Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League – Division 1
Goodwick beat Bridge to close gap at top of table
Merlins Bridge 1 – Goodwick United 2
Goodwick United narrowly defeated Merlins Bridge at the Pembrokeshire Sports Village to get their title aspirations back on track.
This crucial win after last week’s draw at home against Clarbeston Road sees the Phoenix Lads just two points behind leaders Merlins Bridge, plus they have a game in hand.
League leaders Merlins Bridge won 3-2 at Phoenix Park, but Chris O’Sullivan’s team came to the Bridge in determined mood.
The visitors bagged two quick fire goals in eleven minutes, Rhys Jones made no mistake from the spot plus Rhys Dalling found the back of the net, three minutes from full time Henry Thomas pulled one back for the hosts, but the Wizards couldn’t find an elusive equaliser.
Goodwick were awarded a penalty when Wizards’ defender Richard Hughes up ended Dan James which referee David Badger deemed was inside the box, he issued the defender a yellow card for his troubles. Up stepped Rhys Jones who confidently drilled his effort from 12 yards in the far corner of James Dickson’s net.
Minutes later Hughes was adjudged to have taken down James again, with the defender on a fine line with Badger, he was taken off and replaced by Chris Ormond.
In the eleventh minute the visitors grabbed their second as Rhys Dalling broke clear he rounded keeper Dickson, steadied himself before firing into the back of an empty net.
Two up you could see that the Wizards lads were visibly rocked, they didn’t create a decent scoring chance during the first period as the visitors looked threatening every time they pressed forward.
However, in the second period the Wizards finally woke up as they started putting together a few creative chances without success.
Rhys Jones let fly from distance as keeper Dickson pulled off a superb diving save to deny the Goodwick man.
In the 87th minute the hosts finally pulled one back as Lee Hudgell’s corner saw 17-year-old defender Henry Thomas made no mistake from close range.
There was a nervous last few minutes for the Phoenix Lads as keeper Kyle Marsh pulled off a fine save to deny Ben Davies who struck from the edge of the area, deep in injury time Dai Davies flashed a shot from inside the box agonisingly wide as the Phoenix Lads clung on for three massive points.
Merlins Bridge: James Dickson, Matthew D’Ivry, Henry Thomas, Jamie Palmer, Andrew John, Richard Hughes, Will Evans, Dai Davies, Sam Christopher, Joe Leahy (Captain), Lee Hudgell. Subs: Chris Ormond, Jordan Williams, Ben Davies.
Goodwick United: Kyle Marsh, Steff Hayes, Ben Adams, Jordan Thomas (Captain), James Bryan, Luke Hayward, Rhys Jones, Jake Smith, Rhys Dalling, Dan James, Will Haworth. Subs: Steven Dockerty, Jonny Horgan, Adam Hawkins.
Referee: David Badger.
Harding bags stoppage time winner for champions
Hakin United 2 – Pennar Robins 1
Hakin United left it late to pull off victory against third from bottom Pennar Robins at the Obs where the going was heavy.
Scott Davies’ Hakin United team had a few regulars missing, but he wasn’t using that as an excuse as his team looked as if they were going to embarrassingly lose against the gritty Robins.
No goals in the first period, but the visitors broke the deadlock in the 68th minute as Jay Power’s back header fell kindly to Craig Asparassa who had the simple task to tap in from close range.
The Vikings created plenty of scoring chances, but somehow, they just couldn’t find the back of Rory Williams’ net.
In the 85th minute the Vikings finally equalised when Jake Merry played a neat one-two with Camron Thomas before the defender drilled in from 12 yards. That leveller saved his side’s blushes.
But it got better for the champions in the 91st minute as Justin Harding got on the end of an inviting Shane Walsh pass to strike from six yards to secure the win when five minutes earlier all looked lost for the Vikings.
Hakin United currently sit third in the table having played seven games, if they win their six games in hand then it is possible hey would move three points clear at the top.
Hakin United: Sam Franklin, Jake Merry, Camron Thomas, Jay Power, Matthew Broome, Leon Luby, Leon Pemberthy, Ashley Bevan (Captain), Justin Harding, Shane Walsh, Garin Gardner. Subs: Laurie Haworth, Ben Aldred, Louis Thompson.
Pennar Robins: Rory Williams, Adam Cole, Jake Clark, Rhys Lucas, Gedion Hockin, Jason Donohoe (Captain), Kieran Smith, Craig Asparassa, Sean Edmundson, Nick Willis, Liam Williams. Subs: Phil Thompson, Conner Phillips, Jack Phillips.
Referee: Sean O’Connor.
Saints are hit for six by rampant Carew
St Clears 0 – Carew 6
Marcus Griffiths netted a brace to help Carew easily overcome rock bottom St Clears in their own backyard.
Ceri Brace’s Rooks got off to a fine start as they scored four goals in the opening 20 minutes, before they added a further two goals in the second half to secure three precious points as they sit fourth in the table.
Striker Griffiths was on target in the 2nd and 18th minutes before a minute later Sam Southcott added the third, another minute later Archie Smith set-up Dylan Morgan who drilled in the fourth as the visitors struggled.
After the break, the Saints did far better, but in the 63rd minute Steffan Jenkins scored an own goal for the visitors’ fifth plus in the 76th minute Archie Smith was on target with the Rooks’ sixth to complete the rout.
St Clears: Daniel James, Sam Nicholas, Jason Baxter, Ceri Phillips, Harri Jones, Ryan Thomas, Jamie Thomas, Dorian Davies, Jonathan Seeley, Martin Thomas (Captain), Steffan Jenkins. Subs: Travis Jones, Morgan Evans, Harri Morgans.
Carew: Daniel Evans, Shaun Whitfield, Ethan Shapcott, Gareth Lewis, Sam Southcott, Spencer Williams, Archie Smith, Thomas Cole, Dylan Morgan, Jordan Richards (Captain), Marcus Griffiths. Subs: Corey Hill, Scott Richards, Oran Guile.
Referee: Angus Scourfield.
All other games were postponed.
St Ishmaels v Clarbeston RoadFishguard Sports v Neyland
Kilgetty v Monkton Swifts