Heartbreak for Saints

9:22am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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St Dogmaels 4 Tregaron Turfs 5 (after extra time) Cwpan Ceredigion Final It all ended in heartbreak for holders Saints who had midfielder Simon Wilson and goalkeeper Colin Owen red-carded in a pulsating final at Ffostrasol, and despite the nine men wearing their hearts on their sleeves in a totally committed performance they went down in extra time.

The Teifi Estuary villagers dominated during the opening 45 minutes and the 3-1 advantage they held at the break was no more than their efforts deserved.

Attacking livewire Jonathan Evans fired Turfs ahead after eight minutes but Simon Wilson squared matters for the Greens before Chris Thomas moved up for a corner and headed powerfully past Gethin Jones.

Skipper Ioan Owen increased the advantage after 40 minutes when picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and firing low past Jones.

Refusing to throw in the towel the north Ceredigion men fought back and reduced the arrears through Glen Stewart who rose to meet a Jonathan Evans corner and headed past Colin Owen.

It was the dangerous Evans who brought the scores level when his effort took a deflection and wrong-footed Owen.

Referee John Davies of Llanrhystyd had no hesitation in sending Simon Wilson packing after he appeared to kick out at a player.

The full-of-fight ten men raised their game and during the first period of extra time ex-Cardigan Town ace Slavomir Waleczek left three defenders in his wake before clipping a shot past Jones to put his side back in front.

Right at the end of the first period Gareth Davies rose above everyone and headed past Owen to equalise.

Early in the second period Saints goalkeeper Owen raced out of his goal and was adjudged to have brought down Jonathan Evans prompting Mr. Davies to produce the red card for a second time.

As the nine men were put under severe pressure Jonathan Evans broke through on the left and fired past stand in goalkeeper Dafydd George to complete his hat-trick and win the cup for Turfs..