West Wales Intermediate Cup (third round)
Port Tennant Colts 0 Carew 2
In a rather physical encounter on the western outskirts of Swansea, Carew deserved to win by taking their chances in a disciplined performance. Unfortunately for the visitors, skipper Dean Rossiter had to leave the field after five minutes through a recurrence of an injury and Paul Bullock moved into mid field with Jimmy Thomas. It was Thomas who gave Carew the lead in the first half when he picked up the ball just outside the box, took it through and then beat the Port Tennant keeper. After 20 minutes of the second half Carl Wainwright ran on to a through ball to score and increased the lead. It was a game where not that many chances were created and when Port Tennant attacked, Ian Kerrison in goal pulled off some excellent saves. Simon Brace played well as sweeper and Ollie Morgan had an outstanding game at right back. However, it was an all round team performance that secured a fourth round spot for Carew in the cup.
Division One
Haverfordwest County 2 Narberth 1
A lacklustre performance by Narberth resulted in only their second defeat of the season as Haverfordwest County took the points. Narberth would have gone to the Bridge Meadow full of confidence following their recent results and with a Christmas number one spot in the league on offer; they had plenty to play for. From the start the home team took control of the match and their swift passing and running off the ball had the visiting defence in problems all afternoon. County went into the interval a goal to the good as Matthew Watters slipped one past Christian Phillips but Paul Phillips' men did make a better fist of it in the second half. They began to play the sort of football that has served them so well this season and created a few opportunities but no goals were forthcoming. County added another through Polish striker Jacek Gryka but when Morgan Preece reduced the deficit it looked as though Narberth were going to be able to claw their way back. Despite their best efforts they failed to do so and lost ground to leaders Monkton Swifts in the process.
Tenby 0 Herbrandston 5
In the circumstances Tenby did well against third placed Herbrandston who have won six out of ten matches to date. In the absence of two regular goal keepers Tenby were forced to play two out players in goal and managed to keep the score down to two nil at half time. In the second half Herbie scored three more goals to bring their match tally to five. Nick Woodrow scored twice and the other goals were scored by Mathew Price, Simon Mathias and Justin Goffin.
Division Two
Kilgetty 0 Prendergast Villa 6
This is a game that Kilgetty will want to forget in a hurry. They may have had five regular first team players missing for one reason or another but this heavy defeat will still have come a shock. The home side were 2-0 down at the break and would have been quietly confident of turning it around in the second half but a goal scored by Villa just two minutes into the half put paid to that. Kilgetty's heads began to drop and Villa came at them at will. Their constant attacking play could have resulted in a goal with every sortie up field and Kilgetty can console themselves with the knowledge that it could have been a lot worse.
Angle 3 Pendine 3
Pendine came from Angle with a point to their name following a splendid 3-3 draw. Despite the horrendous conditions on the exposed ground the Seagulls played with a good intent and purpose that could have sealed them a win. It wasn't to be but three goals away from home was a good effort and Justin Blewitt, Peter Roberts and Robert Thomas can be pleased with their performances in front of goal. Lee Brockway scored twice for Angle and Gavin Wickland scored the other goal for the home team.
Saundersfoot Sports 4 Fishguard Sports 0
Saundersfoot Sports picked up their fourth win in ten outings and deserved the three points for being in control for most of the game. James Caine gave Saundersfoot the lead after 20 minutes and increased the lead on the stroke of half time. From a corner, the ball was headed back into the box and fell to James Caine who turned the defender before shooting to score. In the second half another member of the Caine family got his name on the score sheet when Danny hit a long range shot to beat the Fishguard keeper. Danny Caine also brought his personal tally to two in the scoring of Saundersfoot's fourth goal when he ran on to a cross. For Saundersfoot, Ben Evans was sound in goal and Laurence Rogers was lively up front.
St Clears 1 Clarbeston Road 2
Saints manager Mark Snelling was scathing of his team's performance against Clarbeston Road claiming it to be the 'worst of the season.' The Home team, in fine fettle of late, gave a dire display in the first half and were lucky to be just 1 -0 down at the break. They turned it around a little in the second half but despite a goal from Hywel Griffiths, the visitors managed another and they were the team with the smiles on their faces come full time. Daniel Rees and Richard Bevan scored the goals for Clarbie.
Division Three
Haverfordwest Cricket Club 5 Lawrenny 1
Lawrenny were trailing by three goals at the interval and did not wake up until the second half. Danny Potter took advantage of a defensive error to score the first goal for the Cricketers from 20 yards. John Ryan increased the lead with a low shot again after a defensive error and a swerving free kick by Gary Thomas made the score three nil at half time. In the second half the visitors played a lot better and produced some good football. However, John Ryan scored the fourth goal for the Cricketers when he picked up a good through ball and completed his hat-trick shortly afterwards. Steve Campbell had a consolation goal for Lawrenny when he curled a free kick into the top corner. Mike Jolly in mid field put his head above the parapet for the visitors.
