With the Christmas break well and truly behind them, Pembrokeshire's footballers would have been looking forward to the new year as the second half of the season looms.
Teams playing well will wish for that form to continue, while those playing badly will hope the start of a new year will bring them a change in fortunes. Hoping is one thing and receiving is another, though, as Kilgetty can testify after their first foray into 2011 ended in defeat.
With one point to show from 15 games, Norman James's men have their work cut out if they are to stay in the division, yet in all honesty, after Hakin defeated them 8-1, their days already look numbered as they were heavily beaten at home.
Ironically, it was the Kingsmoor outfit that scored first as the home team made a bright start which Jack Bevan capitalised on by slotting one home within the first five minutes. It didn't last long, however, as the Vikings rolled up their sleeves and promptly scored the first of their eight five minutes later and hardly gave Kilgetty a look in thereafter.
"We had one cleared off the line in the second half," said James. "And if that had gone in to make it 3-2, I think we would have limited the defeat to something respectable, but in all honesty, they were just too good. I think they are probably the best we have come across all season; they look a well-drilled side."
Narberth's season hasn't quite reached crisis point, despite having secured just 12 points from 13 games, yet with only four teams below them in the league and two of those just one point behind them, Steve Jones's men will have some anxious times ahead of them as they seek safer pastures.
Jones only took the reins of the Bluebirds a month or so ago, yet he is already feeling the heat of the situation they are in.
"We've got a tough month ahead of us, that's for sure. We're playing some good football, yet for some reason we're just not scoring goals and it showed again on Saturday."
Despite having home advantage, Narberth lost 2-1 to Neyland, even though a Morgan Preece goal put them 1-0 ahead.
Such was Narberth's dominance in the first half that they should have gone into the half two or three goals up and the failure to score certainly came back to haunt them.
Sloppy defending allowed the visitors in for an equaliser that galvanised them to such an extent that they were the dominant team for the rest of the match.
The winner came with full-time on the horizon after Tony Evans had one cleared off the line for Narberth. The visitors kicked the ball down field, secured a free-kick and scored via a header with virtually the last kick of the match.
Tenby may not have played for almost a month due to cancellations and the Christmas break, yet they didn't show any signs of rustiness as they accounted for Herbrandston 5-1 away from home.
A fantastic fist half showing by Declan Carroll inspired the Seasiders to go into the break 3-0 up as Jordan Richards opened the account after five minutes.
Carroll added the second, before Gareth Lewis got in on the act, with Kieran Lewis and Daryl Mansbridge scoring the goals in the second half, before the home side scored a last minute consolation.
Manager Mike Lewis had some concerns that the enforced lay-off would have had a detrimental effect on his team, yet he needn't have worried.
"It was quite comfortable in the end. Ashley Andrews came in for a debut and did very well, while Jordan and Declan were just superb in the first half.
"It's not an easy place to go down there, especially after a long lay-off, but fair play, the boys did well and it was a good start to the year."
Brian Hall was at it again for Carew as the sharp shooting striker slammed home his team's first goal in their 2-0 win against Milford Athletic. James Hinchliffe grabbed the other in a comfortable win that sees Barry Evans's side secure their seventh win of the campaign.
Saundersfoot, one place above Carew in fifth position, lost 4-2 away at Monkton Swifts. Darren Umanee and Ross Gray scored the goals against the home side, yet it wasn't enough to secure any points from a team that are soaring in the division.
Pendine are a team languishing in the bowels of the division, yet manager Frank Roberts isn't too alarmed at present, despite witnessing his team go down 5-0 away at Milford United.
The straight talking gaffer admitted his side were thoroughly outplayed by the home team, yet sees no reason why his side can't climb up the league table.
"We didn't create much in this game and any football we did play was in the wrong areas. They stuffed us, but we're not down and out just yet. We've got some quality players to come back in and as always we've got some games in hand.
"We'll have a tough run in as usual, but I'm sure we'll pull through; we've got too much quality not to."
St. Clears could do with a spot of Roberts's optimism as they went down 6-1 at home against Goodwick United's second team.
Lloyd Evans gave the Saints a half-time lead, yet the Phoenix park outfit responded with two goals in the first half and four in the second, to dash any hopes of Charlie Smith's teams starting the New Year with a bang.
The defeat was their 10th of the season, yet Smith believes there was enough in their first half performance to suggest a win or two is around the corner.
"We played very well in that first period and I thought we were unlucky to go into the break 2-1 down, yet to be fair to them, they came back well in the second and deserved the win. I think we were lacking in match fitness, yet I'm not using that as an excuse as they did dominate the second half."
Tenby Seconds narrowly lost their division three quarter-final as Hakin accounted for them 2-1 at the Obs. Marcus Lyons scored Tenby's solitary goal in an heroic yet ultimately fruitless performance.
Manorbier United also lost in the round as Pennar Seconds beat them 6-0, while in league action, Lawrenny's match against Merlins Bridge's Seconds was postponed.
In division four, Carew Seconds beat their Camrose counterparts 4-2 away from home as Ceri Brace, Alex Bailey, Jonny Lammin and Ben Jones grabbed the goals, while Kilgetty's home tie against Clarbeston Road was postponed.
Narberth Seconds were not in action due to the quarter-finals of the third division cup, while Kilgetty Seconds' league clash against Clarbeston Road was postponed.
St. Clears' Seconds were in action at Haverfordwest Cricket Club, yet went down 6-0, their eighth defeat of the season, and a result that leaves them second from bottom with just nine points from 11 games.
Lawrenny Seconds travelled to Letterston and came away with a 4-2 win thanks to a fine hat-trick by Sam Mills and a goal by Steffan Jenkins.
Playing up the hill in the first half, the visitors secured a 4-0 interval lead, yet a combination of a lack of match fitness and trying too many tricks meant the second half wasn't quite as fruitful.
"The first half was as good as we have played," said John Beff. "We played simple football, passed it around and got our reward, but we weren't quite as good in the second as we tried too many things. It was a good win though".