Tenby Under 14s have already kicked off the season with silverware in the trophy cabinet thanks to a splendid win in the Treharris Sevens tournament.
The pre-season tournament saw the Tenby lads emerge victorious against teams from Cardiff, Newport, Treharris, Caerphilly, Llantrisant and Merthyr.
Pictured with the trophy are: Matthew Jones, David Jones, Steve Briers (coach), Jamie Robinson, David Saunders, Danny Harries; Bobby Briers, Ashley Murdock, Oliver Morgan, Matthew Fleming and Jack Lawrence.
SAUNDERSFOOT U14s 0 TENBY U14s 14
The Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions sponsored Under 14s made the short journey to their local rivals for this mid-week encounter in the late autumnal sunshine looking forward to an enjoyable match.
The first-half saw Tenby pile 100 per cent pressure on the Saundersfoot defence with the ball hardly entering the Tenby half. Saundersfoot packed their 18 yard box with players causing Tenby much frustration, but the tactic worked with the Saundersfoot boys showing a tremendous spirit and determination to turn the form book upside down.
Tenby still managed to create many goal scoring chances but squandered a lot with poor and unlucky finishing, a lot of this, of course, was down to the resilience of the home side.
Despite this, Ashley Prior completed a fine first-half hat-trick with a superb display of finishing power, aided by his strike partner David Jones whose good positional sense created the openings for Prior. Three-nil at half-time and the homesters were delighted at keeping the score down so well to a very strong Tenby side.
The second-half saw the game going much the same way as the first with the Tenby pressure finally beginning to tell on the homesters. Prior scored a further four goals to bring his tally to seven, Matthew Fleming, Oliver Morgan and Damian Walters all fired in two goals apiece with Clem Boswell scoring his first goal in Tenby colours after his transfer from Monkton.
Saundersfoot still managed counter attacks and came close to scoring twice in the second-half which highlighted the tremendous team spirit amongst these boys. They never gave up the fight and were sporting to the end, never letting their heads drop and still seeming to believe that they could salvage something from this game.
Hopefully some of this spirit will rub off on the Tenby boys who found it hard to play football in such a one-sided game and ended up with Ashley Murdoch being sent off one minute from time for swearing at a team mate, this being overheard by the referee who instantly brandished the red card. However, to his credit, Murdoch was man enough to apologise to the ref in the clubhouse after the game which he duly accepted, and hopefully a lesson learned for the exuberant midfielder.
A good result for Tenby which boosted their goal difference, and a good performance from Saundersfoot who were determined to enjoy this game come what may in a tremendous sporting fashion. Well done lads!
Tenby team: Danny Harries, David Saunders, James Davies, Oliver Morgan (capt.), Damian Walters, Matthew Fleming, Jack Lawrence, Clem Boswell, Matthew Jones, David Jones, Ashley Prior, Jamie Robinson, Ashley Murdoch, Tom Jones.
CARMARTHEN LADIES 1 TENBY LADIES 2
Tenby's Famous £1 Shop Ladies team recorded their first win in the new season with a hard working display at Carmarthen in a game which came to life in the second-half.
Making several changes due to unavailability and illness, Tenby fielded Angela Nicholls in goal and she had a splendid game behind a re-arranged defence.
Tenby as ever made the early running in the match, but could not find the back of the net. Several players came close when trying to beat the packed Carmarthen defence, but it was Nicola Aston who opened the score when shooting under the home goalkeeper from close range to put the visitors 1-0 in front.
Carmarthen had their moments in attack as they broke out after many of the Tenby raids saw the ball in the hands of the home goalkeeper, but Imelde Rossi and Carrie Slack were doing well in the central defensive positions to either clear to the wide positions or put the ball safely into touch. Ani Nicholls and Louise Turberfield were contesting the midfield with support from the Cooper sisters Emma and Louise in the wide positions, and Kayleigh Davies ran well at the front to give support to Nicola Aston.
Half-time arrived with Tenby preserving a slender 1-0 lead but the second-half was going to need much more character if Tenby were to preserve this lead and get maximum points.
Playing with the wind behind them Tenby attacked strongly and they looked sure to score until some last ditch challenge or wayward shot left the scoreline the same, always leaving themselves open to a Carmarthen counter attack. When it was Carmarthen's turn to attack they ran strongly through the middle, and after several shots were blocked by the diving Angela Nicholls, the home team equalised with a good cross shot.
Tenby hit back strongly and Carri Slack, driving forward, scored well with a rising drive into the roof of the net to put Tenby 2-1 in front. This brought the match to life for the first time, and a period of stoppages for fouls and injuries tended to raise the excitement of the players, and put the referee to the test on several occasions when the decisions could have gone either way.