St. Davids City 1 Manorber United 1
Manorbier travelled to St Davids for their 12th game in division three this season. Top versus second produced a very tight match in very difficult windy conditions. The visitors started against the wind and were 1-0 down after only five minutes when a defensive slip let in Gareth Morris to score. Manorbier rallied and had a lot of possession, but because of the headwind found it difficult to gain a substantial foothold in the St Davids half. The best chance of the first half fell to Andrew Culshaw whose shot was saved by the home keeper. The evidence at half time suggested that the Yellows had done well to hold the league leaders to a single goal and with the wind at their backs, goals were sure to come. But the meanest league defence against the division's top scoring side proved otherwise. Controlled football was never possible as the wind continued to dictate the pattern of play. The best chance of a scrappy half fell to James Hall who shot wide with the goal at his mercy. With the last move of the match a perfect free kick from Simon Bolton picked out the head of Ashley Murdoch to score sending a relieved Manorbier back home with the point that their endeavour deserved. For the visitors, Mike O Neill had a superb game in midfield.
St. Florence 1 Letterston 3
The Saints played poorly in the first half and the visitors seized the initiative to score three goals. Jason McKee was on target twice and the other goal was scored by Geraint Mathias. At half time Ben Blake came on as a substitute to strengthen the mid field area for the Saints and made a significant difference in the second half. The Saints played a lot better, prevented Letterston from scoring any more goals and clawed a goal back through striker Scott Smith. On the day Scott Smith was the pick of the St Florence players followed closely by substitute Ben Blake in mid field.
Reserve Cup (first round)
Carew 2 Merlins Bridge 1
Both teams had to battle against the elements and Carew were up against a strong wind blowing straight towards the club house in the first half. Player manager Neil Morgan came close to scoring for Carew after ten minutes. He broke through, rounded the keeper but his shot hit the post. This move was something of a breakaway as Bridge had most of the play early on and neither team was able to break the deadlock before the interval. At the start of the second half the visitors scored an early goal but within minutes Carew had equalised through James Buckle. The goal came from a corner kick. Defender Gerald Hicks had moved up for the kick and his header from the cross hit the bar. The ball bounced back to Buckle who managed to squeeze the ball over the line at the near post. By this stage of the match Carew were on top and played some excellent football with Ian Sefton being a constant threat down the left. James Buckle increased the lead. A cross by Sefton from the left was only partially cleared by the Bridge defence and Buckle picked up the loose ball to score from ten yards. Carew continued to create pressure but the visitors came back during the last ten minutes although Robert Scourfield marshalled the defence to hold things together. Scourfield had a good game for Carew, Gerald Hicks was rock solid at centre half and Ian Sefton revealed his skill on the left side of mid field.
Herbrandston 10 St. Clears 2
If St Clears' first team result was a disappointment for their club then spare a thought for the second team after they travelled to Herbrandston and came away on the wrong end of a ten goal thrashing. The score remained a creditable 4-1 at half time but once the fifth goal was scored the Saints gave up and paid the consequences. St Clears' goals were scored by Steve Aston and James Owens. The Herbie team play in a division higher than the Saints and at times the difference between the two divisions was apparent. Craig Hewer score a hat-trick for Herbie, Anthony Raymond, Peter Frank and Celyn Owens each scored twice and Mathew Hearne found the back of the net once.
Reserve Division One
Neyland 3 Kilgetty 6
Kilgetty's second string gave one of their best displays of the season as they travelled to Neyland and came away with a superb 6-3 victory. They scored four goals in the first half and conceded just one as their attacking instincts proved too much for the home team. Duane Rossiter, Rob Beynon, Barry Ormond and Chris May all got on the first half score sheet with Rossiter and Ormond netting further goals after the break. Player manager Barry Ormond described the result as 'superb.' Shane Phillips, Paul Davies and Nick Kooman got the goals for Neyland.
Narberth 1 Monkton Swifts 5
It was a miserable day for Narberth though as they were thoroughly beaten at home by Monkton Swifts. A goal by Gavin James was the only highlight for the Bluebirds in an under par performance by the team to cap a miserable day for the club as a whole. Jamie Stewart clinched a hat-tick for the visitors backed up by goals from Liam Stapleton and Robin Stanley.
Reserve Division Two
Lawrenny 1 Hubberston 1
Both teams are neck and neck in the lower echelons of the reserve division two table and ended the game level pegging. Lawrenny played a lot better than they had done the previous week. A change of tactics resulted in Lawrenny holding on to the ball better, playing with more width to produce more attacking options and the new formation seemed to suit the players as it had a more balanced look. Lawrenny had most of the play in the first half and indeed most of the play during the game. Midway through the first half Mat Flowers gave Lawrenny the lead. There was some clever interplay between Mat Flowers and Dean Morris before Flowers completed the move with a strike from six yards. In the second half Lawrenny held on to the lead for most of the period. Both Dean Morris and Jamie Lewis hit the posts but with three minutes of the match remaining the visitors equalised when a long tentative ball up front dropped at the feet of Gareth Hughes who managed to find the back of the net. For Lawrenny Paul Brooks pulled the strings in the centre of mid field and Andrew Meyrick played well at fullback.