Sport

Captain Bony calms the ship

Published

7 years ago

December 11, 2017

By Jonathan Twigg

A MAN of the match performance from Captain Wilfried Bony led the charge for Swansea City on Saturday (Dec 9) when his second goal in consecutive games sealed a dour 1-0 victory on a dark and gloomy afternoon over West Bromwich Albion at the Liberty Stadium.

Securing a valuable three points lifted Paul Clements under pressure Swans side off the foot of the Premier League table as Bony’s winner sparked a chorus of ‘Hymns and Arias’ with nine minutes remaining.

Substitute Tammy Abraham’s effort was cleared off the line at the far post from a Ki Sung-Yueng corner before the Ivory Coast strikers’ driven right foot shot which thundered beyond former England goalkeeper Ben Foster.

The Swans started the game at the foot of the table but took solace from the fact they had won five out of six fixtures when they had been in a similar situation previously. Their visitors hadn’t won a game in the Premier League for four months and were on a run of three consecutive defeats in their travels to West Wales.

The green shirted Albion started brightly keeping the ball and moving it around across the floor much unlike teams who play under their new manager Alan Pardew’s banner.

Without creating opportunities apart from a Jake Livermore shot midway through the half to punish the home side, the play meandered precariously towards stalemate at half time, unsurprisingly perhaps as former Bayern Munich Assistant Manager Paul Clements side had netted just eight goals in 15 league games.

Winger Nathan Dyer drew a foul from Claudio Yacob after 18 minutes which earned him yellow card which proved to be a catalyst for the apprehension surrounding Swansea’s play subsiding for the remainder of the first half as they gained superiority in terms of possession and territory.

The closest they came was when midfielder Livermore headed against his own post from a dipping Tom Carroll free kick as the visitors screened the play well through skipper Jonny Evans and his centre back partner Yacob across the 18 yard box.

Bony’s opportunities were restricted despite midfielders Carroll, Ki and Roque Mesa enterprising combinations with Dyer and full back Martin Olsson getting behind the opposition defence through the outside channels, where Sam Field collected a yellow card after 35 minutes as he tried to disrupt the inter play.

Centre half Alfie Mawson squandered a great opportunity to head an opening goal when he found space six yards out with seven minutes remaining before Swansea came out for the second half on the front foot.

Bony managed to break the defensive shackles on him with a strong and direct run but pulled a driven shot wide of the post, which added to the derisory tally of 27 shots on target this season for his side, the worst across any of the major European leagues.

Clement’s introduction of Jordan Ayew after 54 minutes for Wayne Routledge injected more spirit and it created opportunities to test Foster, from which Bony drew heart to become an influential figure on the game as the Baggies eventually wilted under the pressure and conceded the only goal.

Tammy Abraham should have sealed the victory in injury time when he was worked free to stride beyond the covering defenders only to wrench his effort wide when one on one with Foster, an effort which the eighteenth created in the match, but only three were on target.

Mesa picked up a second half yellow card as did Carroll before he was replaced by Luciano Narsingh, with Evans and substitute Chris Brunt for the Albion, alongside Welsh striker Hal Robson Kanu as he berated referee Dean on his way off the field to be replaced just before the goal, by Oliver Burke.

The crowd of 19,590 greeted the final whistle knowing they find themselves a point adrift Alan Pardew’s side who hover one place outside the relegation places; two wins would catapult Swansea to mid-table, which would be a welcome festive tonic as the January transfer window opens, allowing Clement an opportunity to re-inforce his squad which for most of this season has looked short on the quality required for survival in the Premier League.

Their first win since October was certainly scrappy where the immaculately dressed Clements’ initial reaction to Bony’s strike was to dance down the touchline coupled with a huge sigh of relief to go with his elation.

His bold offensive substitutions achieved the result he required as unbeaten table toppers Manchester City visit on Wednesday evening to fully test Clements’ skills and aptitude as a focused and thoughtful tactician.

The roadshow then heads to Goodison Park to take on an Everton side themselves on a run of four unbeaten games since former England supremo Sam Allardyce took the reins before fellow relegation rivals Crystal Palace arrive at the Liberty for a key Yuletide fixture on Saturday (Dec 23).

Swansea head on the road after Christmas, firstly again to Merseyside to face Liverpool at Anfield on Boxing Day and Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday (Dec 30) before hosting Tottenham Hotspur at home on Saturday (Jan 2).

Clement and his side will take confidence from Saturday’s victory which has eased the pressure in the cauldron after Club owners Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien afforded Clement their ‘public support’.

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Residents reminded of IRONMAN Wales road restrictions

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IRONMAN Wales returns to Pembrokeshire in just over a week and there will be full and partial road closures in and around the south of the County.

IRONMAN Wales will be held on Sunday, 22^nd September with thousands of athletes from all over the world taking part in a 2.3mile swim, followed by a 112mile bike ride before finishing with a 26.2mile run.

The swim starts at 7.30am and the predicted last finisher time is around 1am the following morning.

Full information outlining road closures and alternative routes available across the course is available on the IRONMAN website (opens in new window) to help residents plan their travel ahead of the event.

The A40 and A477 will remain open and are unaffected to facilitate access east-west throughout the event.

Emergency services will maintain full access.

Due to the road closure it will not be possible for the 387/8 (Coastal Cruiser) bus service to operate on Sunday 22^nd September. The service will operate as normal on Saturday 21^st and Monday 23^rd September.

The bike course closure map (opens in new window) and run course closure map can also be downloaded from ironman.com

There will also be restrictions in Tenby town centre on Saturday 21^st when IRONKIDS from across the county take part in their running races.

A park and ride shuttle bus will be running on Saturday and Sunday from Carew Airfield and Saundersfoot.

