Sport
Ormond wins Senior Cup for Merlins Bridge
CHRIS ORMOND’S second half strike gave Merlins Bridge a 2-1 victory over Clarbeston Road in the Senior Cup Final on Saturday (Apr 22).
The game was played at the Bridge Meadow Stadium and just over 1100 fans gathered to watch the final.
A win for Clarbeston Road would have seen them become only the third second division side to win the Senior Cup but it wasn’t to be their day.
Clarbeston Road started on the front foot and could have gone ahead when Richard Bevan headed the ball back across goal but no one was on the end of it and the ball went wide.
Both sides had a number of half chances but the keepers were largely spectators for the opening half an hour.
Steve McNabney sent a shot wide of the post for the Wizards but that was the closest any side came to scoring.
With half an hour gone Dai Davies crossed the ball on the edge of the box for Joe Leahy who shot first time on the half volley into the bottom left corner of the goal to put Merlins Bridge ahead.
However, their lead only last four minutes as Clarbeston Road were given a free kick. Mike Turpin took the kick from nearly 30 yards out and sent it into the top corner of the net to make it 1-1.
It stayed that way until half time and both sides were still in with a chance of victory.
Ten minutes into the second half Joe Leahy was sent through but his effort was ruled out for an offside.
Soon after, Clarby were dealt a blow when Turpin was forced off with an injury and he was replaced by Greg Brown.
A minute later Merlins Bridge went ahead after good work from Steve McNabney on the right hand side of the box and he crossed into the area for Chris Ormond to stab the ball into the net.
Clarby were looking to find another equalising goal and came close from a corner after a shot was blocked the ball bounced up to Bevan who headed the ball against the base of the post.
Bevan then saw another shot blocked as Clarby continued to press forward in search of another goal.
With fifteen minutes to go Merlins Bridge’s Adam Hawkins was brought down on the edge of the box by Clarby keeper Matthew Davies who was shown a yellow card.
Clarby pushed forward in the final minutes looking to take the game to extra time but Bevan saw another header go over the bar.
They had a late free kick but after the ball bounced around in the Wizards’ box Merlins Bridge were able to clear the ball and the chance had gone.
The final whistle went moments later and Merlins Bridge celebrated winning the Senior Cup.
Speaking to the Herald after the match, Merlins Bridge Manager Nathan Thomas said he had ‘a mixture of emotions’.
He added: “It’s hard to describe the feeling, after all the hard work we’ve put in through the season right the way through to now. Yes it was nip and tuck but all we wanted to was win the game and when the final whistle went it was just fantastic.
“We’ve come away with a trophy this season which we haven’t had in a couple of years so we’re over the moon.
“We had a few stern words at half time but there is only so much we can do, we organise everything and after that it’s up to the players on the pitch. We felt the first half we weren’t at our best but in the second half we came out of the blocks a bit better.
“We said not to give free kicks away because we knew Clarby were dangerous and we didn’t and we did that little bit better in the second half.”
Merlins Bridge coach Taffy said he was lucky enough to win the Senior Cup final as a player and said to win it is part of the coaching team was ‘fantastic’.
He added that Clarby are a very good side and although it was a scrappy game at times, the main thing was to have Merlins Bridge’s name on the cup.
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
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.
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