Clarbeston Road 1 Tenby 3: Tenby Under 14s, sponsored by Tees ‘R’ Us and United Aerospace, of Pembroke Dock, travelled to Marble Hall, Milford, last Saturday, to face Clarbeston Road in the Pembrokeshire Under 14s final.

Tenby’s road to the final began with a 4-1 home win against Hakin United in the quarter-final, with goals from James Gardner, Harri Phillips, Rhys Morgan and Nathan Froment. They then faced tough opposition in the semi-final, again at The Clicketts, in the form of Haverfordwest Cricket Club. Tenby led one-nil thanks to a Jamie Bartlett goal, but this was cancelled out midway through the second half. With only minutes to go and the prospect of extra-time looming, Bartlett latched on to a James Gardner free-kick to secure his team’s place in their second consecutive final.

The final was a mouth-watering encounter between the best two teams at Under 14s level in Pembrokeshire. It was end to end stuff, with chances being created by both teams which saw Harri Phillips going the closest for the Seasiders.

At the other end, ’keeper Dylan Noot pulled off a great save when it looked certain that Clarbeston Road would score.

Five minutes before the break and the deadlock was broken, when a good run and cross from Phillips found Tate Lawrence at the far post. Lawrence controlled well and turned inside and then outside to get the ball on his trusty left foot and then hit an unstoppable shot to give his side the advantage.

The drama for the first half wasn’t over as Clarbie launched a final foray and rattled Noot’s crossbar. But it stayed one-nil to Tenby.

A well-earned break for both teams, but the pace didn’t ease up during the second period. Tenby found themselves two-nil up within 10 minutes of the restart when Carl Thomas’s low cross was fumbled by the Clarbie ’keeper and Jamie Bartlett reacted quickest to nudge the ball over the line.

Thomas himself should have made the game safe, but fired high and wide when put clear by Rhys Morgan.

At the other end, Jacob Hipkiss cleared off the line following a corner and from a second corner, Clarbie squeezed the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble to reduce the arrears to a single goal.

With time running out, Clarbeston Road were in the ascendency and attacked at every opportunity, which created panic in the Seasiders’ defence. However, when you push forward it does leave gaps at the back and a long clearance by Morgan found Lawrence in space on the left and he was abruptly stopped illegally on the edge of the box. James Gardner stepped forward and hit a high free-kick to the far post. Under no challenge, the Clarbie ’keeper seemed to have it well covered, but at the last minute took his eye off the ball and it slipped through his hands to nestle in the far corner of his net.

Tenby saw out the remaining seven minutes to seal a hard-earned victory, but it must be said that Clarbeston Road were slightly the better team on the day and created the better chances. However, you have to convert your chances and that is exactly what Tenby did.

The cup was presented to captain, Leo Sarrionandia, by Pembrokeshire chairperson, Rowena Lloyd.

Afterwards, the Pembrokeshire league trophy was presented to Clarbeston Road, who pipped Tenby by one point to secure the league title.