Division One
Hakin United 0 Tenby 1
Tenby soaked up the pressure from the Vikings in the first 20 minutes and then battled hard to take control of the game and end up with a deserved haul of three points. The visitors appealed for a penalty after 12 minutes when Mike Beynon appeared to be brought down in the box, but no penalty was given. However, after 31 minutes, the visitors took the lead with an excellent goal by Mathew Jones, who controlled the ball with his head and then swivelled to give the Hakin 'keeper no chance of saving the goal. David Jones also got the ball in the back of the net for Tenby after 41 minutes, but the 'goal' was disallowed under the offside rule. Tenby continued to create chances in the second half, with Mathew Jones and Mike Beynon each going close to scoring. One shot from Mike Beynon hit the angle of the post and the bar. Substitute Luke Askew also had a good effort, but the Hakin 'keeper pulled off a great save. The visitors continued to push forward at every opportunity, but no more goals were scored in the match. It was an outstanding team performance, with the Tenby defence being particularly strong. Lewis Hurlow, promoted from the Seconds, had a very good game in goal, while Mathew Jones was prominent in midfield. Tenby will continue their fight to avoid relegation tomorrow in a local derby at home to Carew.
Johnston 0 Carew 2
Carew travelled to Johnston full of confidence after the previous week's win against Hakin and were hopeful of picking up all three points against a side that have been rooted to the bottom of the table for most of the season. In wintry conditions, Carew looked scrappy during the first 20 minutes, with the game being played in the middle of the park. Johnston were using their physical game to great effect and were winning much of the ball down their right-hand side. Slowly Carew started to play football and Carl Wainwright and Wayne Cannon were creating chances in front of goal. On the half-hour mark the deadlock was broken, when Johnston failed to clear from a corner and Paul Bullock played a ball through the defence for Carl Wainwright to bundle it home from close range. Although a goal ahead, Carew were still not playing like they had done the week before; the Scourfield brothers of Robert and Martin were doing a good job in the Carew defence and Paul Bullock was battling hard in midfield. The second half continued in the same vein, with Johnston creating very few chances. However, Carew were desperate to get the second goal and it came on 65 minutes when Wayne Cannon latched onto a ball over the top of the defence and struck a sweet volley from the edge of the box, giving the Johnston 'keeper no chance. The goal settled Carew and soon they were having more opportunities. Richard Bullock was substituted for Richie Bookless, who looks a talented player, and was threading some useful balls through to the Carew strike force. Johnston created very few chances all afternoon, but never gave up battling. Carew were relieved to hear the final whistle and win three points to improve ther chances of survival in division one.
Narberth 2 St. Ishmaels 2
Narberth manager Barry Walters said this game was an ideal workout ahead of his team's semi-final against Monkton this Saturday. The Bluebirds twice came from behind to grab a share of the points, although Walters believes his team did enough to get the win. "'Tish are a tough nut to crack and this was a good workout for the team," he said. "To come from behind twice in the game shows good commitment, but on reflection we created more chances and did enough to win the match." Monkton start as firm favourites going in to Saturday's showdown, but if Narberth show the same kind of commitment against Monkton as they did in getting this result against St. Ishmaels, then they stand a good chance of success. Jon Roden got the first score of the game after a defensive lapse allowed the 'Tish hitman enough time and space to slot the ball home. It remained the only goal of the first half, although Narberth created enough problems of their own to get one back. They did this after the break, though, when Grant James delivered an expert cross to allow Morgan Preece to fire home to bring the scores level. Twenty minutes later and Narberth were on the backfoot again when visiting player/manager Marc Devonald fired in a pile-driver from 30 yards which gave the 'keeper no chance. Even the Narberth fans had to admit it was something special! But this Narberth team is made of stern stuff and they weren't going to allow a flash of genius to spoil their afternoon. After applying copious amounts of pressure on the visiting goal, they finally broke through when James showed his class again in putting players into space with a brilliant touch that allowed James Howells in to score. It was virtually the last kick of the game and Narberth can go in to Saturday's game with confidence knowing that the last time they kicked a ball in anger, they managed to score a goal.
Division Two
Hubberston 4 Pendine 5
Pendine's hopes of promotion were kept alive with a stirring second half comeback that saw them score three goals. This was an epic encounter, with both teams looking to play positive football, the result of which was a nine-goal thriller that had everyone watching biting their nails down to the quick. The home team were two goals to the good after 10 minutes, but Luke Ormond managed to pull one back just before they managed to grab one more. Matthew Court then made the scores level before the break. Pendine began the second half brightly, dominating possession and creating plenty of chances, but it was the home team that scored first with a breakaway goal. Rob Cousens then made it level, before Justin Blewitt put Pendine ahead with a well-taken penalty. Hubberston again soaked up some pressure that allowed them to breakaway for another morale sapping score, but Pendine had enough in the tank to secure victory when Rob Thomas fired one home with just five minutes to go. An upbeat Blewitt was delighted with the result. "Everyone worked for each other and battled hard," he said. "If we play like that for our remaining fixtures, then we have got a real chance of going up."
