Sport

Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City: Robinson rescues Bluebirds as Derby ends in stalemate

Published

3 months ago

August 25, 2024

CALLUM ROBINSON came off the bench to score a crucial late equalizer, as Cardiff City battled back to secure their first point of the season in a fiercely contested South Wales derby against arch-rivals Swansea City. The match, which ended 1-1, saw tempers flare in added time, culminating in Cardiff manager Erol Bulut being sent off.

Liam Cullen ignited an already fervent atmosphere at the Swansea.com Stadium with an early goal in the 10th minute. The Swans’ forward pounced on a rebound from close range after Ronald’s powerful volley was parried by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. This strike marked Cullen’s third goal in as many derby appearances, putting the hosts in a commanding position and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Cardiff, having endured a dismal start to the season with two heavy defeats and no goals to their name, looked to be heading for yet another derby loss after a lackluster first-half display. The Bluebirds struggled to keep possession and created little of note, with their only notable effort coming from Wilfried Kanga, who curled a 20-yard shot narrowly wide after capitalizing on a Swansea mistake.

However, the second half saw a significant shift in momentum, largely due to Bulut’s tactical changes. The Cardiff manager opted to replace central midfielder Alex Robertson with the more attack-minded Rubin Colwill, a move that injected much-needed creativity and energy into the Bluebirds’ attack. Colwill’s dynamic play immediately posed new problems for Swansea, and it was his driving run from midfield that initiated the move leading to Cardiff’s equalizer.

In the 79th minute, Colwill played the ball out to the right, where fellow substitute Ollie Tanner delivered a low cross into the box. Robinson, making an intelligent run, met the ball first-time and fired it past Vigouroux to bring Cardiff level. The goal not only changed the mood within the stadium but also transformed Cardiff’s performance, as the visitors suddenly looked capable of snatching an improbable victory.

Cardiff continued to press forward in search of a winner, with Manolis Siopis testing the Swansea goalkeeper from the edge of the area. Despite their earlier dominance, the Swans now appeared unsettled and disjointed, struggling to regain the control they had enjoyed for much of the match.

As the match entered stoppage time, the intensity of the rivalry boiled over. Bulut was dismissed after a heated exchange on the touchline, sparked by his refusal to hand the ball back during a Swansea throw-in. The incident led to a melee involving players from both sides, resulting in four yellow cards being issued by referee Oliver Langford.

The draw, Cardiff’s first point of the season, will feel like a small triumph for Bulut’s side, who had lost their opening two games by an aggregate score of 7-0. For Swansea, the result will be seen as an opportunity missed, as they failed to capitalize on their early dominance and secure a second consecutive derby win at home.

This was the first draw between the two sides since 2020, and while it lacked the explosive drama often associated with this fixture, the late equalizer and the fiery conclusion ensured it will be remembered as a fiercely contested battle.

Swansea City: Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Grimes (c); Eom, Cooper, Ronald, Cullen.
Cardiff City: Horvath; Ng, Chambers, Daland, O’Dowda; Siopis, Robertson; Meite, Ramsey, Willock; Kanga.

Key Moments:

Goal! Swansea City 1-0 Cardiff City (Cullen 10′) – Cullen taps in after Horvath parries Ronald’s volley.
Goal! Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City (Robinson 79′) – Robinson equalizes with a first-time finish after Tanner’s cross.
Full-Time: The match ends 1-1, with Cardiff’s Bulut sent off during stoppage time.

As both teams reflect on a hard-fought encounter, this draw represents a significant psychological boost for Cardiff, while Swansea will be left to ponder what might have been in a game that appeared theirs for the taking.

(Cover image credit: Courtesy of swanseacity.com)

Sport

Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League – Division 1: Match reports

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Herald Sport

Goodwick United 3–0 Merlins Bridge
League leaders Goodwick United claimed a commanding 3–0 victory over Merlins Bridge at the Pembrokeshire Sports Village. Rhys Jones broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a spectacular 25-yard free kick. An own goal by Nick Squire early in the second half doubled the advantage, and Jones sealed the win with a stoppage-time strike. The result keeps Goodwick four points clear at the top as they push to retain their title.

