Sport

Clarby on the charge as Fox’s men impress once again

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

Hakin United 1 – 4 Clarbeston Road

CLARBESTON ROAD got off to a flying start to 2024 with a hard fought victory over top of the table Hakin at a very sticky Obs Ground. Hakin would have been looking to get the victory that would keep them at the top of the table, and would have been looking to avenge the defeat against Clarby earlier in the season in the Senior Cup. Matthew Fox’s team have been impressing all season, the cup win we deemed as a ‘shock’, it would be unfair to label this result a shock, Hakin would have been well aware of the visitors quality before kick off, however were unable to stop them.

Hakin started the brighter without creating anything clear cut but were the team in the ascendancy for the opening exchanges. However it was Clarby who then grew into the game and started to get the ball down and play. It was a route one ball that broke the deadlock. A long kick upfield from Clarby keeper Mansell evaded the Hakin defence, and Laurie Howarth, against his former club, was on hand to cut inside from the left of the box and unleash an unstoppable shot into the top right stanchion of Aldred’s goal. Buoyed by the goal, Clarby were on the front foot and when Ben John, who caused trouble for the Hakin defence all game., was brought down 25 yards from goal, up stepped Matthew “Chicken” Davies and he smashed his effort goal bound through the crowded box and into the roof of the Hakin net for a two nil lead.

Hakin, however, soon got a goal that got them back in it. A free kick down the hosts right was swung to the back post, and with the ball only half headed clear, Jordan Richards was on hand to thump home a side foot volley into the top left corner. This gave Hakin the lift they needed and they began to build pressure looking for the equaliser. Having some joy down the flanks, they then threw a number of good deliveries into the visitors box but the centre half pairing of Tom Withers and Sami Hurton held firm. Shane Walsh continued to probe and press down the Hakin right but it was Clarby defending resolutely looking to hit on the break.

It was the Hakin eagerness to press for an equaliser that opened up the game for Clarby in transition and it was Ben Rocky John who made most of the spaces being left. He picked up the ball wide right of the area, and his run beat a couple of Hakin defenders and he was able to stab the ball past Aldred to restore the 2 goal advantage which Clarby took into the break.

Understandably it was Hakin who came out after the break looking for an early goal. Resolute Clarby defending again meant that they held firm but Hakin were getting the chances and it was Mansell again on hand with a couple of great saves, one for a free kick from 20 yards and another from an acrobatic effort from substitute Ashley Bevan. Travis Jones was working hard in the Clarby midfield to keep Hakin at bay and limit chances to long range efforts.

As the game entered the last 20 minutes, with the next goal vital, it was Clarby that grabbed it. Again it was Ben John who managed to evade the challenges of Jay Power in the Hakin defence, and he was able to finish into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Clarby were then content to sit in and defend and were able to see out the game to take the win. In the final 10 minutes, Clarby rang the changes and 16 year old George Thomas entered the field for his Clarby debut, one I am sure he won’t forget.

Referee John Jenkins blew the whistle for full time and a well earned 4-1 Victory for the visitors. Having beaten Hakin twice this season already, the questions is are Clarby the up and coming challengers for Goodwick. Granted they may not quite be there yet, but the rate they are improving has not gone unnoticed and has impressed many throughout the county.

Related Topics:Clarbeston Road Division 1 Football Hakin pembrokeshire

Up Next

Pembrokeshire Football Division 1 Review 06-01-24

Don't Miss

West Wales athletes announced for first Special Olympics GB Winter Games

Sport

Haverfordwest RFC names Team of the Week

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

HAVERFORDWEST Rugby Football Club has announced its latest Team of the Week, celebrating standout performers from across the junior age groups following another busy weekend of fixtures.

Players from the U7s through to the U16s Eagles have been highlighted for their work rate, teamwork and commitment on the pitch, with coaches praising the effort shown by all who took part.

The club said the selections recognise not only individual performances but the dedication shown by players at training and during matches throughout the season.

Parents and supporters were quick to share their congratulations online, with particular praise for U12s players George Bentley and Tom Wheeler, who impressed during their fixture.

Team of the Week – 14 December 2025

U7s: Ollie Bromham & Arthur Slee
U8s: Theo Headland & Lyla Phillips
U9s: Theo Canton & George Thornton
U10s: Rhys Davies
U10s Eagles: Frankie Campbell
U11s: Griff Jenkins & Ollie Edwards
U12s: George Bentley & Tom Wheeler
U12s Eagles: Cyra Ellis
U15s: Logan Keane
U16s Eagles: Laura Cichon

Coaches thanked players and families for their continued support as Haverfordwest RFC moves through the winter fixtures, saying the positivity around the club remains a key part of its success.

