Radnor Valley claimed the local bragging rights in east Radnorshire on Saturday afternoon following a 2-0 victory over hosts Knighton Town at Bryn-y-Castell.

Report by Stuart Townsend:

The opening stages of this derby encounter were relatively even as both teams attempted to get to grips with a playing surface exposed to a considerable amount of rain during the preceding days.

Charlie Beaumont had the first effort on target for the visitors in the sixth minute when cut in from the left but could only direct his 25-yard effort at Jamie Griffiths in the Knighton Town goal.

Ieuan Price was unable to keep his effort under the crossbar from Tim Office’s deep free-kick two minutes later before Elliot Morris fired wide from a 25-yard free-kick after 20 minutes.

The Radnor Robins had enjoyed their fair share of possession in the opening quarter of the match but without really testing Will Fowden in the Goats’ goal. Connor O’Connell pulled a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area in the 22nd minute following a driving run by Knighton Town teammate Sam Hoyle.

Fowden was forced to make a smart save nine minutes later from Declan Beddoes’ 25-yard drive as the hosts looked to make the crucial breakthrough before the interval.

The last action of note during the opening 45 minutes saw Elliot Morris’ deflected free-kick from just outside of the penalty area held by Griffiths.

Ieuan Price tested Griffiths from 25 yards five minutes after the players returned from the changing rooms before the Radnor Robins came close to opening the scoring in the 52 minute. The hosts broke quickly from deep in their own half before Beddoes was set free on goal but denied by a key save from Fowden.

Radnor Valley responded from that close encounter as former Knighton Town defender Josh Traylor-Hall saw his effort from the edge of the penalty area turned over the crossbar by Griffiths after the home defence could only partially cleared a 55th minute corner.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes later, when another former Robin, Taylor Wozencraft, converted from the penalty spot when referee Steve Bradford spotted a push in the penalty area after Beaumont had been denied by Griffiths.

Knighton Town appeared to be surprised by that goal as the Goats doubled their advantage within two minutes of the restart. Veteran forward Geraint Lloyd smashed a loose ball past Griffiths and into the roof of the net after the home defence was unable to clear their penalty area.

The visitors were now in the driving seat and it was always going to be tough for Knighton Town to respond without talisman Kieran Dovey in their ranks.

Beaumont struck a 25-yard free-kick at Griffiths in the 70th minute before Ieuan Price headed wide of the far post from a corner six minutes later.

The New Radnor men continued to press for the third goal with Wozencraft seeing his 82nd minute effort turned over the crossbar by Griffiths before Lloyd headed over the target within 60 seconds from a Beaumont cross.

The Radnor Robins continued to strive for a consolation goal, as Harry Hurst was denied by Fowden from a 25-yard free-kick deep into stoppage time, but it was their visitors who went home happy as they closed the gap on leaders Hay St Mary’s to a single point.