Carew 16–0 Herbrandston
Carew delivered a record-breaking performance, thrashing Herbrandston 16–0 at the Gerald Hicks Memorial Ground. James Hinchliffe led the charge with six goals, supported by Shaun Whitfield’s rapid hat-trick. George Waters contributed four goals, Gareth Lewis added two, and Leon Davies completed the rout. The emphatic win lifted Carew out of the relegation zone, while Herbrandston remains firmly at the bottom of the table.

Clarbeston Road 5–2 St Ishmaels
Clarbeston Road cruised to a 5–2 victory over St Ishmaels at Knock Field. Ben John missed an early penalty for Clarbeston but redeemed himself by assisting Jake Wesley’s equaliser. Laurie Haworth and Dan Rees found the net, with Wesley adding a second to complete the scoring for Clarbeston. St Ishmaels’ captain Brennan Devonald netted twice, but his side dropped into the relegation zone.

Monkton Swifts 1–4 Hakin United
Hakin United strengthened their title challenge with a 4–1 win over Monkton Swifts. Dylan Davies put Monkton ahead early, but Hakin responded through Ryan Wilson and Mark Jones to take a 2–1 lead into halftime. Jay Kilby scored twice in the second half, sealing a vital away win for the Vikings.

Milford United 2–2 Pennar Robins
Milford United and Pennar Robins played out an entertaining 2–2 draw at Marble Hall. Liam Davies gave Milford the lead, but Jamie Wilkes equalised for Pennar. Dan James then put Pennar ahead, only for Leon Davies to bring Milford level again. Milford’s Sam Davies was sent off late, but neither side could find a winner in the closing stages.

Tenby 2–3 Kilgetty
Kilgetty staged a thrilling comeback to defeat derby rivals Tenby 3–2 at the Clicketts. Joe Leahy opened the scoring for Tenby, with Jordan Gorman quickly levelling for Kilgetty. Scott Ferney restored Tenby’s lead before halftime. However, Kilgetty turned the tide in the final ten minutes as Lloyd Hughes equalised, and captain Richard Cope struck the decisive winner to secure a dramatic victory.

Sport

Local rugby action: Thrills, wins, and tough battles across divisions

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Herald Sport

Crymych 19 – Llanelli Wanderers 33
Llanelli Wanderers showcased their title aspirations with a decisive bonus-point victory over Crymych. Despite a spirited effort from the Preseli Men, who trailed 12-18 at halftime, they couldn’t capitalize on second-half opportunities.

Crymych’s hooker Lee Griffiths scored two tries in the first half, and a late penalty try offered some consolation. The Wanderers, under Sean Gale’s guidance, proved dominant with tries from Rhydian Morgan, Lewis Jones, Rhodri Owens, and Sam Icke. Jones contributed two conversions and three penalties, keeping the Wanderers in contention at the top of the table. Crymych remain in a relegation battle.

Division One (West)

Pontarddulais 17 – Tenby United 26
Tenby United maintained their unbeaten streak with a hard-earned seventh victory of the season, defeating a determined Pontarddulais side. Though missing a bonus point, the disciplined Seasiders secured a valuable win.

Lloyd Thomas played a pivotal role, kicking four penalties and converting tries by Gwion Jones and Rob Luly. Acting skipper Jones shone with an individual effort. Pontarddulais responded with tries from Ethan Miles, Lewis Edwards, and Iwan Evans. Tenby stay second in the league with a game in hand over leaders Aberystwyth.

Division Two (West)

Whitland 13 – Fishguard & Goodwick 10
A late Harry Fuller penalty sealed Whitland’s narrow victory in a fiercely contested clash with Fishguard and Goodwick. The Seagulls led 7-3 at halftime after Ben John’s converted try answered Johnny Thomas’s penalty.

Rhys Nicholas turned the game in Whitland’s favor with a crucial intercept try, converted by Thomas. Although Mark Jones briefly leveled the scores, Fuller’s decisive penalty secured Whitland’s fourth win of the season.

