Congratulations to Alan Stocker and Mark Weiland who oversaw the first team’s Otway Cup 4-2 semi-final win over Newbridge-on-Wye at Llanandras Park on Tuesday, 2 April.
My thanks to Tom Ammonds for allowing me to lift his observations from the club’s Facebook page to help flesh out the match report.
“This was a superb game of open football which, in truth, could have gone either way,” said Tom.
“Newbridge started the brighter of the two sides taking an early lead and this could have proved difficult for a youthful Presteigne side but, to their credit, they equalised within ten minutes through a brilliant header through Duane Anning.
“The game was end to end and it was refereed very well by Joe Lewis who let things flow whenever possible.
“Presteigne took the lead midway through the first half through Matt Stangwood whose dummy outfoxed everyone including himself before he regained his cool and blasted the ball into the net despite the efforts of the defender on the line
“Newbridge then levelled the game up before the break.
“The second half was very similar to the first with both sides going for the win and it was Presteigne who took the lead midway through after great work from Gareth Bull who fed the ball over the top.
“A little bit of confusion between the centre half and his fellow defender allowed Duane to nip in and roll the ball into the empty net.
“With the game on a knife edge the next goal would be critical and it came probably against the run of play as Newbridge had begun to dominate and had corner after corner which we defended well.
“A quick break saw Duane flick the ball to Matt who went one-on-one with the keeper before popping the ball pastd him to secure the game and the chance for Presteigne to defend the Otway Cup they won at the start of the season.
“It is hard to single out any player on that team performance which outstanding but, for me, Gareth Bull would have just tipped the scales.
“We would like to wish Newbridge all the very best for the rest of the season and for their upcoming semi-final match this weekend.”
Presteigne team: – C.Williams, O.Williams, L.Blythe, L.Tomkins, F.Ozsoylu, J.Cockett, J.Griffiths, T.Office, G.Bull, D.Anning (2), M.Strangwood (2). Subs – L.Jones, B.Laytham, A.Williams