If you have any IRONMAN Wales access questions, please contact [email protected] or call 03330 11 66 00 and provide the following details:

Name
Telephone Number
Journey Start Postcode
Journey End Postcode
Time of Departure
Details of Enquiry

Please note the e-mail address will not be monitored on the event weekend so please plan ahead.

Sport

Thrills, spills, and big wins: Pembrokeshire Division Two heats up

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2024

Herald Sport

LAST weekend’s action in Pembrokeshire Division Two delivered an exhilarating mix of high-scoring encounters, closely fought draws, and dominant displays, as the league standings begin to take shape.

Merlin’s Bridge Reserves 3-3 Camrose

The highly anticipated local derby between Merlin’s Bridge Reserves and league leaders Camrose did not disappoint, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Camrose, still unbeaten at the top, looked set to secure the win after a brace from James Williams and a strike from Lewis Watts. But Merlin’s Bridge, determined to salvage a point, fought back through captain Morgan Richards. His two-goal performance, capped by a dramatic last-minute equaliser, ensured the Wizards shared the spoils in this action-packed affair.

Fishguard Sports 2-2 Hakin United Reserves

At Tregroes, Fishguard Sports and Hakin United Reserves played out a hard-fought 2-2 stalemate. Both sides remain unbeaten in a game where neither could find the breakthrough to secure all three points. Hakin’s youthful squad showed resilience, earning a commendable point against the more seasoned Fishguard team. Phil Jones’ men now sit fourth in the standings, while Hakin leapfrog to second.

Narberth 9-0 Lawrenny

Narberth delivered the weekend’s most emphatic result, thrashing newly promoted Lawrenny 9-0 at Jesse Road. Jordan Williams and Steff Williams each netted twice, while substitute Jacob Layfield came off the bench to bag a brace of his own. This devastating performance lifts Narberth to third, while Lawrenny, still without a point, languish at the foot of the table, enduring a tough baptism in Division Two.

Neyland 3-1 Johnston

Neyland secured a solid 3-1 home victory over Johnston, with the visitors still struggling to adapt to life in Division Two following their recent relegation. Johnston, with just one win from four matches, found themselves unable to match Neyland’s composure and quality. The result leaves them in the lower half of the table, while Neyland continue to build momentum.

Solva 6-2 Broad Haven

Solva’s impressive start to the season continued with a commanding 6-2 win over Broad Haven. Following their promotion, Solva have emerged as early dark horses, their strong performances keeping them within touching distance of the top spots. For an in-depth report on this feature match, head to our sports section.

Carew Reserves 3-0 Monkton Swifts Reserves

Carew Reserves finally notched their first win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over an out-of-sorts Monkton Swifts Reserves. Last season’s league champions, Monkton, seem a shadow of their former selves, managing just one win from four outings as they continue to struggle to rediscover last year’s form.

With Camrose setting the early pace and several sides showing potential, Pembrokeshire’s Division Two is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive contest this season. Stay tuned for more twists and turns as the battle for promotion heats up.

Sport

Goals galore and dominant displays in Pembrokeshire’s Division One

Published

3 days ago

September 11, 2024

Herald Sport

THE latest round of Pembrokeshire Division One action saw some thrilling performances, with high-scoring victories and crucial wins that are already shaping the season’s outlook. Here’s a breakdown of all the key moments from the weekend’s fixtures.

Hakin United Make a Statement with 8-0 Win Over Clarbeston Road

Hakin United delivered an emphatic message to the rest of the league as they dismantled last year’s Senior Cup winners, Clarbeston Road, with a staggering 8-0 victory at the Obs. The Vikings were in full control from the first whistle, and their offensive firepower was on full display.

Alfie Stotter was the standout performer, grabbing a hat-trick and establishing himself as a key player for Hakin this season. His clinical finishing and sharp movement were too much for the Clarby defense, who struggled to contain the relentless pressure. This dominant win signals Hakin’s clear intent to challenge for the title this year, as they continue to set the pace at the top.

Carew edge past Merlins Bridge for first win

Carew claimed their first victory of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Merlins Bridge. It was a tightly contested affair, with both sides creating chances, but it was Leon Davies who made the difference for the visitors. His goal proved decisive as Carew held on to secure three valuable points, leaving Merlins Bridge frustrated after failing to find an equalizer.

Milford United cruise past Kilgetty

Milford United secured their second win of the campaign, overcoming Kilgetty 2-0 at Marble Hall. It was a solid performance from the home side, with goals from Parr and Sam Davies sealing the win. Milford looked composed throughout and managed the game well, ensuring Kilgetty left without any reward. The result boosts Milford’s position in the table, as they aim to build momentum early in the season.

Monkton Swifts add to St Ishmaels’ woes

Monkton Swifts piled more misery on a struggling St Ishmaels side, cruising to a 4-1 victory. The win leaves St Ishmaels rooted to the bottom of the table, still without a point this season. Monkton were dominant from the outset and showed no mercy as they took control of the game early on. St Ishmaels will need to find answers quickly if they are to avoid a relegation battle.

Goodwick United secure 2-0 win over Pennar Robins

Goodwick United continued their steady start to the season with a solid 2-0 win over Pennar Robins at Bush Camp, which was our feature match this week. Goodwick looked in control for most of the game and managed to break through the Pennar defense with two well-taken goals. Be sure to check out the full match report on our sports page for a detailed look at how the game unfolded.

Tenby maintain perfect start with 5-0 victory over Herbie

Tenby maintained their perfect start to the season with a commanding 5-0 win over Herbie at the Clicketts. Spencer Williams led the charge with a brace, while Hipkiss and Leahy also got on the scoresheet. Tenby were in full flow, showcasing their attacking prowess and leaving Herbie with no answers. The result leaves Herbie at the bottom of the table without a point, while Tenby sit joint top with a perfect record.