This tension resulted in Nicola Aston falling heavily in the Carmarthen penalty area after one of her usual runs and Hazel Sawyer being booked for dissent as no penalty kick as given. Nicholls was again brought into action as Carmarthen ran past a tired and injury-laden defence to block shots before Imelde Rossi, Carrie Slack and Louise Turberfield hooked the ball to safety.
The tension erupted again after Ani Nicholls brought down a Carmarthen forward striving for goal and was cautioned for her first foul of the game. She was sent off following an amusing incident when the referee dropped his cards. Tenby now down to nine players with Nicola Aston on her way to hospital, and Charlotte Cray injured, came under some late pressure, with Nicholls making a heroic diving save on the line before the final whistle went to end an exciting match.
Tenby squad: Angela Nicholls, Charlotte Cray, Imelde Rossi, Carrie Slack, hazel Sawyer, Louise Cooper, Ani Nicholls, Louise Turberfield, Emma Cooper, Nicola Aston, Kayleigh Davies.
Thanks to Michael Wright for helping out as 'assistant manager'.
TENBY U13s 4 NEYLAND U13s 1
Tenby under 13s tried hard to force home an advantage of the wind behind them and playing down the slope, but found the visiting goalkeeper in good form.
Some near misses and some offside decisions brought some frustration into the home side's attacking play, and even though Sam Christopher had hit the post with a speculative long shot, the scoring was surprisingly opened by Neyland when the home defence was static as Richard Thomas was given no chance with a low shot.
Tenby immediately resumed their attempts to keep some pressure on their opponent's goal, but many attacks were easily fielded by the visiting goalkeeper, particularly from Sam Christopher and Guto Griffiths who could not get quite enough power in their shots to find the net.
Tenby's efforts to play with some method, finally paid off when their right side, well marshalled by Scott Helmich from the back, got into a rhythm as Michael Halligan laid a nicely struck pass through to Sam Christopher who made no mistake with his final effort.
Sensing that their play would need to improve even more to beat a spirited Neyland, Tenby scored again when a long ball out of defence by Adam Johns found Sam Christopher in space who was able to run on and add a second goal for his team.
Half-time arrived with the scoreline still 2-1 to Tenby, but it was the lacklustre play that was giving concern all round, if a win was to be gained against spirited opponents, and against a strong wind.
Tenby began to switch the play from midfield where Aaron Goldsmith was having a good game, and the back four of Scott Helmich, Joe Lewis, Jordan Lloyd and Joel Pendell replacing the injured Jamie Robins did well against strong pressure.
They found that Gavin Kinsey held the key to ball possession on the left, as he beat players regularly, and fed Guto Griffiths with some good through passes also tackling back energetically. The problems in attack still remained as Tenby came close on several occasions, and they were woken up by two incidents in the middle of the half which could have given the game to Neyland.
On both occasions goalkeeper Richard Thomas was the hero, first turning a goal bound effort onto the crossbar before the tenacious Jordan Lloyd hooked the ball to safety, and then blocking a penalty kick, awarded for a trip, before the rebound was blasted over the bar to leave Tenby still in front at 2-1.
This shock did the trick, and Tenby settled into a more determined and methodical style of play and they took the game to Neyland in menacing style.
Henry Boot came on to the right flank and got involved in the game immediately. Ten minutes from the end Sam Christopher took a long free-kick into the Neyland penalty area and captain Aaron Goldsmith finished the move to give Tenby a healthier look at 3-1, before the left side of the attack Gavin Kinsey and Guto Griffiths got some reward for their persistence, as a low cross found Adam Johns running in from the right flank to beat the goalkeeper with a hard low shot.
Tenby's slow start nearly cost them the points in this game, which was more closely contested than the 4-1 winning score suggests. However, their ability to lift their game at the direction of the coach was clear, but a more concerted effort from the kick-off will be needed to get any points against the league's other leading teams in a couple of weeks time.
Tenby squad: Richard Thomas, Scott Helmich, Jordan Lloyd, Jamie Robins, Joe Lewis, Michael Halligan, Aaron Goldsmith (capt.), Adam Johns, Joel Pendell, Henry Boot, Gavin Kinsey, Sam Christopher, Guto Griffiths.
Thanks to Dewi Davies for refereeing an excellently contested match in good ground conditions.
PENNAR ROBINS U16s 3 TENBY U16s 2
Tenby Under 16s, sponsored by Tees-R-Us, travelled to Pennar last Saturday in another difficult fixture. Tenby's season has turned a little Jekyl and Hyde, where they can perform like they did against Camrose earlier in the week with grit and determination and then produce a lacklustre display at Bush Camp.
The game was there for the taking, as neither side really played to their full potential, but the Robins seemed to want to win the most and that was the main difference between the two teams.
