West Wales FA Intermediate Cup – Fourth Round
Winch Wen 3 Carew 1
Winch Wen, who are the division one leaders in the Pic–Up Spares Swansea senior football league, had only lost once this season and came out on top against a resilient Carew team. As has become customary, Mike Boswell was on target for the visitors, but three goals for Winch Wen booked the Swansea side a place in the fifth round of the cup.
Division One
Herbrandston 4 Tenby 1
Another fighting performance by the never-say-die Tenby team made fourth-placed Herbie fight hard for a win. Although Sam Christopher was on target for the visitors, Herbie picked up the points after AJ Galdo had scored twice, supported by goals from Peter Frank and Nick Woodrow.
Narberth 3 Goodwick Utd 2
Narberth's chances of winning the league title drew a step closer on Saturday after they beat Goodwick Utd 3-2 at home. With leaders Monkton Swifts losing away at Hakin, the gap has been closed to one point; and Narberth have a game in hand over their title rivals. "If we win all our remaining games, then we have won the league," stressed Bluebirds manager Paul Phillips. "This was an important win. It was real end-to-end stuff, especially in the first half; it was a cracking win, but it's not over yet. It's going to be tough (to win the league), but I'm confident we can do it." Narberth will have to win nine games in a row if they are to claim the title, but it will take a brave man to bet against them, especially in the form they are in. They began slowly against the visitors to Jesse Road on Saturday and were soon a goal down when Stephen Evans scored for Goodwick, but Morgan Preece levelled matters just before the interval. The goal gave his team confidence and they went ahead when Preece shot from 20 yards after cutting in from the left. Dave Gillard grabbed the third with a simple tap-in, while Richie Adams and Grant James both went close. The telling moment came when Huw Davies saved a penalty which Phillips described as "brilliant" and, although Goodwick did claw one back through Wayne O'Sullivan before full-time, the result was never in doubt.
Division Two Cup - Second Round
Milford Athletic 0 Pendine 3
Pendine produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Milford Athletic away and stalwart midfielder Justin Blewitt believes it has given them the confidence to go all the way. "It was really good, a really good display. I'm sure we can go on to win it from here. We've got Johnston in the next round and, although they beat us in the league, we're playing better now and I'm sure we can beat them." It was 2-0 at the break with the Seagulls' goals coming from Luke Ormond and Craig Hurst, who scored his second header in a row. According to Blewitt, Hurst (who is not renowned for his prowess in the air) said he 'leaped like a salmon swimming up a stream' as he powered up to head the ball home. "It was a good goal, but not that good, but we'll let him have his glory for now." All jokes aside, Milford were never in it and the visitors should have scored more. They could only manage one further goal after the break when Rob Waters nipped one past the 'keeper, but there can be no complaints, especially if they keep performing the way that they are.
Division Two
Fishguard Sports 4 St. Clears 1
St. Clears are turning into the Jekyll and Hyde team of this division. One minute they are flying high and beating all that's before them, the next, they are losing against teams they should beat. Saturday's defeat against Fishguard has come on the back of some impressive performances and coming away with nothing will have hurt. "It was a disappointing result," said manager Mark Snelling. "We beat them quite easily at home and thought we could win it. We're just not consistent enough." These are true words and the Saints will have to buck up their ideas if they are to move into a safe position away from the bottom of the league. The only high-point in an otherwise disjointed display came when Simon Bancroft scored in the second half. Otherwise, it was an afternoon to forget, after Paul Bartlett, Arwel Thomas, Steve Lewis and Chris Sampson were each on target for Sports.
Hundleton 1 Kilgetty 7
Kilgetty got back to winning ways against Hundleton and it was a fact not lost on manager Andrew Cope. "It's nice to get back on the winning track. The result probably flattered us a little in the end as we only started playing good football when we were 4 -1 up. We created plenty of chances, though, and put most of them away, and that was pleasing." Nick Cope gave them an excellent start with two goals in the first half and he added another soon after the interval to complete a fine hat-trick. The other goals came from Jack Bevan, Anthony Bevan, Darren Rossiter and Adam Uka, who rounded off the afternoon with a superb effort. Philip John scored the only goal for Hundleton.
Pembroke Boro 1 Saundersfoot Sports 0
Both teams found it difficult to create chances, although the visitors had enough opportunities to score, but somehow did not get going in this match. Boro are four places behind Saundersfoot in the Division Two league table, but battled for everything and clearly wanted the results more. Eventually persistence paid off when Matthew Davies got the winner for the home team.
Division Three Cup - Second Round
Lawrenny 1 St. Davids City 3
Lawrenny are in 10th position in division three and St. Davids City are joint leaders with Manorbier United. City produced good football throughout the match, which explained why they are having such a good season. David Price scored twice for the visitors, supported by a Gareth Thomas goal, and striker Kim Harland was on target for Lawrenny.
Manorbier United 3 Letterston 1
The No. 25 Café' Tenby, sponsored Manorbier team began their cup campaign with a home tie against Letterston at the Sportsfield. On a perfect afternoon for football, the home side began with purpose and put together several crisp moves down the right-hand side without creating a clear-cut chance. But after the half hour, stubborn Letterston resistance was finally broken down. James Nicholas initiated the move from defence, when a quick interchange with Adam Thorne and a crossfield pass to Ben Hall led to the skipper scoring from the edge of the box, for his third goal in four games. The goal galvanised Manorbier, and the midfield bossed by Hall and the energy of Mike O'Neill led the way in distributing the ball to all areas. In the second half, the second goal was just a question of when. Substitute Jamie Robinson added a spark to the play and midway through the half followed up his own good work to leap highest following a rebounded shot to head the ball in for two-nil. With the game all but settled, Manorbier continued to create chances, with Ben Hall rattling the post from 30 yards. Robinson added the third from close range to ensure the Yellows reached the semi-final, although a late Darren Devonald header took the gloss off an otherwise comfortable Manorbier win. For Manorbier, James Nicholas made a fine contribution at left-back and Mike O'Neill produced another outstanding midfield display.
