailties displayed during their previous three outings, but knew the Goats would have to show more of an attacking threat during the second half if they were to arrest their recent run of form.

The New Radnor men reconvened on the front foot with Shipley delivering another inviting cross in the opening minute after the break that Penycae defender Dam Smith was forced to turn behind for a corner.

Owen saw his low shot from the edge of the penalty area saved by Fowden in the 53rd minute before the Wrexham outfit broke down the right flank two minutes later and Owen had another effort on goal blocked on this occasion.

Charlie Beaumont had two shots on target blocked following a 57th-minute cross delivered from out on the right flank prior to Joey Price seeing his 20-yard effort take a deflection and comfortably saved by Clark two minutes later.

Callum Matthews was unable to keep his close-range effort under the crossbar as he stretched to meet a 64th minute cross from the right wing before both Matthews and Beaumont had further efforts on goal blocked four minutes later.

Radnor Valley were certainly increasing the pressure on their opponent's goal, and it only seemed a matter of time before they would score, as Joey Price surged into the Penycae penalty area in the 70th minute and saw his fierce drive turned over the crossbar.

The deadlock was finally broken four minutes later when Price latched on to a well-timed pass before rounding the advancing Clark and turning the ball into an unguarded net from a tight angle.

Beaumont's shot on the turn was pushed behind for an 80th minute corner before captain Lewis Morris was unable to keep his effort down from the ensuing set-piece.

The hosts were reduced to ten players three minutes later when Josh Mazzarella was shown two yellow yards by referee Michael Gray in the space of a few seconds.

The Wrexham outfit seemed to switch-off from the subsequent free-kick, taken less then 60 seconds later, when Matthews was afforded the time and space in the penalty area to fire the ball past Clark.

The Goats went hunting for a third goal in the closing stages, as Price latched on to an 87th minute through ball but saw his effort turned behind for a corner, before being denied at the near post two minutes later following a quickly-taken corner.

Beaumont had a fierce drive from the left side of the penalty area turned over the crossbar by Clark but by then Radnor Valley had done enough to secure victory and maintain second position in the league table.