Kilgetty 3 Pembroke Utd 4
If Pendine have high hopes of going up a division, then Kilgetty can only look forward to staying where they are. Defeat in this virtual six-pointer against fellow strugglers Pembroke United was a real kick in the teeth, especially after they dominated for large parts of the game. "I'm absolutely gutted," was Kilgetty manager Andrew Cope's verdict of the match. "We had enough possession to win the game, but had no luck at all. It's quite hard to take." Showing signs of improvement over recent performances, Kilgetty pushed forward at every opportunity and got the result they were after when Nick Cope slotted one home. Unfortunately, the offside flag was up and the goal was disallowed. This must have spurred United on as they went on to score when Liam Robson fired home an expertly taken free-kick. This was quickly cancelled out, though, when Ollie Griffiths delivered the ball into Mike Scale's path for him to score. It was United who seized the advantage before the break, though, when Robson added another, before Craig Manning fired one in to make it 1-3. Geoff Marsh quickly pulled one back for the home team early in the second half, but this was quickly cancelled out by another free-kick from the visitors. With time running out, Kilgetty pushed forward at every opportunity and finally got a reward for their endeavour when Nick Cope fired one home, but it was too little too late for them.
St. Clears 1 Saundersfoot Sports 1
St. Clears conceded a goal with just minutes left to let Saundersfoot in for a draw. As heartbreaking as this was for the team, Saints playmaker Craig Weston said it was probably a fair result: "Naturally we're disappointed to let one slip with minutes to go, but on reflection it was probably a fair result," he said. "It's annoying, but right, they deserved to pull one back." Hywel Griffiths put the home team ahead in the first half as St. Clears dominated the early proceedings. Mark Snelling, Jason Baxter and Ollie Thomas all shone for the home team in their attacking displays, but it wasn't enough to secure them the points. After leading for the majority of the game, Saundersfoot made one last push forward and were rewarded for their efforts as Tom Davies nipped in to score. It was a cruel blow for the Saints, but the Sports weren't complaining; they got the result they felt they deserved!
Division Three
Angle 2 Lawrenny 0
Promotion contenders Angle proved to be too strong for Lawrenny on the day, although Lawrenny created enough chances to win, especially during the first half. Unfortunately for the visitors, the chances created were not taken, with Steve Lewis having four near misses and a strong left-footed shot by Ian Jenkins following a scramble after a corner ended with the ball shaking the upright. No goals were scored in the first half, but Lawrenny 'keeper James Phillips deserved some credit for preventing Angle from scoring with some excellent saves. In the second half, the same pattern continued. Lawrenny created a number of chances without scoring and at the other end of the field the agility of Phillips kept the visitors in the game. Something had to give and midway through the second half James Davies gave Angle the lead with a far post header. Davies increased the lead for the home team when he buried a ball in the top corner when he received a cross after a break down the left touchline. In the closing stages, Lawrenny appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears. Despite the result, it was a good performance by Lawrenny, who were let down by inconsistent finishing. James Phillips was the pick of the Lawrenny players on the day.
Manorbier United 3 St. Davids City 3
Manorbier had managed to remain undefeated at home all season in the league up to this game and hoped to preserve that statistic in this match. St. Davids may have turned up late, but it was the home side that were late starting and after only two minutes confusion in the home defence nearly led to a St. Davids opener. On the half-hour, St. Davids were awarded a penalty. What followed was a penalty save by the home 'keeper, James Llewellyn, who tipped onto the crossbar, only for a nameless Manorbier home player to lose all sense of direction and head the rebound into his own net. Seven minutes later, a fine shot by Manorbier nearly made it one-one. Eight, minutes later it was two- nil, when Martin Phillips scored from the penalty spot for the visitors. At the start of the second half, Manorbier scored following a penalty from Mike Brown after a foul at the corner. Soon it was two-all when Dai Merriman scored a super solo goal after rounding the 'keeper. More controversy followed, with home defender James Nicholas being wrestled off the ball, only to be penalised. The resulting free-kick saw a fine goal converted at the back post by City midfielder David Price. It looked for all the world as if the unbeaten home run was to end, until almost the last kick of the match. A penalty kick! Mike Brown stepped up, held his nerve and made it three-three. For Manorbier, Mike Brown deserves credit for two super penalties and manager Phil Christopher's inspired substitution turned the match round.