St. Florence 2 Newport Lions 1
Star striker Scott Smith opened the scoring for St. Florence with a penalty in the first 10 minutes. The second goal came with a great one-two between Scott Smith and Jamie Robinson Roberts for Jamie to score the second. Newport pulled one back just before half-time from a corner when Ben Copeland scored for the Lions. Newport piled on all the pressure in the second half, due to St. Florence being reduced to 10 men. But the Saints managed to hold out as everyone responded to a magnificent performance by goalkeeper James Phillips, who has been a solid player all season and was the Saints' man-of-the- match.
Reserve Division One
Carew 2 St. Ishmaels 1
Two goals from all-round sportsman Wayne Cannon enabled Carew to keep in touch with the Reserve Division One leaders. The three points won in this match have lifted Carew to fourth place in the table and a goal by Rob Jones for Tish was not enough to upset the applecart.
Kilgetty 2 Clarbeston Road 1
Kilgetty's reserves warmed up for this weekend's cup game against Herbrandston with a superb win at home against Clarbeston Road. After a fortnight of heavy defeat, this was a welcome win for Barry Ormond's team, although it didn't look that cosy going into the break as they were 1-0 down after conceding a penalty taken by Mike John when Stuart Allan fouled an opposition player in the box. The home team recovered well, though, as Dwayne Rossiter drew them level, before Gavin Brittain won it with a fantastic strike midway through the second half. "It was an excellent win," said Ormond. "We had quite a strong side out this weekend and it will have given us confidence for Saturday."
Reserve Division Two
Letterston 1 St. Clears 4
St. Clears were not looking forward to this game away at Letterston after coming unstuck there in recent years, but they needn't have worried as they cruised to victory with plenty to spare. In a tense first half, they could only manage one goal as Nigel Price put them ahead and when the home team drew level then panic stations set in; but they regained their composure in time Liam Fitzpatrick made it 2-1 with a fine header, before Price grabbed his second to give them a two-goal cushion. Colin Reynolds made it safe with the team's fourth, leaving Rob Phillips a happy man, as he said: "I thought we were going to lose it when they drew level, but we pulled it off for an excellent win." Simon King got the Letterston goal.
Pendine 2 Lawrenny 6
The Seagulls were never in this game as brothers Joh and Chris Beff ran the show for the visitors. A fine hat-trick by Joh was equalled in parts by a brilliant brace by Chris, with Ed Merriman grabbing the other goal as Lawrenny dominated all afternoon. Pendine manager Frank Roberts had no complaints, though, saying: "We were well and truly stuffed. They played very well. Our defence collapsed as the game went on and the Beff brothers were outstanding. It was a real lesson for us."
Prendergast Villa 9 Manorbier United 1
On a perfect February afternoon for football, Manorbier travelled to leaders Prendergast for a tough encounter. Manorbier played very well for the first 20 minutes, managing to put Villa under a great deal of pressure from long throw-ins and set- pieces. Manorbier were always first to the flick-ons, but couldn't get control from those positions. Villa slowly came back into the first half and pushed United back into their own half, resulting in frequent corners, from which Prendergast scored three goals and at half-time the score was 5-0. After the interval, Villa showed their extra skill, experience and class by dominating the game; the strikers were a constant threat and menace to Manorbier's back four. Halfway through the second half, Manorbier had a direct free-kick 40 yards from goal, from which Phil McWeeny had the goal of the game, whipping the ball into the Villa net, giving the 'keeper no chance. The final score was 9-1, with the scoreline summing up the difference between the sides on the day. Manorbier lacked the passion and heart during the game; hopefully the desire, hunger and application will return for Saturday's home fixture versus Saundersfoot. Gareth Richards was the toast of his Villa team- mates after finding the back of the net five times, Anthony Davies supported with two goals and the other goals were scored by Matthew Bailleux and Grant Young. Saundersfoot Sports 5 Pembroke Boro 3
This was an excellent result for Saundersfoot Sports against a team who are five places above them in the Reserve Division Two table. The result has made no difference to league positions, as Saundersfoot remain in 10th place and Pembroke Boro fifth place. Daniel Nolan had a brace for the visitors, supported by a goal from Ceri Stanford. However, two goals by Luke Dedman backed up by goals from Mathew Baxter, Andrew Hughes and Ollie Swailes gave Sports the spoils.
Tenby 1 Haverfordwest Cricket Club 2
Although Tenby battled hard, the Cricketers showed why they are in fourth place in the league by scoring twice. Julian Wood and Rory Blake each netted for the Cricketers and Colin Wherrett scored what turned out to be a consolation goal for Tenby.
Junior fixtures
Tomorrow's (Saturday's) fixtures are as follows: Under 11 North: Goodwick v Clarbeston Road; Prendergast Villa A v Prendergast Villa B; Carew v Narberth; Haverfordwest County v Lamphey; Tenby v Hundleton; Milford Utd v Camrose. Under 10 North: Herbranston v Kilgetty; Camrose v Solva; Haverfordwest County v Goodwick; Johnston v Clarbeston Road. Under 10 South: Hundleton v Pennar Robins A; Carew v Lamphey A; Tenby B v Pennar Robins B; Lamphey B v Tenby A; Narberth v St. Clears. Under 9: Kilgetty v Lamphey; St. Clears v Clarbeston Road; Fishguard v Tenby; Camrose v Pennar Robins; Hundelton v Prendergast Villa. Under 8: Hakin v Tenby; Camrose v Hundelton; Prendergast Villa v Monkton Swifts.