Kilgetty continue to climb out of the relegation zone with a deserved three-point victory over Johnston on Saturday. Over the years the clash of these two teams has proved a fiery encounter, but this was no explosion to match the recent inferno at Popocatapetl - in fact, it proved a more pedestrian affair with neither team showing any real spark of genius.
The three points, however, are gratefully accepted as the team continues to demonstrate its character, epitomised by the evergreen qualities of Bobbie Bevan and Paul Mansbridge, with the help of Michael Scale in midfield and the return of Simon Wood in the back line.
Manager Wallace Howells and Alan Hurst must be smiling to have a larger squad from which to select their team, as many of the players who were regular contenders a few weeks ago now cannot get even a sub's place.
There is much to be done to ensure that the team enjoys the comfort of the safety zone in the league and those selected must increase their effort in training and commitment to ensure this continued rise up the league table.
The opening exchanges were fairly even and, perhaps, indicative of the game in general. Both teams found themselves with opportunities to open the scoring, but neither was able to capitalise on the chances created. Both Anthony Bevan and Jamie Morgan relinquished goal scoring opportunities with a shot apiece - one drifting wide of the post and the other tamely hit into the 'keeper's arms. A Michael Scale cross from the left flank provided another missed chance as did a similar cross from Jamie Bessant a few moments later.
Johnston were equally as wasteful with a free-kick, which went nowhere in particular and they squandered their best chance when both Bobbie Bevan and Simon Wood were stranded outside their 18-yard area as the centre forward ran into the space they had created. It was only the quick thinking and 'young' legs of Bobbie that brought about the saving tackle. The resulting corner kick was fed into the area and resulted in a shot which was blocked and cleared to avert the danger.
Stuart Walley also came to Kilgetty's rescue with a sliding tackle after Johnston had been the beneficiary of a dubious offside decision.
Michael Scale and Paul Mansbridge were the most effective at the heart of midfield, supporting each other and trying to motivate the forwards with their example.
A free-kick was awarded on the right of midfield and Darren Rossiter drove the ball into the Johnston penalty area, where it landed at the feet of Jamie Morgan, who could only turn and hit it tamely past the left upright.
A second free-kick, from a similar position created more problems for Johnston as it floated in towards the right-hand corner. The 'keeper cleared his line with a punch, which went behind for a corner. The resulting kick saw the ball ricochet off two or three legs, landing at the feet of Anthony Bevan, who gratefully accepted the opportunity to put Kilgetty into the lead with a side-foot shot.
At the other end, a Johnston free-kick brought about a clearance from Bobbie Bevan and was returned - wide of the post.
Two other Johnston attacks were also thwarted, both by Christian Phillips, who came out to block the first shot from the advancing number 10 and save the second one from a run, and resulting cross from the left wing.
The half-time whistle brought welcome relief and a chance for the managers to urge their teams into more urgent action. The pace of the game was set, however, and the softness of the ground did nothing to help increase the tempo.
Johnston's experienced players, Deano Boswell and Glyn Rulof, tried to galvanise their team into a more dominant position, but this did not happen in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Kilgetty continued where they had left off, with Jamie Morgan racing through on the left wing, only to be well tackled by the right back.
Kilgetty's second goal started with a run on the left by Ollie Griffiths, who laid his pass infield to Anthony Bevan. His first time sweep of the ball found Jamie Morgan inside the penalty area to volley the ball into the Johnston net.
Johnston's immediate reply was a foray into the Kilgetty half and a long range shot from outside the box found its way through a forest of legs, only to be snatched out of the air by a diving Christian.
Back at the other end, a defensive error by the Johnston fullback put Ollie Griffiths through and his crossfield pass gave Anthony Bevan the chance to net his second and Kilgetty's third goal.
There seemed no way back for the Johnston team, until Kilgetty eased up on the throttle and a rash tackle by Darren Rossiter in the box gave them an opening, which they eagerly grasped. The resulting penalty was effectively dispatched to the back of the net to give them a glimmer of hope.
This was increased 10 minutes later when a throw-in on the right-hand side was neatly turned in to the six-yard box to be side-footed home.
At 3-2 Johnston sensed that they might seize another goal to salvage a point, but Kilgetty, who had looked the better of the two teams, held out to retain the three points.
Team: C. Phillips, S. Walley, S. Wood, R. Bevan, J. Bessant, P. Mansbridge, M. Scale, J. Morgan, D. Rossiter, O. Griffiths, A. Bevan. Subs - A. Thorn, A. Prout, T. Scale.