HAKIN 4 TENBY 2

Beaten but not disgraced. Those were the words used by Tenby's manager Steve Maytum to raise the heads of his young troops after an enthralling division one match against West Wales' champions Hakin.

A huge crowd attended the Observatory playing field on Saturday to witness this top-of-the-table clash and what a game it was. Manager Maytum always knew this was going to be a tough fixture, but with five first team players missing, including player/coach Deryn Brace, it was a colossal task.

The game started at a frantic pace and although the pitch was heavy under foot, both sides were playing some lovely neat football which was a great advert for Pembrokeshire League football.

Hakin were first to find themselves on the scoresheet when a close range header from Mike Cooper rebounded off the post to leave Paul Jones an easy tap in.

The home crowd were convinced that the floodgates would open, but Tenby seemed to raise the game and started to put Hakin under pressure for long periods. Gavin Scotcher worked relentlessly up front and Ryan Lawrence had a great game alongside him.

Referee Bryan Hawkins had an outstanding game in controlling both sides, even when tempers flared in the 30th minute after a late tackle on Scotcher, which resulted in Gary Dawes being cautioned.

Dawes was lucky not to see red in the 40th minute when after a neat build up by Tenby, midfield maestro Tony Griffiths was floored in the box; Gavin Scotcher made no mistake with the penalty.

Hakin came out firing in the second-half and after a goalmouth scramble, the ball fell neatly to Paul Jones who smashed the ball home from five yards.

Tenby were in trouble again 10 minutes later when a dubious penalty decision was given against young Dai Merrick, and Jones stepped up to gain his hat-trick.

Tenby started to push players forward in search of goals and came close on a couple of occasions. Scott McGloughlin was a constant threat to the home side and with his electric pace and bag of tricks he was simply untouchable.

Captain Dewi Davies kept Tenby in the game with a string of fine saves which he later described as routine. But there was nothing he could do to stop Adi Howarth's shot on 70 minutes which nearly burst the net.

The experience of Finlay and Griffiths never let their young side roll over and die as this was end to end football.

Tenby made it 4-2 with 15 minutes to play, when a wonderful strike from McGloughlin flew into the bottom corner of the net from all of 20 yards.

A Ryan Lawrence chip, which looked goalbound, hit the bar late on and landed comfortably in the hands of home 'keeper Bomber Morgan.

The visitors went close late on when the tireless Subbiani placed a through ball to James Brown and only some great defending prevented the youngster getting his second first team goal.

Overall it was an outstanding performance from under-strength Tenby outfit who received the praise of the Hakin management, stating they were the best side they had played in this season's campaign.

Team: D. Davies, M. James, D. Merrick, N. Finlay, S. Williams, A. Griffiths, D. Subbiani, J. McKay, S. McGloughlin, R. Lawrence, G. Scotcher, D. Lawrence, B. Brooks, J. Brown.

TENBY U13s 8

HUNDLETON U13s 0

In far from ideal conditions, the Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions sponsored U13s met Hundleton.

Hundleton were immediately on the attack, forcing a series of corners, from one of which Oliver Morgan sliced his clearance kick straight into the grateful arms of Danny Harries in the Tenby goal - a superb reaction save.

Tenby hit back with a break from David Jones, whose shot was parried by the 'keeper, but Damian Walters, following up brilliantly, fired in his side's first goal.

Hundleton were showing great skill and determination, providing Tenby with a stern test of their capabilities.

Having bravely made a goal-line clearance, Oliver Morgan's header was parried from the resultant corner into the path of Ashley Prior who struck the ball home.

Danny Harries, in the Tenby goal, was again called upon, with Hundleton determined to make a game of it.

Damian Walters, however, was having a superb game in midfield, with Ben Messenger, Ieuan Rowell and David Sanders not having their troubles to seek.

Hundleton were enjoying the lion's share of possession, with their passing working well despite the cloying conditions.

Danny Harries saved superbly on the deck on two occasions, with Tenby beginning to creak under sustained Hundleton pressure.

Whereas Hundleton were stringing passes together, Tenby were striving for rhythm and a pattern to their play.

After the break, David Jones scored a brilliant individual goal, collecting, beating two men and firing in high over the 'keeper, but Hundleton returned to the attack, maintaining their midfield pressure.

Ashley Prior crowned a strong run with a cracking shot for Tenby's fourth.

Danny then pushed a goal-bound shot onto the bar and Tenby scrambled the ball way through the tenacious Matthew Jones.

Tenby subbed Ashley Murdoch and Ben Messenger, with Mark Davies and Sam coming on in place of them.

With his second touch of the game, Mark Davies lobbed the 'keeper for Tenby's fifth.

With Matthew Jones and the Tenby attack beginning to sizzle, the balance of play had shifted.

David Jones latched on to a superb 'defence splitting' through ball and finished clinically, while Ashley Prior struck the seventh and eighth.

Tenby now had a pattern to their play and their passing had a new-found precision and fluency, with their shooting also finding the mark.

Nevertheless, Hundleton gave Tenby much to ponder on, as the scoreline did not reflect the game and the amount of possession and pressure the visitors applied. The Hundleton team are a credit to their club.

Referee Mr. Peter Thomas controlled the game well.

Tenby team: Danny Harries, Ieuan Rowell, Ben Messenger, David Saunders, Oliver Morgan (capt.), Matthew Fleming, Matthew Jones, Damian Walters, Ashley Murdoch, Ashley Prior, David Jones, Mark Davies, Sam Davies.