Sport

Ref steals the show

Published

9 years ago

February 1, 2016

‘Keeper Gwilt: Spill led to Goodwick own goal

Goodwick United 5

Carew 1

GOODWICK UNITED took advantage of their league rivals not playing to move top of the Pembrokeshire League Division One, largely thanks to some questionable decisions that went in their favour in a tight contest, in which a draw would’ve been slightly unfair on the visitors, but a 5-1 defeat was bordering on cruel.

The game started off with a real ebb and flow, with Carew enjoying the better of the battles in the middle of the park, but with the hosts getting some joy down the flanks, particularly through the livewire Jonny Horgan.

A tight contest produced no real efforts of note until the 40th minute, when Carew deservedly took the lead, with Dean Morris latching onto a through ball and producing a thunderous effort which keeper James Gwilt could only spill, and with Grant James following up, Goodwick put through their own net.

The goal seemed to force Carew into a retreat, and the visitors invited pressure onto themselves, and with the 45 minutes played, Goodwick equalised to draw level at the interval, as Adam Raymond’s speculative effort deflected over the right hand of Dan James to leave the sides at one apiece.

Carew emerged for the second half unaffected by the setback and went at the hosts from the first whistle, with Gwilt forced into action on several occasions, with the only outlet for the red and blacks being the irrepressible Horgan, who also drew a fine stop from James.

With 65 minutes played the turning point of the game occurred, with the referee ensuring that he took centre stage.

Carew worked an opening for Dean Morris, but when he was about to side foot home from the penalty spot, a horrendously mistimed tackle from Goodwick’s last man wiped him out.

The referee pointed to the spot, and with a red card imminent, he was surrounded by the home sides players, who somehow managed to get the decision downgraded to a free kick and incredibly, they even persuaded the official not to produce a card of any colour.

This flabbergasted even the Goodwick linesman and supporters, and it was now apparent that the game was being officiated by the home team with the resulting free kick being taken from bang on the line.

Shaun Whitfield stepped up to take the kick and produced a brilliant full length stop from Gwilt, but the keeper could only tip it onto the bar, and with the goal at their mercy, Carew’s Morris and midfielder Alex Bayley got in each other’s way and conspired to put the ball over the bar.

The decision spurred Goodwick on, and with the game ticking into the last fifteen minutes, it was won by a moment of true brilliance from man of the match Horgan.

The winger picked the ball up 30 yards from goal on the left hand side, and turned inside, then out, before coming back inside one last time to produce a thunderous shot across James, which flew in off the inside of the post, sparking scenes of mass celebration among the home players, with both players and management racing to congratulate the home hero.

With Carew now firmly disheartened, Goodwick ran away with the game, scoring a further three goals in the last five minutes.

Horgan grabbed his second and Kieran O’Brien a brace of well taken finishes to move the Phoenix Park side top of the league.

Sport

Hakin United lift West Wales Intermediate Cup after 3–2 final thriller

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2025

Herald Sport

First win in 21 years caps off remarkable season for the Vikings

HAKIN UNITED are celebrating after being crowned West Wales Intermediate Cup champions for the 2024–25 season, following a dramatic 3–2 win over Tenby in Wednesday night’s final (May 15) at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The Vikings, who also recently won the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup, completed a sensational double in front of a passionate crowd, ending a 21-year wait to reclaim the prestigious regional title. Their last triumph in the competition came during the 2003–04 campaign.

The final proved to be a thrilling contest, with both sides going toe to toe in an evenly matched affair. Hakin’s attacking intent paid off with three vital goals, while Tenby refused to back down and kept themselves in the tie with two of their own. In the end, the Pembrokeshire League giants edged it, showing their experience and grit on the big stage.

The win was the culmination of a hard-fought campaign. Hakin had reached the final by overcoming Dafen Welfare 3–1 in the quarter-finals and then defeating St Joseph’s with a last-gasp winner from substitute Leon Luby in the semi-final – a moment that sealed their return to the West Wales showpiece after more than two decades.

The club’s official social media celebrated the achievement with the message: “West Wales Intermediate Champions 24/25 – Boys, we love you!” echoing the joy felt across the town and among the travelling supporters in Swansea.

This cup final success once again underlines Hakin United’s status as one of the most successful and consistent clubs in Pembrokeshire football. With silverware secured and pride restored, attention now turns to building on this momentum in the seasons ahead.

Photo caption:

Cup glory: Hakin United celebrate after winning the West Wales Intermediate Cup on Wednesday (Pic: Hakin United FC Facebook)spo

News

First outdoor pickleball courts open in Milford Haven

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2025

Herald Sport

A NEW pickleball court has opened in Milford Haven — the first of its kind in Pembrokeshire.

Pickleball Milford Haven has spent the last few months preparing the play area at St Katharine’s Green on The Rath, transforming it into a dedicated space for the fast-growing sport.

The first session took place on Saturday (May 10), with a good turnout and several newcomers saying they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is gaining popularity across the UK for its accessibility and fun, social nature.

Anyone interested in joining or learning more is invited to contact Mrs Queenie Scales on 07814 122443.

Sport

The Premier League: 2025 season review

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2025

Staff Writer

As the Premier League season draws to a close and most of the major outcomes have been decided, now is the perfect time to look at the season so far.

Champions and the Champions League

This year, due to England’s performance in UEFA’s coefficient rankings, five clubs are guaranteed a place in the Champions League.

Liverpool were recently crowned champions of the Premier League following an impressive 5-1 victory over Tottenham on April 27, with the victory also guaranteeing them a spot in the top five.

However, four spots are still left to be decided and the battle is close between the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. As a result, those who are looking for Premier League & Champions League betting opportunities are constantly seeing prices fluctuate on a gameweek-by-gameweek basis. With only three matches left for each team now, one minor slipup could cost a team a place in the top five.

Arsenal have performed admirably throughout the season, only losing four out of their 35 games and securing 18 wins. Punters have considered Arsenal to be an almost guaranteed top five finisher for the past few months, but they’re stuttering to the finish line.

Following Arsenal is Manchester City and Newcastle United, who have favourable odds at 1/50 and 1/4 respectively. The clubs are tied at 19 wins each, with Man City one point ahead of Newcastle and just three points behind Arsenal.

Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa are all in with a chance but Chelseae are slightly ahead, leaving Forest and Villa vulnerable.

The race for the top five is looking more competitive than ever before, so we’re certainly in for a nailbiting few weeks as the competition comes to an end. Remember, if you are betting on which team will capture one of these all-important spots, gambling legislation is continually changing. For instance, Ireland’s new gambling regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) officially came into force last month. So, before you place a bet, ensure you’re gambling responsibly and know the rules in your area.

Relegations

Southampton were the first to go following their 3-1 defeat at Spurs. This was the side’s 25th defeat. Not long after, Leicester City joined the relegations when they were beaten by Liverpool 1-0. This is the second relegation in three years for the club who had a rough start, losing the first six games of their campaign.

Finally, Ipswich Town made up the last of the three relegated teams, when they lost 3-0 to Newcastle on April 26.

An exciting season all round

There are only a few matches left to go but the season so far has certainly been one for the books, from stellar performances by Liverpool to an unfortunate outcome for Southampton. Be sure to tune in for the remaining matches to see who makes it into the top five.