Sport

Bluebirds’ European Journey Continues in Season Four of You Can Have It All

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Herald Sport

Club documentary series returns to document Haverfordwest County’s historic UEFA Conference League campaign

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY has confirmed the return of their club documentary series, You Can Have It All (YCHIA), later this month, showcasing the thrilling journey of last summer’s European adventure.

YCHIA first began filming in 2021, with Season One covering a rollercoaster 2021-22 campaign for the Bluebirds. The season ended with a dramatic top-flight survival, following a challenging period. Season Two shifted focus to the 2022-23 season, which saw the club qualify for Europe for the first time since 2004. The Bluebirds’ stunning play-off victory, which included back-to-back penalty shoot-out wins against Cardiff Met and Newtown, marked manager Tony Pennock’s first season in charge as a major success.

The excitement intensified as the series continued to cover their historic European campaign, which began with a trip to North Macedonia to face KF Shkëndija. Returning to Cardiff City Stadium for the second leg, the Bluebirds made club history by winning their first-ever European tie on penalties. The drama then took them to the Faroe Islands to face B36 Tórshavn, where they were controversially edged out by a single goal in the return leg.

Now, with further continental success under their belts, YCHIA returns for its fourth season, documenting last summer’s European adventure. This season follows Haverfordwest County’s journey through the qualifying rounds of the newly rebranded UEFA Conference League (UECL).

Providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the series tracks the Bluebirds’ travels to Malta for the first leg of their UECL first qualifying round tie against Floriana, and the return leg at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli a week later. The season also covers the build-up to the competition, including a visit to Geneva for the UEFA draw and a match against reigning Northern Ireland champions Linfield at Windsor Park, the national stadium.

Season Four will be released in three episodes on December 18, December 23, and January 2. You can watch You Can Have It All on Haverfordwest County’s YouTube channel by following this link. The club will also share highlights and snippets of the documentary across their social media platforms, so be sure to follow them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)!

News

Pembroke Dock coach helped steer Lando Norris to F1 world title

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Seren Baker

Local mentor recalls seven-year-old Norris as “one to watch from day one”

A FORMER Pembroke Dock man has been revealed as one of the earliest influences behind newly-crowned Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris – adding an unexpected Pembrokeshire chapter to one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.

Robert Dodds, who grew up in Pembroke Dock before later moving to Poole, was Norris’s first coach at BKC Racing. He began mentoring the future McLaren star when he was just seven years old, helping shape the early foundations of a career that reached its peak on Sunday (Dec 7) when Norris secured the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to The Herald, Mr Dodds said Norris’s talent was obvious from the very first outing.

“There was something special about him from day one,” he said. “By the time he was eight, he was already as quick as the 10–12-year-olds. He just had this will about him – he wanted it.”

Pembrokeshire link to a global success story

Dodds coached Norris for four years, guiding him through kart setup, technique, and competitive racecraft. He says he remains “immensely proud” that his own Pembrokeshire roots now form a small part of the world champion’s rise.

“Ten or fifteen years ago he was sat in the front of my van as we drove to tracks,” he said. “Now he’s flying around the world racing in Monaco. It’s incredible how far he’s come.”

That early development included a fierce sibling rivalry with Norris’s older brother, Oliver – something Dodds believes accelerated his progress.

“Because of that rivalry, his pace shot up. He wanted to beat his brother – and then he wanted to beat everyone.”

BKC Racing has produced other top talents too, including 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Phil Hanson, further underlining the pedigree of the team that helped launch Norris’s career.

The moment a champion first stood out

Dodds still recalls an early test at Clay Pigeon Raceway, where a seven-year-old Norris completed a lap in 39 seconds – a benchmark usually achieved only by much older cadet racers.

“He came past me with his thumb up – this tiny kid doing senior cadet times. That was the moment we knew.”

Norris seals his first world title

Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, claimed his first podium in 2020, took pole position in 2021 and secured his first Grand Prix win in Miami in 2024. His 2025 campaign saw him take multiple victories before clinching the world championship in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first British driver since Lewis Hamilton to lift the title.

Pride back home in Pembrokeshire

Motorsport fans across the county followed Sunday’s title decider closely, with many celebrating the unexpected local connection.

A local F1 fan who watched the race in a Haverfordwest pub told The Herald:
“Everyone here was proud of Lando – and hearing that one of his early coaches came from Pembroke Dock makes it feel like Pembrokeshire had a tiny part in his journey.”

Dodds, who continues to mentor young racers today, says Norris’s success is already inspiring the next generation.

“It’s like something out of a film. I’m proud of what he’s achieved – and proud to have been part of the journey.”

For Pembrokeshire, the story adds a local footnote to a global sporting triumph – and a reminder that world champions sometimes start out much closer to home than anyone realises.

Cover image:

Proud mentor: Pembroke Dock’s Robert Dodds helped shape Norris’s early racing career (Pic: Robert Dodds)