Carmarthen Athletic 23 – Milford Haven 10
Carmarthen Athletic overturned a halftime deficit to claim a solid home win over Milford Haven. The Mariners led 10-6 at the break, thanks to Robbie Jones’s converted try and a James Trueman penalty.

The Athletic surged back with 17 unanswered points, including tries from Gethin Phillips, Morgan Morse, and Deian Morgan. Zak Williams added the conversions and penalties to seal the victory. Milford missed out on a losing bonus point in their fourth defeat of the season.

Division Three (West)

Cefneithin 16 – Cardigan 29
Cardigan continued their strong form with a bonus-point win over Cefneithin. The Teifisiders led 15-6 at halftime, with Marcus Castle and Shaun Leonard crossing the try line. Leonard was instrumental, adding another try and three conversions.

John Lumb and Jack Taylor scored second-half tries as Cardigan capitalized on excellent possession. Cefneithin fought back with a try by Jonathan Morgan and three penalties from Carwyn Evans but fell short.

Division Four (West)

Llanybydder 17 – Neyland 43
Neyland dazzled with a six-try bonus-point victory over Llanybydder. Leading 24-5 at halftime, the All Blacks saw tries from Owain Evans, Matthew Coles, Owen Hamer, and skipper Georghe Williams.

Young winger Josh Watts added two second-half tries. Llanybydder responded with tries from Jake Evans, Dan Davies, and Dan Jones, converted by Ethan Sion Mathias, but Neyland’s dominance was unshaken as they returned to the top of the table.

Teirw Crymych 17 – St Davids 17
Teirw Crymych and St Davids battled to a draw in a thrilling encounter. The Bulls dominated early, building a 14-0 lead with tries from George Plummer and Trystan Griffiths, both converted by Adam Phillips.

St Davids stormed back with tries by Will James and Tom Clarke, before George Raymond’s late try leveled the scores. The conversion went wide, leaving both teams to share the points.

Dreigiau Emlyn 14 – Narberth Athletic 3
Narberth Athletic’s unbeaten run ended at Ddol Wiber as Dreigiau Emlyn’s forward strength secured a gritty win. A single forward-driven try and three penalties proved enough for the Dragons.

Athletic struggled to convert pressure into points, their only score coming from a Shane Rossiter penalty. The Dragons celebrated their third victory of the season.

Llangwm 17 – Pembroke 22
In a heated Division Four West derby, Pembroke edged out Llangwm in the first leg of the Palmer Cup at Pill Parks. The Scarlets held firm against a late surge to secure the win.

Llangwm opened strongly, with James Morgan and Dan Richards scoring tries, both converted by Harry Makepeace. Pembroke’s forwards turned the tide, with Jamie Brayford (2), Robin Badham, and Josh Greenwood crossing the line. Despite Llangwm’s late efforts, Pembroke extended their winning streak to three matches.

Sport

Pembrokeshire Vikings triumph over Port Talbot panthers

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE VIKINGS faced a tough challenge against the formidable Port Talbot Panthers at Milford Haven RFC on Sunday afternoon. In a fiercely contested battle, the Vikings emerged as worthy winners with a final score of 33-17.

The Vikings’ try scorers included Dave Roberts, Karl Bate, Shaun Treadwell, Richard Williams, and Jack Elliott. Callum Power added to the scoreboard with four successful conversions. Karl Bate’s standout performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

A special mention goes to Sean Phillips, who made a welcome return to the team. Phillips delivered a brilliant 30-metre line break, unselfishly passing the ball to Dave Roberts, who crossed under the posts. His contribution exemplified the team spirit that defines the Vikings.

Matches between the Vikings and the Panthers are always marked by fierce rivalry, but also by strong friendships forged on and off the field. The team eagerly anticipates the return fixture in 2025.

The Vikings also extended their gratitude to Barry from Pembrokeshire College, a loyal supporter of the team. Additionally, thanks were given to sponsors Austwel LTD, Hedley Asset Management, and The Pembrokeshire Herald for their ongoing support.

Next match: A historic showdown

This Saturday, the Pembrokeshire Vikings will travel to Llandaff RFC to make history in a match against Rygbi Senedd Cymru. The team looks forward to another thrilling encounter as they continue their successful season.