Brecon Corries were left feeling the blues after suffering a 4-3 defeat to Croesyceiliog in a dramatic Elite Stands UK Ardal South East encounter.

The first league fixture of the season at the Rich Field took place whilst the town's annual Jazz Festival was in full swing just a short distance away. The two teams had served-up a 5-5 thriller in last season's clash but a repeat performance was looking unlikely after a goalless opening half-hour.

Brecon Corries made a strong start to the proceedings with Corey Evans' low 30 yard free-kick being held at the second attempt by Josh Winstone in the Croesyceiliog goal. Joel Evans headed wide of the target from a 15th minute corner before Craig Evans' inviting low cross into the danger area was deflected behind for a corner four minutes later.

The visitors gradually found their way into the match and began to create their own opportunities. Rhys Brown's 24th minute effort from the edge of the penalty area was blocked prior to Jordan Hill directing his 25 yard half-volley wide of goal two minutes later. Michael Passmore's deflected strike from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Steve Price in the 28th minute prior to Craig Evans striking the woodwork with a half-volley on the half-hour mark and Jay Hughes heading the rebound over the crossbar. The hosts broke eventually the deadlock when skipper Dale Evans met Mitchell Davies 34th minute corner with a bullet header that gave Winstone no chance. Croesyceiliog were back on level terms within three minutes when Owen Llewellyn met Alfie Foster's pullback with a crisp first-time finish to beat Price. Brecon Corries regained the lead three minutes before the interval when Craig Evans was picked out in space in the penalty area by Hughes before beating Winstone with a low drive. Hughes' 25 yard strike was saved in the 44th minute before the Cockerels responded with a couple of opportunities of their own. Foster fired over from the edge of the penalty area prior to Jude Bull directing an effort wide of the target before the half-time whistle sounded. Corries manager Damien Daniels would have been pleased to head to the changing room with a lead but knew his players would have to concentrate if they were going to maintain that advantage.

The Cockerels were back on level terms three minutes into the second-half when Brown drove towards the penalty area and his low 25 yard drive nestled into the bottom corner of the net. Dale Evans was in the right place, moments after the restart, to clear the ball off the line as Croesyceiliog pushed for a third goal. The visitors went close again in the 55th when a low cross from the left was deflected past the near post by Brown. The Corries went close to regaining the lead three minutes later when Winstone denied Joel Evans from close-range following some good approach play by Davies inside the penalty area. It was the turn of Craig Evans to go close for the hosts in the 63rd minute but directed his header wide of the far post from an inviting cross on the right. There was somewhat of a lull in the proceedings before the dramatic finale ensued. Croesyceiliog took the lead for the first time in the 78th minute when Brown latched on to a well-timed pass from Tyler Broom before maintaining his composure to lift the ball over Price.

The Rich Field club saw their penalty appeals turned down three minutes later when they felt Craig Evans' shot was handled by an opponent. The Corries thought they had claimed a share of the spoils with six minutes remaining when a ball played into the penalty area was not cleared and substitute Leo Davies pounced to put the hosts back on level terms. There was one further twist to the proceedings when Llewellyn headed home his second goal of the afternoon from an 86th minute corner to hand the initiative back to the Torfaen outfit. Daniels' charges had a second penalty appeal turned down within two minutes of the restart before Joel Evans' 25 yard drive was turned over the crossbar in stoppage-time. However, they were unable to force another equaliser that would have provided a repeat of last season's high scoring draw at the Rich Field.