Builth Wells came from behind to defeat local rivals Radnor Valley 4-1 in their Lock Stock Ardal North East midweek derby at The Bypass courtesy of a Tommy Rowlands hat-trick.

Joey Price handed the Goats the lead less inside the first few minutes when his low 25-yard drive surprised Builth Wells goalkeeper James Spooner and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

But The Bulls were back on level terms when recent signing Connor Bird powerfully headed home an equaliser from an eighth minute corner at the near post. 

Former Newbridge midfielder Lyndon Jones drilled a low shot wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 11th minute, before the visitors went ahead two minutes later. Tommy Rowlands ran on to a through ball from Chris Roff before eventually finding the back of the net after Radnor Valley keeper Tom Lewis had made an initial save. 

The Goats looked to respond to this setback as Jack Clarke rounded Spooner in the 16th minute but his effort was deflected behind from a tight angle and Elliot Morris saw his close-range shot blocked from the ensuing corner. Radnor Valley were pushing hard for an equaliser as defender Josh Hall had a close-range effort blocked from another corner four minutes later. 

But it was Builth Wells who netted again in the 31st minute when Rowlands raced through on goal from a Lee James pass before finding the far corner of Lewis’ goal.

Rowlands came close to completing his hat-trick seven minutes later with an opportunistic 30-yard free-kick.

Clarke went close to reducing the deficit in the 41st minute with his shot on the turn following a long throw into the Bulls’ penalty area.

Rowlands went close again four minutes later, when he was set free on goal, but this time uncharacteristically directed his effort wide of the target.

The visitors made a strong start to the second-half as they looked to build on their lead.

Rowlands latched on to a well-timed through ball in the opening minute but was denied by a smart save from Lewis before Aeron Powell was unable to keep the rebound under the crossbar.

Joshua Joyce tried his luck with a shot on the turn from 25 yards in the 53rd minute prior to Bird directing a header wide of goal from a corner four minutes later.

Rowlands was presented with another opportunity to score his third goal of the evening, as the Goats were caught on the break nine minutes later, but his shot was blocked.

Radnor Valley substitute Geraint Lloyd saw his 79th minute shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area saved by Spooner. Rees Morris drove into the penalty area 60 seconds later and saw his effort deflected behind from a corner from which substitute Dale Richards struck an upright from point blank range.

The scoring was completed with five minutes remaining on the clock, after the Goats were caught pushing forwarding in an effort to reduce the deficit, when Rowlands was set free on goal by Jamie Evans before driving into the penalty area and beating Lewis to complete his personal treble.

There was still time for some further drama before the final whistle when Danny Ives was shown a yellow card by referee Nigel Mathias after he kicked the ball at Rees Morris from close-range whilst the Radnor Valley player was lying on the ground. Although some home supporters felt it warranted a stronger punishment.

But that would not have impacted on the result as the Bulls had already done enough to secure victory and maintain their strong start to the new campaign.