Tenby took the lead courtesy of Liam Robson who finished well after a low hard cross from Perry Broadhurst, but on the half hour the home side equalised when their striker beat the Tenby's offside trap.
The Red and Blacks thought they had regained the lead but Robson's effort was disallowed for a foul on the Robins keeper. Pennar then went ahead when an excellent tackle from captain, Darren Taylor unfortunately fell kindly for the Robins attack who slid the ball passed a helpless Lewis Hurlow in the visitors' goal.
The score remained two-one in favour of the home side until 10 minutes from the end of the match, when the Tenby defence froze and watched Pennar steal through to go three-one up.
Bruce Tasker made his first appearance of the season for Tenby at the expense of Ben Quartermaine and the visitors probably enjoyed their best spell of the match, with Robson pulling a goal back with a great strike but it was too little, too late.
Tenby team: L. Hurlow, D. Rowell, D. Taylor, M. Sofan, S. Phillips, P. Broadhurst, L. Wilson, D. Otton, B. Quartermaine, L. Robson, J. Christopher, D. Rowell, B. Tasker, J. Worley.
HUNDLETON U13s 1 TENBY U13S 8
In another midweek game, Tenby U13's once again produced an excellent display of football.
Tenby took 23 seconds to open the scoring when Scott Helmich, new signing Mikey Boswell and Sam Christopher combined well allowing Christopher to score the first of his hat-trick.
Boswell himself scored twice, one from an Aaron Goldsmith corner, and then from a great cross from Guto Griffiths on the left.
Boswell's fine chip put Christopher through for Tenby's fourth which was breathtaking to watch.
Griffiths himself scored after Helmich took a throw in and the ball was flicked on by Boswell for Griffiths to confidently slot it home.
Tenby's sixth came first before half time when Luke Dedman scored a superb header, high into the top of the goal from a Tenby corner.
Tenby's defence was well controlled by Jordan Lloyd, who had another outstanding game as did keeper Richard Thomas when he was called into play.
Jamie Robins again looked solid and the midfield duo of Goldsmith and Adam Johns combined well to supply the front runners.
Gavin Kinsey worked hard on the left and with 20 minutes to go Tenby's made three changes to the starting line.
Tenby had just as many scoring chances in the second half but were thwarted by the post crossbar and Hundleton 'keeper'.
Griffiths scored again from a rebound shot and Christopher had the final word with his third goal of the game.
Thanks to Martin for running the line and to all the parents who provide transport especially Nick.
Squad: Richard Thomas, Scott Helmich, Joe Scourfield, Luke Dedman, Jordan Lloyd, Jamie Robins, Gavin Kinsey, Aaron Goldsmith (capt), Adam Johns, Guto Griffiths, Sam Christopher, Mickey Boswell, Richard Jones, Michael Halligan.
HAKIN UTD SECONDS 7
TENBY AFC SECONDS 1
Tenby started their fourth game of the season with an injury struck side, missing powerful midfielder Peter Horsely and defenders Ben Brookes and Ben Evans.
James Brown was also missing from the attacking line-up but the Seasiders started strongly in the first 10 minutes with the returning Dai Merrick holding firm at the back with Tony Beare alongside him.
A few good chances were created by the attacking duo of Steve Hanlon and debutant Ben Crockford, who used the two pacy wingers, Nick Webster-smith and Tom Davies to great affect.
However, Hakin's first three goals came in quick succession as gaps were appearing in the Tenby back four.
The midfield remained calm throughout, keeping the 'big' Hakin playmaker at bay, due to Phil Spindlove's immense upper body strength and Dom Lamb's dominance in the air. Suddenly, Lamb found space down the left, cut inside and placed an inch perfect pass, that found the oncoming boot of new boy Croxi whose poaching instincts fired the ball home.
This made the score 3-1 at half-time. The team talk from the 'Silver Fox', 'Big' Jammy gave the young team hope.
The second-half produced nothing but pure Tenby class resulting in a constant onslaught on the Hakin goal.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Crockford waltzed into the area, just like Veron, and met the oncoming Hakin 'keeper, who put in a tackle that saw the prolific striker chopped down and Tenby receive their just rewards following huge appeals from Stuart Mclaren.
From the spot, Hanlon continued his infamous penalty record and placed the ball agonisingly wide.
Spino was moved into the attack to partner Croxi and, with the help of Tom Davies and Nick the Greek, they produced some young, telepathic movements, resulting in a few long range efforts, including a 'ping' by Spino and a 'pong' by Dom!
From here on, Tenby's heads dropped, but the appearance of the 'Silver Fox' gave the team more confidence by partnering his son, Jammy Jr. who was solid at the back. Peter Thomas was as agile as ever, with some world class blocks in goal, but these alone couldn't keep the Hakin attack from sealing the game and obtaining the three points.