HUNDLETON U11s 1
KILGETTY U11S 4
Kilgetty U11s travelled to Hundleton this week and were back to full strength with the return of their number one 'keeper Ryan Howells who has been out through injury.
Kilgetty attacked Hundleton from the kick off as Baker and Cope linked up well with Bates and Proctor with Cope eventually putting his snap shot just wide of the post. Kilgetty continued to press, Ross Gray, using his pace and skill on the ball weaving his way down the left side of the pitch before shooting just wide.
On the odd occasion when Hundleton broke their attacks were cut short through timely tackles from Lewis and Smith at the back who were under the watchful eye of Watts who commanded from the centre like a sergeant major.
A Proctor header came close, before Kilgetty took the lead from a well struck shot from Gray.
Cope put Kilgetty further ahead tucking Baker's cross neatly away in the corner.
The second half saw much of the same as the Hundleton 'keeper was kept busy pulling of a string of important saves, but he could not stop Kilgetty going further ahead through Baker and Bates.
Thomas came on at the back for Kilgetty and got straight into the game with some crunching tackles. Doble came on up front and nearly got on the score sheet with her first touch.
Hundleton to their credit kept on battling and were finally rewarded with a late goal.
The highlight of the game came when Howells in the Kilgetty goal went awol dribbling passed several Hundleton players before being tackled in the Hundleton half.
Kilgetty fielded: R. Howells, S. Lewis, B. Watts, M. Smith, R. Gray, C. Proctor, D. Bates, R. Cope, T. Baker, A. Thomas, A. Doble.
KILGETTY 2
MANORBIER 2
A 10 minute period in the second half saw a lapse of concentration from Kilgetty and could have lost them all three points in this equally contested game. Managers Howells and Hurst had increased the average age of the team by including Paul Mansbridge and Curl Watts alongside Bobby Bevan. Even so all that experience could not manufacture a result for the home team although it was not for the want of trying.
In a game which engendered plenty of action and lots of individual skill, neither team was able to maintain a flow of passing movements which the pitch allowed. The first half was a series of half created chances and missed opportunities from both teams with both sets of forwards vying for control. Manorbier put a header over the bar in the first five minutes and two minutes later Paul Mansbridge headed clear a cross from the left. The midfield player who picked up the free back saw his shot fly high and wide over the bar.
For Kilgetty, Adam Thorn had a run into the penalty box for a shot on goal only to see it land tamely into Phil Kidney's arms. Paul Mansbridge's run through midfield ended in possession being lost while Andrew Prout missed the target from a ball parried into his path from a corner.
Stuart Walley tried to emulate Bobbie Bevan's own goal of the previous week, but his back pass, fortunately went wide of the upright. The Manorbier forwards kept the Kilgetty defence on their toes with their pace and tenacity and but for indifferent finishing could have ended the half with a goal.
The last opportunity missed was by Michael Scale when he put Darren Rossiter's cross over the bar.
On the Kilgetty front young Adam was a thorn in Manorbier's side and Anthony Bevan was tireless and strong in his ability to shield the ball and effect some penetrating passes.
The second half saw the effervescent Jamie Bessant replace Stuart Walley as the team continued as they had ended the first. Adam Thorn's tenacity in the tackle gave Michael Scale the first attempt which again went over the bar. Phil Kidney, in the Manorbier goal was an imposing figure as he picked out all the high balls and set his team up with his long kicks. He was susceptible, however, to low crosses and shots, such as Anthony Bevan's and Darren Rossiter's free kicks, which were parried and fumbled away.
A Manorbier break down the right hand side stranded young Dan Hughes and saw Christian Philip race out of his box to effect a tackle on the advancing forward and avert the danger. Richard Griffiths replaced Curly Watts, shortly after his booking for retaliation, as the Kilgetty team seemed to drift into indifference, or was it lack of concentration. Manorbier capitalised on this and, following a breakdown of play on the left hand side Gerrard Brockway found himself with enough time and space to send a curling right footed shot into the top right hand corner of the Kilgetty goal. A few minutes later another free kick, this time on the left, was delivered to the edge of the box to be swept low into the Kilgetty net from a well executed volley by Paul Maytum.
As demonstrated in the West Wales Cup game this Kilgetty team does not know how to concede gracefully. They gained encouragement from some indecisive play in the Manorbier defence and pushed forward with renewed vigour. Anthony Bevan fed a ball through to Michael Scale in the penalty area and he did a little shimmy to side foot it past Phil Kidney. Adam Thorn was unlucky not to equalise when a ball, which had rattled around the six yard area, came to his foot too quickly for him to control it.
Geoff Marsh had come on for Darren Rossiter and was instrumental in the final goal of the game. His break down the right took him to the by-line and the resulting cross into the box gave Adam Thorn the reward for all his running and effort. He was able to side foot it into an empty net.
A relieved Kilgetty gained the point they deserved on overall performance and a draw was a fair result. Having gained a two goal advantage Manorbier must be disappointed at conceding the win.
Team: Christian Philips, Bobbie Bevan, Daniel Hughes, Stuart Walley, Lee Watts, Michael Scale, Darren Rossiter, Paul Mansbridge, Andrew Prout, Adam Thorn, Anthony Bevan. Subs. Richard Griffiths, Jamie Bessant, Geoff Marsh.