Sport

Late goals see Bluebirds into round three

Published

3 years ago

August 8, 2021

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY booked their place in round three of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Saturday (Aug 7) as they beat Goytre United 3-0 at the Bridge Meadow.

The game was the Bluebirds’ first competitive game of the season, while opponents Goytre held a 100% record from their opening three JD Cymru South games.

With social distancing rules being relaxed there was a good crowd at the Bridge Meadow but they saw a first half that lacked any real chances.

The goals eventually came late on as the Bluebirds were finally rewarded for their dominance.

New signing and captain Dylan Rees was in the starting line up for the home side as was Henry Jones who also signed in the summer.

The first chance of the game fell the way of the hosts as Corey Shephard sent a strong shot just over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Shephard found Jack Wilson in the box but the striker saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. From the resulting corner Dylan Rees was brought down in the box but the referee pointed for a goal kick.

Kieran Lewis then found Wilson but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and Goytre were able to clear.

Daniel Birch then saw a shot blocked for the visitors and the ball fell to Louis Gerrard but his low drive was comfortably gathered by County keeper Wojciech Gajda.

Birch then crossed into the box for Liam Griffiths whose header looped just over the bar with Gajda scrambling to try and reach it.

Dylan Rees and Henry Jones linked up well for the Bluebirds but, as had been the case on a couple of occasions in the first half, the final ball was lacking and Goytre were able to get the ball away.

On the stroke of half time Jones sent a long range effort wide of the posts and the score remained 0-0 when the referee brought the first half to a close.

Both sides knew that the first goal would prove crucial and it was the Bluebirds who were inches away from getting it, ten minutes in to the second half.

Kieran Lewis saw his low shot come back off the post and Goytre breathed a sigh of relief.

With twenty minutes to go the visitors enjoyed a good spell of possession. However, Callum Bateman may have rued his decision to shoot from a free kick in the middle of the half when he could have floated it into the box for a team mate.

Liam Griffiths then saw his effort go over but it wouldn’t have counted had it gone as the flag had gone up for offside.

Louis Gerrard was then played in but Gajda, who had had little to do, came out to clear the ball away.

With fifteen minutes to go the Bluebirds finally got the breakthrough as Shephard’s cross from the right fell kindly for Kieran Lewis and he had time to compose himself before lifting the ball into the net.

Gerrard then had another chance for the visitors as they looked for a late equaliser but his weak shot was easily saved by Gajda.

With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, the Bluebirds broke and Wilson held the ball up well before squaring for sub Mason Jones-Thomas. He then sent a cross into the box and after Wilson left it Henry Jones was on hand to curl the ball back across goal and into the net.

In injury time, Goytre were reduced to ten men as Callum Bateman was shown a second yellow for late tackle.

*Corey Shephard had a good game for the Bluebirds*

There was still time for Jazz Richards to try his luck but when his shot was saved the ball fell to Shephard who fired in to the bottom corner for a deserved goal.

That was the last kick of the game and the Bluebirds will now look forward to the draw for the third round.

The Bluebirds begin their JD Cymru Premier campaign next Saturday (Aug 14) as they travel to Caernarfon Town.

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Sport

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Published

13 hours 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.

Sport

Swifts eyes on double.

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Herald Sport

Monkton Swifts reserves have blown away the second division this season and now have the double in their sights. They face Merlins Bridge reserves in the semi final of the second division cup and lived up to their favourites tag.

Swifts won comfortably with key player Butland getting three assists and Josh Sture grabbing a brace. Waterman and Rhys Sture added the other goals as outstanding Monkton won 4-0.

Herbrandston and Johnston played in the other semi final and this was a much harder fixture to call. The promoted Herbie a younger and perhaps less physical outfit in comparison to the Tigers. Johnston quickly took control of the game when they found themselves two up after just 29 minutes.

However when Scott Murray was shown a red card just eight minutes later, Herbie would have been confident of staging a comeback. Despite being a man light, Johnston held Herbie until the final minute of the 90, when Alex Ouzman gave Herbie late hope. The Tigers held firm however and progress to the final where they will be underdogs. A tag that I’m sure the players and manager Steven Allen won’t mind too much.

Sport

Tenby hit five against downbeat Bridge

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Herald Sport

On a beautiful day in Tenby, the hosts welcomed Merlins Bridge to The Clicketts, fresh from their West Wales semi final defeat midweek.

The Bridge squad was missing some influential players after picking up some injuries and the visiting team asked questions over the fitness of the pitch, which, according to the Bridge management, was too hard.

The referee waved these away and the game was on, with the Tenby squad clearly thinking they were already in the heads of the Bridge team.

Almost straight from Kick off Tenby set their stall out with some great attacking play, which Jerome Mansbridge benefitted from in just the second minute putting the home team ahead.

The bridge players weren’t at the races and Tenby capitalised scoring a further 4 first half goals, including a Mansbridge hat trick, leaving the away team bewildered and 5-0 down at half time.

What could have been a hugely embarrassing defeat for a team that harboured title hopes at the beginning of the season, turned around somewhat at half time, when Dai Davies, the club captain, almost singlehandedly dragged them to a much higher level in the second half, ensuring his players kept their discipline and worked hard against a very good Tenby team. Undoubtedly Merlin’s Bridge were the better team in the second period, but the damage had already been done in the first half, and despite Bridges best efforts, the score remained 5-0 to the home team.

In a game which saw Tenby jump to 4th in the league, they can be hugely proud of their season and will look to build on that for their next in Division one.

A fantastic game on a beautiful day with a good home crowd watching, the team from the Clicketts will be justifiably happy with their afternoons work.

Tenby 5-0 Merlins Bridge.