Emrys Morgan Cup - Talgarth 3 v 2 Felinfach

Whoever said football can be a cruel game probably had a good idea what he was talking about in this particular instance. Despite being massive underdogs against their in form hosts Talgarth Rovers in this last 16 encounter of the prestigious Emrys Morgan Cup Felinfach came oh so close to producing a memorable victory.

Having disposed of Cambrian Tyres title challengers Bow Street in the previous round Talgarth must have thought this would be a far easier passage through to the next round. Far from it. Indeed they will be breathing far easier than they were with just 5 minutes of normal time remaining when they were 2-1 down and struggling to find any way through a resilient Felinfach side that were battling for everything. With time rapidly running out a free kick from the left was whipped in at such a pace that there was nothing that could be done to stop the Talgarth equaliser being bundled over the line.

Still, with the tie now balanced at 2-2, extra time was surely on the cards where Felinfach would feel they could still pull off one of the shocks of the round. Sadly no. With both coaches comparing their watches and scratching their heads as to where the 10 minutes of injury time had come from Talgarth hit a hopeful long ball which sat up perfectly between the two Felinfach central defenders for Talgarth to dramatically take the honours.

That was it. There was barely time for the restart before the final whistle came. Why therefore can Felinfach feel they had been harshly done by? Maybe because of the 55 minute second half? Maybe because they had found enough resilience to come back from unluckily going 1- 0 down to go ahead with 2 close range goals from striker Jamie Owen? Maybe because they started the game at such a pace that the game should have been all over at half time? Maybe because they hit the woodwork on no fewer than 5 times in the first half, 3 of those within an amazing 20 second spell? And so on!

In the whole scheme of things, Talgarth too deserve credit for the way they forced themselves back into this game after what was a severe case of being on the ropes for the first 20 minutes or so. Nevertheless it definatlely feels like one of those games that Felinfach will look back on in years ahead as "if only?"

On a day that it was impossible to name individuals in the side who had excelled, simply that they had done themselves and the club proud and must surely give them belief that they can go on from here and compete with any team at this level it is perhaps more appropriate that a record of the squad for this game is as follows:

Sean Thomas, Eilir "Wheres the bus??" Evans (capt), Lee Forrester, Dyfan Evans, Dan White, James Davies, Richard Haywood (vice captain), Sion Jones, Gareth Evans, Richard Brennan, Keith Evans, Denzil Davies, Jamie Owen, Dale Fitzpatrick