Sport
Bluebirds earn a point against Barry
HAVERFORDWEST County and Barry Town United played out a 1-1 draw at the Ogi Bridge Meadow on Tuesday night (Nov 9).
The Bluebirds came into the game on the back of a 6-0 thumping at the hands of TNS and manager Wayne Jones would have been looking for a reaction from his side.
Haverfordwest had Kyle Patten in their squad lining up against brother Robbie, playing for Barry.
There was an early chance for the home side as Jazz Richards played the ball through for Kieran Lewis who ran into the box before cutting the ball back but his cross was cleared.
On 13 minutes Kayne McLaggon sent a curling effort towards goal but Lee Idzi made a great save to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Alaric Jones was then shown a yellow card as he brought down McLaggon on the edge of the box, as they chased a looping ball. It gave Barry a free kick near the edge of the D but the free kick came to nothing.
Kyle Patten went down injured soon after and the Bluebirds played temporarily with ten men but he was ok to carry on.
With half an hour gone Touray Sisay won the ball in midfield and ran into the box but he was well tracked by Robbie Patten and Sisay’s weak shot was easily saved.
It remained goalless at the break and the Bluebirds would have been pleased to keep a clean sheet having been beaten well by TNS the previous weekend.
Early in the second half a long throw into the box caused panic and after a scramble the ball was poked in by Kyle Patten.
Shortly before the hour mark Rhys Kavanagh controlled the ball well in the box and shot towards goal but Idzi made a great save to keep the Bluebirds ahead.
Ten minutes later though Barry were level. Iori Humphreys gave a free kick away on the left hand side. The ball was fizzed into the box and after it looped up into the air, keeper Idzi only succeeded in punching the ball down to the feet of McLaggon who stabbed the ball in.
With thirteen minutes to go the Bluebirds had a good chance to score as Richards’ cross was left by SIsay for Wilson but the ball just got away from him and his shot was saved by the keeper.
Barry sub Marcus Day then turned well in the box but he sent his shot over the bar.
That was the last of the action as neither side were able to find a winning goal, with both settling for a share of the points.
Sport
Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double
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.
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
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.
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