Radnor Valley lifted the Aspidistra Radnorshire Cup on Sunday afternoon, for the first time in five years, following a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Llandrindod Wells at Bryn-y-Castell.
The two teams could not be separated during the opening 90 minutes, as neither was unable to find the back of the net, and it appeared the silverware was heading to The Broadway when Kieran McCarley broke the deadlock in the early stages of extra-time. However, Joey Price headed an equaliser with four minutes remaining on the clock and Goats skipper Will Fowden proved to be captain fantastic with two saves in the ensuing shoot-out.
Llandrindod Wells, who had suffered a home defeat to Corwen 24 hours earlier, made a strong start to the final with Robbie Nicholls going close when a third minute free-kick was played into the penalty area.
Daniel Hall burst into the Radnor Valley penalty area after 17 minutes, despite the close attention of a couple of opponents, and was denied an opening goal by a smart save from Fowden.
The Goats took a little longer to find their feet, compared to their higher-graded opponents, with Lewis Morris pulling his shot wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area following some good approach play by Charlie Beaumont out on the right.
The Spa Men responded within 60 seconds when Ashley Jones fired a snapshot wide of the traget from the edge of the penalty area after a free-kick played into the Radnor Valley penalty area was only partially cleared. The dangerous Robbie Nicholls cut inside on the half-hour mark but was unable to keep his 25-yard effort on target.
Lewis Morris was presented with a good opportunity to open the scoring two minutes later, when he ran on to a deep free-kick, but Truelove was alert to keep out the Goats' midfielder.
Robbie Nicholls cut inside along the byline in the 34th minute but was unable to find a way past Fowden from a tight angle. Fowden was forced to punch away Kieran McCarley's free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area six minutes later before Joey Price fired his 25 yard free-kick straight into the defensive wall with two minutes of normal time remaining on the clock.There was all to play for at the beginning of the second-half and the feeling was that a single goal might be good enough to determine the outcome of the match.
Robbie Nicholls was picked out by a long ball played out of his own half six minutes after the restart before seeing his shot turned behind by Fowden.
Callum Matthews saw his 54th minute effort blocked before Joey Price had an effort turned over from the edge of the penalty area by Truelove on the hour mark.
Daniel Hall could not quite apply a crucial touch to an inviting 62nd minute cross from the right before Llandrindod Wells defender Sammy De Groot was afforded space a minute later to fire a low shot narrowly past the far post from the edge of the penalty area.
The Spa Men were enjoying a good spell of pressure as Ashley Jones directed a header straight at Fowden from a cross on the right within 60 seconds. Radnor Valley looked dangerous on the break but were unable to pierce their way through their opponent's rearguard as Joey Price struck a 70th minute free-kick into the Spa Men's defensive wall.
McCarley went close with a 25 yard free-kick of his own six minutes later before Elliot Morris was unable to keep his header on target from an 84th minute corner.
Hall was allowed to drive towards the Radnor Valley penalty area just a minute later before seeing his shot curl narrowly wide of the far post.
Truelove had to be alert to punch away a Joey Price free-kick in the 87th minute before Matthews saw his effort blocked from the melee that followed.
The last clear goal scoring opportunity of normal time saw Shaun Nicholls head wide of goal from an inviting McCarley free-kick before the teams prepared for an additional 30 minutes of action.It took just five minutes of extra-time for Llandrindod Wells to break the deadlock when McCarley ran on to a well-timed pass before sliding the ball past Fowden and spark joyous scences amongst his teammates.
The Goats responded three minutes later with Joey Price firing over the crossbar from 20 yards before Rees Morris saw his 103rd minute strike on goal blocked and defender Josh Traylor-Hall pulled his shot wide from the rebound.
Joey Price fired another free-kick straight into the Spa Men's wall four minutes later as he struggled to find his usual accuracy from set pieces before diving towards goal in the 112th minute and seeing his ensuing effort parried to safety by Truelove.
Llandrindod Wells substitute Rhys Davies currled a shot narrowly wide of the taret from the edge of the penalty area within 60 seconds.
Just when it appeared that the silverware was heading to The Broadway, the Goats levelled the scores with four minutes remaining on Gwilym Lewis' watch. Talisman Joey Price headed past Truelove from close range, when Elliot Morris headed the ball goalwards, after Josh Traylor-Hall's deep free-kick was only partially cleared from the penalty area.
Radnor Valley skipper Fowden then proved to be the hero of the shoot-out as he saved from McCarley and Darren Murphy.
Meanwhile, Joey Price, Elliot Morris, Lewis Morris and Jack Williams successfully converted from the spot to start the celebrations for the Goats' players and supporters.
