UWIC 3

South Pembrokeshire 3

This week saw South Pembrokeshire in Cardiff playing against their old rivals, the students of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, in a South Wales division one match.

UWIC have gained promotion with South Pembrokeshire in the past three successive years, finishing every year as runners-up just behind South Pembs. This fixture is always eagerly awaited by both teams. South Pembrokeshire have never been beaten by UWIC, but UWIC were optimistic that this could be the day that they won it, and they very nearly did.

A back-to-strength Pembrokeshire side saw the welcome return of centre midfielder Tim Lounds. This allowed Rob Woods to return to his favoured position of right-half. This positional swap paid off very early in the match as Pembrokeshire, against the run of play, got the first goal from a powerful drive by Bernie Wheeler into the opposition area where his cross was latched onto by the pacy Rob Woods, who slotted the ball in at the back post.

The students, provoked by this wake-up call, spurred themselves into action and it wasn't too long afterwards that slick passing led to an equaliser.

Unfortunately for the Pembrokeshire outfit, the equalising goal also meant an increase in confidence and the ball was moved around the field nicely by the advancing team. A second goal was conceded, when a strike from the top of the circle bobbled over the outstretched stick of goalkeeper Miller, which left South Pembrokeshire chasing the game.

The South Pembs. boys, being a stubborn bunch and not overly keen on losing, started to pile on the pressure against the opposition. This pressure was converted into a goal when Freddie Fordham got the last touch on a carbon-copy of their first.

With Steve Kendrick coming on for Huw Hanniford at left-half, this created a different element to the South Pembrokeshire midfield. They made endless attacks on the UWIC goal but, with their goalkeeper in such fine form, found it difficult to add to their score.

The scores remained two apiece when the teams left the pitch for the half-time interval.

At the start of the second half, it was Pembrokeshire who found themselves on the early defensive. Miller in goal saved a couple of well-struck shots from the opposition forwards, and Nigel Thomas, Simon Moseley, Sean Irving, Andy Stear and left-half Huw Hanniford coped well with the counter-attacks of UWIC, with Moseley sweeping up behind the well-drilled centre backs of Irving and Stear.

Thomas created increasing pressure down the right wing, linking with Woods, and it seemed that it was only a matter of time before South Pembrokeshire would take the lead.

With so much possession and endless short corners, it was only the work of the UWIC 'keeper, who was man of the match, that kept the scoreline even.

Once again the West Wales side found themselves behind after they were hit with a break down the left wing where, although the initial strike at goal was well saved by Miller, the ball rebounded to a UWIC attacker who was left with the easiest of shots into an open goal to put the students 3-2 up.

South Pembs. continued to dominate the play and with five minutes remaining the game looked to be going UWIC's way, but it was substitute Steve Kendrick who had the last word. Thomas intercepted a clearance and the ball was worked through the midfield to see Kendrick sweep home a pass from Jamie Smith to deny UWIC their first win against South Pembrokeshire.

This draw keeps South Pembs. in second place in the league behind Bridgend, with one game in hand.

Team: Dave Miller, Andy Stear, Sean Irving, Simon Moseley, Nigel Thomas, Huw Hanniford, Tim Lounds, Bernie Wheeler, Jamie Smith, Ian Fordham, Steve Kendrick, Brian Minney.

Umpires: Jane Wheeler, B. Harries. Match sponsors: Dawn Till Dusk Golf Club.

South Pembs A 2

Bridgend 3

With only 10 players available due to illness and injury, South Pembrokeshire fielded a young side to take on the experienced Bridgend team.

Phil Lewis scored his first league goal for the club, converting a wel- struck cross from Paul Morris.

Chris Harrison, playing alongside Lewis up-front, made several runs into the circle and was unlucky to see his strike on goal hit the post. Tom Ferguson, playing at right-half, was instrumental in setting up many of the South Pembs. attacks.

Despite all the possession South Pembrokeshire enjoyed, it was from breakaways that Bridgend scored their three goals.

Paul Morris got a second for South Pembs.

Veteran Arthur Kendrick worked tirelessly in defence, with Jon Moore and Nathan Beynon controlling the midfield.

A fine all-round performance in a match that could have gone either way.

Team: J. Kenniford, S. McCarthy, P. Morris, J. Moore, A. Kendrick, T. Ferguson, P. Lewis, N. Beynon, C. Harrison, C. Rogers.

Umpire: K. Edwards. Match sponsors: Pembroke Garden Centre.