SOLVA AFC has been left reeling after vandals targeted the club’s junior football pitches, causing significant damage to all of the goals. The incident, which occurred overnight, has prompted the club to issue a public appeal for information and left the local community outraged.

The damage was discovered on the pitches near the road, where the goals for the junior teams had been vandalised. The club quickly took to social media to alert the public and to encourage anyone with information to come forward, using police reference DP-20240907-163.

Shaun Barcoe, a local resident, expressed his frustration on the club’s post, highlighting that similar incidents have happened at other local football clubs, including Milford Athletic FC. He noted that although catching the culprit may not undo the damage, he hoped the club could resolve the situation swiftly.

Many other community members shared their disappointment and anger. Heidi Holland, a dedicated volunteer, expressed her sadness, noting how much effort volunteers put into creating a welcoming environment for children and young people. She urged the responsible party to come forward and offer to cover the costs of the damage, so the junior teams wouldn’t suffer due to “a random act of silliness.”

Further concern was raised by local resident Nicola Schoenenberger, who reported seeing police near the football club around 2am with searchlights and a drone. This information was passed on to the authorities, who are actively investigating the incident.

Susan Williams, another local, called the act “spiteful,” expressing her sadness that the children who enjoy playing football are being affected by such mindless vandalism. Others, like Luke Phillips, were hopeful that the shop’s CCTV footage would help identify the individuals responsible.

The police are currently reviewing the evidence, and Solva A.F.C. is urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to come forward. The community remains hopeful that those responsible will be caught and held accountable for their actions.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police or reach out to club officials directly.

For further details or to report any information related to this incident, please contact the police using reference number DP-20240907-163

REIGNING champions Goodwick United came away with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a spirited Pennar Robins side at Bush Camp Playing Fields, in what proved to be a pulsating early-season encounter in the Manderwood Pembrokeshire League Division One.

On a fine day for football, with both sets of supporters turning out in strong numbers, Pennar Robins were brimming with confidence as they aimed to take down the champions. The match began with a minute’s silence in memory of the late Brian Hawkins, respectfully observed by all in attendance.

From the outset, Pennar came out with real intent, catching Goodwick off guard. Under the astute leadership of manager Craig Butland, Pennar’s tactics appeared spot on, with skipper Connor Roberts, Jimmy Wilkes, and the lively Ben Adams controlling the midfield battle. Ross Jones, meanwhile, was in commanding form at the back, keeping the Goodwick forwards at bay in the early exchanges.

Despite Pennar’s early dominance, it was the visitors who struck first against the run of play. Goodwick captain Scott Delaney pounced with a clinical finish, leaving Pennar stunned and giving Goodwick a crucial lead. For a period, the champions looked comfortable, with Jake Smith putting in a commanding display in midfield, orchestrating play almost at will.

However, Pennar refused to be cowed and soon regained their composure, pressing hard for an equaliser. As the half-time whistle blew, Pennar had Goodwick on the back foot, with Chris O’Sullivan, the Goodwick manager, venting his frustrations to referee Martin Jones as the sides headed for the break.

The second half saw Pennar continue their dominance in possession, as they pushed relentlessly for a leveller. However, Goodwick’s goalkeeper Nick Jones stood tall, relieving the pressure with a series of long clearances, often finding the reliable Will Haworth and man-of-the-match Jake Smith, who worked tirelessly to maintain control.

The match turned dramatic in the 70th minute when tempers flared on the pitch. Goodwick manager Chris O’Sullivan was sent off after storming onto the field to protest a decision, while striker Dalling was shown a ten-minute sin-bin, reducing the visitors to ten men temporarily. Sensing an opportunity, Pennar laid siege to the Goodwick goal, but the champions’ defence held firm under immense pressure.

As Dalling rejoined the fray, Goodwick focused on seeing out the result, using game management tactics to frustrate the home side. With the clock ticking down, Pennar’s captain Connor Roberts, in a moment of frustration, brought down a Goodwick player in the box, and Rhys Jones coolly dispatched the resulting penalty with the final kick of the match to seal a 2-0 win for the visitors.

In a match full of intensity, passion, and no small amount of controversy, Pennar Robins can count themselves unlucky not to have come away with something after such a spirited performance. Nonetheless, their display offers plenty of promise for the season ahead. The match was, however, somewhat marred by abuse directed at the referee—a worrying trend in grassroots football at a time when match officials are increasingly in short supply.

As for Goodwick, their resilience and ability to grind out results like this suggests they remain the team to beat this season. All signs point to a classic campaign in the Manderwood Pembrokeshire League Division One!

THE LATEST latest round of Pembrokeshire First Division football delivered some thrilling encounters, with standout performances from Monkton Swifts and Merlins Bridge, while Goodwick and Hakin couldn’t be separated in a tightly contested match.

Monkton Swifts 3-1 Carew
Monkton Swifts extended their unbeaten run with a solid 3-1 victory away at Carew. Dylan Davies was the star of the show, netting twice, while Ben Steele also added his name to the scoresheet, securing the win for the Swifts. Carew’s James Hinchliffe found the back of the net, but his effort wasn’t enough to prevent a home defeat. With this result, Carew has only one point from their opening three matches, signalling a slow start to their season.

Clarbeston Road 1-0 Milford United
In a closely-fought contest, Clarbeston Road edged out Milford United with a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of a goal from Travis Jones. Both teams had their chances, but it was Jones’ decisive strike that earned Clarbeston Road a valuable three points. Milford United, despite a spirited performance, will be disappointed to leave empty-handed.

Hakin United 1-1 Goodwick United
The highly anticipated clash between Hakin United and Goodwick United ended in a 1-1 draw. Shane Walsh opened the scoring for the Vikings, but Rhys Dalling quickly equalised for Goodwick, ensuring both sides shared the spoils. The evenly matched nature of the teams suggests that this season could see a thrilling title race.

Herbrandston 0-6 Merlins Bridge
Merlins Bridge delivered the most dominant performance of the weekend, thrashing Herbrandston 6-0. Jordan Thomas was in sensational form, scoring four goals, while Nathan Evans added a brace to complete the rout. Herbrandston face an uphill battle even at this early stage of the season, while the Wizards will be relieved to have secured their first win.

Kilgetty 0-4 Tenby
Tenby cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over local rivals Kilgetty, with four different players finding the net. Jerome Mansbridge, Joe Leahy (from the penalty spot), Daryl Mansbridge, and Fraser Finlay all contributed to Tenby’s dominant performance. The result leaves Tenby with seven points from a possible nine, marking a strong start to their campaign.

St Ishmaels 2-3 Pennar Robins
Pennar Robins emerged victorious in a five-goal thriller against St Ishmaels. Luke Phillips converted a penalty for Pennar, while Ben Adams struck twice to secure the win. Tish fought valiantly, with Brennan Devonald and Ieuan Hawkins both scoring for the home side, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Robins from taking all three points in an enthralling encounter.

This version maintains UK spelling and punctuation conventions, while enhancing the flow and readability of the article.