ST HARMON (The Lingen)

RADNORSHIRE CUP 1st ROUND, ST HARMON 0-7 LLANDRINDROD WELLS, ATTENDANCE: 46 (h/c)

A chance for some Sunday football is not to be sniffed at so I headed for Mid Wales for some Radnorshire Cup action. However there was a slight change of plan as I was originally heading to Knighton Town and their clash with Sennybridge but the club (very kindly) tweeted me around 10am to say the game was off as the visitors could not raise a team (and with that they also forfeited the tie).

The only alternative (for me) was a trip to St Harmon and their game with Llandrindrod Wells (another club who very helpfully tweeted details to me). St Harmon is a village in Powys on the B4518 road between Llanidloes and Rhayader. The football club was founded in 2000 and play at The Lingen, which is up a lane just off the B4518 in the adjacent village of Pant-y-Dwr.

I'll be honest that due to the very late change in my plans I had not done the requisite research (I was stuck in work when the Knighton game was pulled)  and I was struggling to find the ground. Luckily one of the players was a late arrival and he said follow me up to the pitch. The club still get changed in St Harmon next to where their old base was, the now closed down Sun Inn pub, then drive the 1.5 miles to the ground.

The ground is basically sloping a field, complete with the old crusty sheep's dung. The only furniture present was a bit of rope to hold back the spectators, of which there were a fair few today as the locals came out to support their team, and what looked like old dugouts, which in all honesty would not provide an shelter from the elements on a bleak winters day. Luckily today the ground and surrounding vista was picturesque as it was bathed in late September sunshine.  Entrance was £2 and the lady on the gate made sure you paid and refreshments were available from a tea hut.

The game was as one sided a you would expect given the clubs respective positions in the Welsh pyramid. Llandrindrod Wells are newly promoted to the Cymru Alliance (step 2) whilst the homesters are members of the Mid Wales South League (step 5).

First half goals from Robbie Nicholls (13, 15 & 30) and Ritchie Powell (19) gave Llandrindrod a 4-0 interval lead before further goals from Johnny Williams (46) and Ashley Jones (57 & 69) added further gloss to the scoreline. 

In fairness St Harmon never let their heads drop and kept plugging away and made the visitors 'keeper work on more than one occasion. However it proved a comfortable afternoon for Llandrindrod and they will now face a trip to Rhosgoch Rangers in the next round.

A very, very enjoyable afternoon in Mid-Wales.