Radnor Valley scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser as they secured a share of the derby spoils with Llandrindod Wells in the season opening Lock Stock Ardal North East fixture on The Broadway.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 11th minute when defender Matt Croose prodded the ball past James Barker from close-range after some good initial approach play from Joey Price inside the penalty area.

Llandrindod Wells hit back in the 27th minute when Daryl Nicholls headed past Liam Jones from brother Shaun’s dangerous cross in the goalmouth.

Llandrindod Wells were back on terms through Daryl Nicholls
Llandrindod Wells were back on terms through Daryl Nicholls (Copyright: Barcud-Coch Photography) (.)

The Spa Men nearly took the lead in the 40th minute when Kieran McCarley intercepted a Liam Jones pass and played the ball to Liam Hall but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

The opening half ended with Goats’ skipper Lewis Morris volleying wide of the near post from a 44th minute corner as the two teams headed into the interval on level terms.

The respective management teams would have been thinking there was everything to play for during the second-half and the game was there for the taking. 

The New Radnor men had the first real opportunity after the break when Tom Edwards saw his low 50th minute shot from the edge of the penalty area parried before Geraint Lloyd headed over the crossbar from a subsequent cross delivered from out on the left and the home defence could only partially clear the ball.

Llandrindod Wells supporters thought their team had taken the lead 15 minutes into the second half, when McCarley turned the ball home from close-range after Rueben Edwards shot was parried into his path by Liam Jones, but the goal was ruled out by the flag of assistant referee Sue Jones. 

A hard fought battle on The Broadway
A hard fought battle on The Broadway (Copyright: Barcud-Coch Photography) (.)

But the Spa Men did go ahead in the 65th minute, after breaking swiftly down the right flank and the subsequent cross from Sam De Groot was duly converted by Edwards from the edge of the penalty area. 

The hosts went close to doubling their lead three minutes later but Edwards was unable to keep his far post half-volley on target from a corner.

Veteran forward Geraint Lloyd headed narrowly wide of the target from Edwards’s half volley on the edge of the penalty area following a 74th minute corner. Llandrindod Wells continued to push for a third goal, as Liam Jones kept out Edwards’ low 82nd minute effort before Tom Durrant headed wide from a cross on the left flank four minutes later. 

The Spa Men were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute after captain Ashley Jones received his second yellow card of the evening following a rash challenge on Jack Clarke on the touchline.

Just when it appeared that the hosts had done enough to secure the local bragging rights, Croose completed his brace by sweeping the loose ball past Barker from close range to claim a point, after a stoppage-time free-kick was only partially cleared by the Llandrindod Wells defence.