In this the first meeting of the two local clubs since the formation of South Pembrokeshire Hockey Club some four years ago, it was to be South Pembrokeshire Hockey Club's day.
This re-arranged South Wales division one league game was played on a pitch which was frozen beneath the surface and was always going to make it a difficult game for both sides who were both desperate to win their first encounter. With many of South Pembs. players being ex-County players, this added an extra edge to the game.
The game started with County attacking South Pembs. through the middle. This was soon broken up, with South Pembs. counter-attacking down their right flank through Nigel Thomas and Robbie Woods. County found Woods' pace difficult to contend with and his speed on the ball saw him outstrip their defence on many occasions.
It was through one of Woods' penetrating runs that South Pembs. saw their first chance go begging when his cross picked out Freddie Fordham, whose shot was saved well by the County 'keeper Andy Major.
In the 18 minute, Jamie Smith latched on to a through ball from South Pembs. captain Bernie Wheeler and rounded several of the County defenders to see his reverse stick shot nestle in the back of the goal.
Five minutes later came South Pembs.' second. When a shot from Fordham was saved by 'keeper Major, Tim Lounds was on hand to flick the ball back over the outstretched 'keeper and into the net.
County came straight back at South Pembs. with further runs through the midfield and down their right flank. Steve Kendrick marked County's James Greenhalgh so tightly that after South Pembs.' second goal, they reformed their personnel, with Greenhalgh moving into the midfield and Ronnie Barker moving to right half.
County's change of shape gave South Pembs. more to think about. Some ball-watching by South Pembs. saw County break through and create their first short corner and bring goalkeeper Dave Miller into the game for the first time.
With Irving, Kendrick and Stear solid in their marking duties and giving no ground, Thomas picking up many of the attempted through balls from County sweeper Will Jenkins down the left flank and Simon Moseley as sweeper clearing up at the back, further attacks were thwarted by the fine first half display from the South Pembs. defence.
The second half was re-started by South Pembs. who immediately took the initiative and attacked the County goal. Interplay from the midfield duo of Lounds and Wheeler gave Smith the opportunity for a shot at goal which 'keeper Major, who was having an excellent game, again saved.
The ball, however, was picked up by the ever-alert Fordham, who flicked it at goal, only for it to be stopped on the line by a defender's foot, resulting in a penalty stroke being awarded to South Pembs. just 50 seconds into the half. Smith stepped up and converted the penalty with composure to give his side a 3-0 lead.
Several changes from County, who had been using their rolling substitutions throughout the game, started to make dents in the South Pembs. armoury.
Indeed, with 15 minutes to go, control of the game was now being questioned, with County starting to make some inroads into the South Pembs. defensive area.
A string of short corners were awarded, but the South Pembs. defence stood fast, with Miller making a near-post save and Thomas and Moseley breaking up the County attempts through Darren and Brimscombe.
South Pembs. continued to play their open game, rather than sit back and consolidate their lead. This proved to be their undoing in the 68th minute when a through ball bounced over a defender's stick and left Martin Brimscombe unmarked one-on-one with 'keeper Miller, who found his attempt at the push into the far corner of the goal just out of reach.
At the final whistle, the four-year journey through the league which many of the South Pembs. players have had to make it back into South Wales Division One, was made worthwhile with this fine win over a County side which has always been in the top division.
With the South Pembs. 1st XI second in the league, one point behind Bridgend, and Pembroke County third, together with South Pembs 2nd XI mid-table in Division Three, West Wales hockey is once more back at the top.
South Pembs: D. Miller, S. Moseley, A. Stear, S. Irving, N. Thomas, R. Woods, B. Wheeler (capt.), T. Lounds, I. Fordham, S. Kendrick, J. Smith, H. Hanniford, D. Ferguson, J. Kenniford, N. Beynon, T. Stamp.
Pembroke County: A. Major, A. Miller, A. Phillips (capt.), W. Jenkins, A. Martin, P. Thomas, R. Barker, J. Greenhalgh, M. Passmore, Mealosh, M. Brimscombe, A. Bateman, D. Darren.
Umpires: Jane Wheeler, Jo Kerrison.
With the South Pembs. success over the past four seasons and with players joining the club from throughout the county, it has been decided that the 'South' will be dropped from the club name, which will now become Pembrokeshire Hockey Club. This has been accepted by the Welsh Hockey Union.