Talgarth Town end long wait for Mid Wales League Cup success

Talgarth Town lifted the Pip Samuel (Electrical) Mid Wales (South) League Cup for the first time in 17 years after overcoming local rivals Hay St Mary's 4-3 on penalties in the well-attended final at the Lant Field.

On that last occasion, the Royals were known as Gwernyfed and defeated the Saints 3-1 in the final at Builth Wells after Hay St Mary's had been crowned league champions.

Steve Potter and Gavin Perry, who netted the third goal for the victors in 2009, were also part of the Talgarth Town squad in this season's final.

Prior to kick-off, both sets of players and management, as well as the match officials and supporters in attendance, paid tribute with a minute's applause for the late Tiny Harding, who played an integral part in the recent history of both clubs.

The local rivals appeared to be quite tentative during the early stages and did not take too many risks.

Harry Ratcliffe's 25-yard drive was deflected behind for a sixth-minute corner to the Saints before their opponents responded when Kyle O'Shea directed an effort wide of goal from the edge of the penalty area.

Ed Walkden fired a drive over the crossbar in the 23rd minute before Ricky Lynes was unable to latch on to a through ball eight minutes later.

Grzes Chodnicki handed the Royals the lead after 33 minutes when he was on hand at the far post to volley home a cross delivered from out on the right flank.

Hay St Mary's, who were crowned champions the previous week, were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart when Lynes netted with a low free-kick that nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Talgarth responded in the 39th minute when captain Frazer McAnally fired wide before Saints skipper Darren Horrigan was unable to connect properly with a through.

Chodnicki's shot from the edge of the penalty area was blocked four minutes after the interval prior to Lynes' 20-yard effort being pushed away by the Royals' keeper as it arrowed towards the top corner of the net.

Lynes broke into the Talgarth penalty area three minutes later, but the league's top scorer was stopped in his tracks by a well-timed challenge.

Horrigan's 58th-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area was blocked prior to Harry Sharman directing a header straight at Saints keeper Tom Lewis.

Harry Sharman was unable to keep his strike under the crossbar in the 68th minute before Mcanally tried his luck from just over 30 yards out less than 60 seconds later.

The industrious Jack Cook was unable to keep a shot on target in the 71st minute before Tom Francis struck an effort wide of the near post.

Taylor Maddy found the side netting after an 87th-minute was not cleared by the Talgarth defence prior to Jack Cook's effort from the edge of the penalty area being blocked as the Saints chased a winner.

Neither team were unable to fashion a winning goal and the destiny of the silverware was decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Lynes and Lewis were unable to covert their efforts from the spot to hand the Royals victory.

Hay St Mary's midfielder Ed Walkden was named as the sponsor's player of the match before McAnally received the cup from Pip Samuel to commence the celebrations among the Talgarth players and supporters.