KILGETTY 2 JOHNSTON 0

One magical moment of collective footballing purity was the difference between two evenly matched teams in a mud-fight royal that is rarely seen nowadays.

Paul Jones, the ever impressive Trojan down Kilgetty's right flank, started the move deep in his own half by having the presence of mind not to panic under pressure and playing the ball back to his sweeper. He in turn was equally as cool as he sucked in two players before slipping the ball simply back to Jones.

A couple of neat interchanges with Mansbridge and the ball was then worked out to the left touchline, before a quick cross was swung over to the right to Jones again, who had made up ground like a Cheetah chasing his prey.

This time though the prey was the bye-line and Johnston's left-back, who was for once left chasing shadows, and Jones delivered an inch-perfect cross to the feet of the imperious Michael Scale who coolly slotted home to score his second goal in as many games.

The beauty of this goal was that almost every section of the field had been utilised; six players had touched the ball, with the other five making unselfish runs off it, and the crux of the move was that every pass was along the ground and purposefully played to feet.

This last point was the most astounding feature because it was difficult to locate some green playing areas on an uneven, mud strewn surface.

In fact, the pitch was so waterlogged it was astonishing the match took place in the first instance, but proceed the game did and it was another closely fought battle which did justice to some of the contests that have taken place between these two stalwarts of the league over the years, especially in a not so distant past when both were competing in the higher echelons of the first division.

Although promotion doesn't look likely this year, surely it won't be long before both teams take their rightful place in the higher league and compete with the best in Pembrokeshire, as they did so impressively this weekend.

Each side tried to play an attractive passing game, despite the less than accommodating conditions, and neither side was prepared to give an inch in territory or in the tackle.

The game was certainly physical, as you would expect, and although there was the occasional late tackle and a booking apiece, it was still played and marshalled in a good spirit.

But most important of all, chances were created at both ends, with the surface proving to be an effective 12th man on occasions, causing a few defensive slip-ups and the odd strikers' bobble.

Despite Ollie Griffiths tormenting the Johnston defence whenever he gained possession, he was unable to convert the phalanx of chances that came his way in the first half, but it was Johnston who should have led at the interval.

A good run by their number 10, after a quarter-of-an-hour, had split the Kilgetty defence, but he pulled his shot wide from almost point blank range.

Then in a five-minute spell late in the half they had hit the upright, only for the ball to drop to a Kilgetty defender, and almost immediately they were denied what looked like a clear-cut penalty when another forward was brought down inside the home team's box.

However, Kilgetty obviously had the rub of the green on the day, or more likely the slide of the mud, and they came out much hungrier in the second-half.

Michael Scale dictated the flow of the game, making plenty of time for himself in a midfield swamp and not wasting any possession, and the whole side rallied round to press home the advantage after taking the lead midway through the latter 45.

Ollie Griffiths eventually sealed the victory when he stroked the ball past a beleaguered Johnston 'keeper, following yet more composed play from Scale, to ensure the end result was a two-nil victory to Kilgetty.

There was still time for Johnston to beat the Kilgetty 'keeper, though, only for the ball to hold up in the mud and for one final effort to flash wildly over the bar.

It wasn't to be the away side's afternoon as the treacherous outfield conspired with a determined group of villagers to defeat them.

And as 22 weary players trudged off the field, looking like a batch of extras from a World War Two movie, Kilgetty were able to give thanks to one sublime team move, which proved to be the biggest deciding factor between the two teams on the day.

Kilgetty fielded: C. 'Sludger' Phillips, J. 'Psycho' Bessant, A. Prout, C. Stone, R. 'Biff' Griffiths, P. 'Trojan' Jones, P. 'The Stroller' Mansbridge, M. Scale, T. 'The Tool' James, A. Bevan, O. Griffiths.

Man-of-the-match: Michael Scale.

Hursty's comment: "It's a game of two halves."

ST. CLEARS 2NDS 8 KILGETTY 2NDS 2

After such a bad week of weather, it was surprising that any matches were able to take place, and after this result, Kilgetty might have wished it had rained more.

It was Kilgetty who had the upper hand during the first half and were awarded a penalty as early as the third minute when Thorne was brought down just inside the box. Williams stepped up confidently, having scored from his previous two attempts, but hit the ball straight down the middle, enabling the 'keeper to make a comfortable save.

Kilgetty continued to have the majority of play, but failed to convert several chances.

Eventually, against the run of play, St. Clears broke down the right, the Kilgetty defence was stretched and as the ball was crossed in, Lewis challenged to clear the ball and was unfortunate to find the corner of his own net.

Kilgetty were back on level terms in less than a minute as a delicate chip from Thorne from an acute angle found the net.

Fortunately, the game was played in good spirits, and refereed well, as the condition of the pitch was deteriorating fast.

St. Clears took the lead in the 50th minute as a near perfect corner and some slack marking gifted their striker a simple header.

From then on it was down hill all the way for Kilgetty and within five more painful minutes they were 5-1 down.

Kilgetty managed to stem the quick flow of goals, but they went further behind when a mistake at the back let St. Clears in again.

Kilgetty were awarded a second penalty late in the half, which Gareth Gwyther slotted into the corner.

St. Clears were still able to add two further goals to their tally before the referee put Kilgetty out of their misery and set the seal on a comfortable victory for St. Clears.

Kilgetty fielded: R. Walwyn, I. Lewis, D. Marklew, D. Hughes, L. James, T. Dennis, A. Williams, R. Bevan, D. Wright, A. Thorne, D. Rossiter, G. Gwyther, R. Gwyther, G. Prince.