The excitement and buzz in the clubhouse after this second consecutive win was about as prevalent as the atmosphere on the pitch during the game. The New Year's Day blues seemed to be at its height with all spirit drained away as players drifted in, collected their food and drifted out, leaving the club to the elder statesmen to analyse what was an uninspiring game.
Not all games can be classic encounters and it was very satisfying for Kilgetty to pick up the three points along with the three goals and to keep a clean sheet. This was the first game played since before Christmas (the encounter against Pendine the previous week had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch), so the excess of stuffed turkey and plum duff may have been responsible for the inadequacy of the performance.
Apart from the sunshine, the brightest element of the day was Kilgetty's first goal. Midway through the first half they were awarded a free-kick, 10 yards outside the penalty area on the right-hand side. Richard Griffiths and Jamie Morgan were in deep discussions as to who would take it and it was obvious that Jamie preferred the option of bending it in with his left foot. And bend it like Beckham he did! The ball was destined for the top right-hand corner from the time it left his boot, despite the goalkeeper's attempt to push it wide.
Apart from this, both teams seemed intent on reducing the game to mediocrity, with numerous errors, rebounds and shots wide. Kilgetty were the dominant force, holding most of the possession, but failing to capitalise on it, and although Milford made the occasional break it was not with any assurance or bite in front of goal.
Many free-kicks were wasted on both sides, ending up off target or safely into the keeper's arms. One Milford attack developed down their left flank, the fullback was nutmegged to give the winger yards of space to run into, only to hit the ball into the side netting. A Curly Watts' clearance was mis-hit, again giving Milford an opportunity, which they spurned with a shot into the side netting.
At the other end, Kilgetty also missed numerous chances to put them further ahead. Michael Scale turned his opposite number in a well balanced move, only to see his right foot shot pushed wide for a corner. A free-kick from a similar position saw the ball sail high over the Milford goal.
At half-time the Milford manager was overheard to say to his players, amongst other expletives, "You boys haven't started yet!" and this must also have been the comment from the Kilgetty manager.
The second half continued in much the same vein - everyone (well most) struggling to work hard, but failing to produce any fluency or accuracy in their movements. Play kept faltering and breaking down because of poor passing and lack of understanding. The back line were disorganised and often out of position, while the forwards were again reduced to chasing lost causes because the midfield were not in total control of the game.
Michael Scale and Paul Mansbridge endeavoured to find each other with their passes, while Paul Jones (welcome back) was predictable in his forward charges, with occasional success. One such run brought him across the Milford penalty area, almost brought down in the tackle, but creating enough space to fire off a left foot shot which rebounded off the upright into the path of the advancing Barry Ormond. His shot was successfully smothered by the 'keeper.
Richard Griffiths stepped out of the defence to take two free-kicks within as many minutes. The first was wasted and the second found Jamie Morgan who hit it across the face of the goal. Adam Thorn cut through the middle into space, only to find his shot smothered by the 'keeper and his second attempt drift wide of the post.
Curly Watts found Ceri Stone on the right-hand side, and he gave a short pass to Adam Thorn, whose weak shot eventually rebounded wide of the post.
Milford were much the same in their limited attacks. They earned a free-kick, which some thought was a penalty, on the edge of the box. Their first attempt was hit into the wall, while the retake sailed effortlessly over the crossbar. Another move on the left ended up with the ball pushed wide for a corner, which came to nothing.
Kilgetty's second goal was the result of a penalty awarded against the Milford goalkeeper for bringing down Adam Thorn in the box. He was not allowed to remain on the pitch for the kick and the reserve 'keeper donned the jersey to try and save Richard Griffiths' shot from the spot - all to no avail, as the ball smashed into the back of the net.
Other attempts on goal were close but ineffective and the final goal, when it came, was somewhat of a surprise. An advancing Milford defence was caught out with a ball over the top. This was snapped up by two Kilgetty forwards, who looked to be in an offside position. A cross from the right found Jamie Morgan in the six-yard box and he gratefully accepted his second goal.
Surprisingly, in this innocuous, non-aggressive game, there were four bookings and one player sent off. Kilgetty, however, are grateful for the three points and the clean sheet and look forward to next week's meeting with Manorbier.
Team: C. Phillips, J. Bessant, R. Griffiths, S. Walley, L. Watts P. Mansbridge, P. Jones, M. Scale, C. Stone, A. Thorn, J. Morgan. Subs - B. Ormond, T. Scale.