Reserve Division One
Carew 3 Johnston 0
Conditions were near perfect for the tie between the old rivals from across the water. A mix of youth and experience in both teams saw the former Carew player Kevin 'Beetie' Hughes returning to the recreation ground, this time wearing the distinctive all orange of Johnston. The first half was a messy affair, with little to talk about. Carew did put some moves together and should have gone into the half-time interval leading, but wayward striking let them down. Johnston also had their moments, and but for a tremendous goalmouth challenge from Neil 'Wooly' Morgan, would have taken the advantage. Honours even at half-time, the teams huddled together to reflect. All talk was of keeping control and playing the ball to feet, keeping the ball away from the towering Cockney playing at centre half for Johnston. The message got through and Carew took control early in the second half when some neat interplay between Jamie Roberts, Lee Watkins and Ian Sefton saw Phil Jones slotting the ball past the Johnston 'keeper, opening the home team account. Shortly after, Neil Morgan found himself in position to place the ball neatly into the net, increasing the lead. It was Morgan again who increased the lead further when yet again in perfect position he found himself free at the back post, this time dispatching the ball with a volley. Johnston never threw in the towel, and moments later a through ball caught the Carew defence napping with Phillips, the Carew 'keeper, grappling for the ball at the feet of the Johnston advance. When the ball was struck, it was that man Morgan again who covered the ground to save the blushes of the Carew 'keeper. An unmemorable game, apart from Neil Morgan, noticeable performances from the home team were given by David Lewis, and Barry Evans who did the man-for-man job to neutralise Kevin Hughes. For Johnston, it was the experience of the Cockney at centre half and Micky Algieri.
Reserve Division One
St. Ishmaels 3 Kilgetty 2
Kilgetty second team boss Lee James was in a philosophical mood after this defeat, but rued the missed chances in front of goal. "It was another decent performance from us, but we just can't seem to get the goals and that's what it's all about," he said. Indeed it is and the fact that Kilgetty managed two, shows what can be done with a little composure when a score beckons. Tish were 2-0 up by half-time, but Tony Hill redressed the balance with a superb goal minutes after the restart. The home team then added to their lead to make it 3-1, before Barry Ormond showed his pace to nip past a couple of would-be defenders for what proved to be Kilgetty's final goal of an entertaining game. Reserve Division Two
Lawrenny 1 Hubberston 4
In the first half, Lawrenny had most of the possession. The inter-passing was skilful, but very often the final ball went astray. A defensive error allowed Hubberston striker Jamie Boswell to nip in to open the scoring with a goal inside the back post to put the visitors in front at the interval. In the second half, Jamie Boswell extended the lead more or less straight from the kick-off. Lawrenny were still in the game and reduced the deficit following a good run down the right by Sion Allan, which ended with a goal by Jonathan Beff. A breakdown in communication amongst the Lawrenny defence allowed Gareth Thomas to restore the two goals advantage for the visitors and at this stage Lawrenny's heads dropped. Jamie Boswell's good positional sense paid dividends when he completed a fine hat-trick with a goal from a corner to put the result beyond doubt. For Lawrenny, there were good performances in midfield by Rhys Jenkins and by Ed Merrimen at the back.
Pembroke Boro 4 St. Clears 1
St. Clears went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of Pembroke Boro, but according to Saints manager Daniel Thomas, it didn't reflect the game. "It was a heavy defeat," he said. "But it didn't reflect the chances we created. If we had put them away, then it would have been a different story." John James and Simon Bancroft both had early chances to put the Saints ahead, but it was the home side who got away with a goal before the break, making it 1-0 five minutes before the interval. They had two more early on in the second half, before Tom Howells pulled one back. More chances were forthcoming for the visitors, but as they pushed forward in an attempt to get something from the match, the Boro broke away from their half to add insult to injury with their fourth goal of the game.
Pendine 2 Letterston 0
Pendine boss Richard James was a frustrated man during half-time of this game after witnessing his team creating plenty of chances, but failing to convert any of them. However, after the break and it all changed when first, Ashley Eades put them ahead and then Jonathan Potter added another for good measure. Letterston were never really in the hunt as Pendine proved to be too strong, leaving James slightly more enthusiastic after the final whistle blew. "It was a good performance by us after making some changes," he said. "Letterston came on strong late in the second half, but our defence held firm and we created plenty of other chances, but just couldn't put them away."
Saundersfoot Sports 0 Clarbeston Road 4
Sports trailed by three goals at the interval as Clarbie proved the better team, being quicker, faster and stronger, especially in the first half. Saundersfoot competed throughout the match and play was even in the second half, although the visitors added one more goal. Sean Price, Terry Morgan, Nigel Davies and Mike John were the scorers for the visitors and Sports were unable to score any goals in reply.
Tenby 4 Neyland 2
Tenby had the better of this promotion struggle at the top of the reserve division two table, although only one point separates the two teams, with Tenby in second place behind league leaders Clarbeston Road and Neyland in third spot. Tony Beare, Sonny Phillips, Jamie Robinson and Dean Evans were on target for Tenby and Brian Mathias scored both goals for Neyland.