Sport

Goodwick clinch West Wales glory

Published

8 years ago

May 18, 2016

Goodwick United 2

Morriston Olympic 1

BP Celebrations: On the pitch with the trophy (all pics courtesy of AJB Sports Photography)

BP Celebrations: On the pitch with the trophy (Pic courtesy of AJB Sports Photography)

GOODWICK UNITED triumphed in the prestigious west Wales Cup final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea with a stunning victory over Swansea League Division One side Morriston Olympic thanks to goals from star players Rhys Dalling and Johnny Horgan.

The trophy is the second instalment of what could be an historic treble, as Goodwick chase an unprecedented clean sweep.

They have already bagged the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup, beating Hakin in the final, and it is only the Vikings that stand between Nigel Delaney’s side and the Division One title with just two points currently separating the two sides, who meet at the Obs on Friday (May 13).

Goodwick started the match at a lightening pace and caught their opponents unaware with a number of precise through balls, in particular from midfield maestro Adam Raymond.

It was one of there through balls that released their hotshot winger Johnny Horgan, who took a touch wide before delightfully lifting his precise finish over the top of the advancing Greg Evans to give his side a deserved lead.

The game then settled into a midfield battle as Morriston sought to stem the Goodwick tide, and it certainly worked, as their hard graft started to turn the match in their favour.

From the half hour mark Olympic enjoyed something of a purple patch, and Goodwick were left to thank their keeper James Gwilt and solid backline for keeping them in the game. The first chance at goal for Olympic game when Gwilt fumbled a corner and it fell straight to midfielder Rhys Walker whose first time shot was cleared instinctively by Kieran O’Brien.

Goodwick managed to see their lead out to the half time break, but Morriston came out with the same tempo in the second period, laying siege to the Goodwick goal for long periods.

With Gwilt making a good save from substitute Kristian Lacy who had been sent through on goal by dangerous forward Kieran Hayes.

With twenty second half minutes played, Goodwick took a leaf out of Leicester City’s book and launched a fast flowing counter attack against the run of play to extend their lead.

Horgan raced clear down the left hand side and slipped through a perfectly weighted pass for Rhys Dalling, who evaded the offside trap to race clear and slot under Evans to give his side a two-goal cushion, and spark jubilation amongst the travelling fans.

This jubilation didn’t last for long however, and as the old adage goes, ‘you are most vulnerable after scoring’.

Just three minutes after getting their second, Goodwick allowed Morriston back into it as Gwilt could again only parry Lacy’s shot, with the rebound falling kindly for Rhys Walker, who needed no invitation in slamming the ball home.

This set up a tense last 20 minutes for the Pembrokeshire side, and as the minutes ticked by Nigel Delaney became more animated in the technical area, but he need not have worried as his well-drilled side saw out the danger and joined a small group of Pembrokeshire sides who have lifted the prestigious west Wales Cup trophy.

Teams:

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan (captain), Anthony Couzens, Scott Delaney, Adam Raymond, Chris O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Brien, Rob Morgans, Rhys Dalling, Johnny Horgan.

Subs: Adam Butler, Darren Devonald, Steven Docherty, Josh Wellan, Jordan Griffiths.

Morriston Olympic: Greg Evans, Sam Bevan, Ben Taylor, Adam Mills, Craig Lloyd, Adam Palmer, Kieron Griffiths (captain), Kieran Hayes, Rhys Walker, Jordan Jones, Alex Mckinney.

Subs: Christopher Fisher, Kristian Lacy, Kieran Ashford, Matthew Bennett, Thomas Davies.

Sport

The stage is set – Senior Cup Final

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Herald Sport

It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.

League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.

Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.

There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.

The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.

News

70 Pembrokeshire clubs benefit from Sport Wales funding

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SEVENTY Pembrokeshire clubs have been successful in receiving grants from the Be Active Wales Fund over the last financial year.

In total the clubs received more than £407,800 from the grants scheme from Sport Wales in 2023/24.

The fund backed 25 different sports, ranging from archery, basketball and cricket to sailing, short mat bowls and weightlifting and everything in between.

The Be Active Wales Fund is open to applications from not for profit community clubs and groups to help develop and sustain their activities.

Grants range from a minimum of £300 up to a maximum of £50,000.

The scheme will support coach education courses, the purchase of essential items of equipment right up to larger projects such as floodlighting and boats for sailing clubs.

For advice and support with your application contact Alan Jones or Lois Hilling at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Sports Development department, Sport Pembrokeshire on [email protected]

The Be Active Wales Fund is always open for applications.

More information is available on the Sport Wales website.

Sport

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Published

1 day ago

April 24, 2024

Herald Sport

Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.

Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.

The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.

Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.

Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.

The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.