Sport
Goodwick clinch West Wales glory
Goodwick United 2
Morriston Olympic 1
GOODWICK UNITED triumphed in the prestigious west Wales Cup final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea with a stunning victory over Swansea League Division One side Morriston Olympic thanks to goals from star players Rhys Dalling and Johnny Horgan.
The trophy is the second instalment of what could be an historic treble, as Goodwick chase an unprecedented clean sweep.
They have already bagged the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup, beating Hakin in the final, and it is only the Vikings that stand between Nigel Delaney’s side and the Division One title with just two points currently separating the two sides, who meet at the Obs on Friday (May 13).
Goodwick started the match at a lightening pace and caught their opponents unaware with a number of precise through balls, in particular from midfield maestro Adam Raymond.
It was one of there through balls that released their hotshot winger Johnny Horgan, who took a touch wide before delightfully lifting his precise finish over the top of the advancing Greg Evans to give his side a deserved lead.
The game then settled into a midfield battle as Morriston sought to stem the Goodwick tide, and it certainly worked, as their hard graft started to turn the match in their favour.
From the half hour mark Olympic enjoyed something of a purple patch, and Goodwick were left to thank their keeper James Gwilt and solid backline for keeping them in the game. The first chance at goal for Olympic game when Gwilt fumbled a corner and it fell straight to midfielder Rhys Walker whose first time shot was cleared instinctively by Kieran O’Brien.
Goodwick managed to see their lead out to the half time break, but Morriston came out with the same tempo in the second period, laying siege to the Goodwick goal for long periods.
With Gwilt making a good save from substitute Kristian Lacy who had been sent through on goal by dangerous forward Kieran Hayes.
With twenty second half minutes played, Goodwick took a leaf out of Leicester City’s book and launched a fast flowing counter attack against the run of play to extend their lead.
Horgan raced clear down the left hand side and slipped through a perfectly weighted pass for Rhys Dalling, who evaded the offside trap to race clear and slot under Evans to give his side a two-goal cushion, and spark jubilation amongst the travelling fans.
This jubilation didn’t last for long however, and as the old adage goes, ‘you are most vulnerable after scoring’.
Just three minutes after getting their second, Goodwick allowed Morriston back into it as Gwilt could again only parry Lacy’s shot, with the rebound falling kindly for Rhys Walker, who needed no invitation in slamming the ball home.
This set up a tense last 20 minutes for the Pembrokeshire side, and as the minutes ticked by Nigel Delaney became more animated in the technical area, but he need not have worried as his well-drilled side saw out the danger and joined a small group of Pembrokeshire sides who have lifted the prestigious west Wales Cup trophy.
Teams:
Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan (captain), Anthony Couzens, Scott Delaney, Adam Raymond, Chris O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Brien, Rob Morgans, Rhys Dalling, Johnny Horgan.
Subs: Adam Butler, Darren Devonald, Steven Docherty, Josh Wellan, Jordan Griffiths.
Morriston Olympic: Greg Evans, Sam Bevan, Ben Taylor, Adam Mills, Craig Lloyd, Adam Palmer, Kieron Griffiths (captain), Kieran Hayes, Rhys Walker, Jordan Jones, Alex Mckinney.
Subs: Christopher Fisher, Kristian Lacy, Kieran Ashford, Matthew Bennett, Thomas Davies.
Sport
Fox’s Fantastic Clarby shock the county to win Senior Cup
Strong favourites Goodwick United were expected by many to be lifting the senior cup again come Saturday afternoon. However Clarbeston Road had other ideas, we warned they were a dangerous opponent with pressure off, this proved to be the case.
A healthy crowd at the Bridge Meadow were treated to an excellent final, often cagey perhaps boring affairs this final was far from boring. It took just seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Clarby captain Rheinallt George put the underdogs ahead. However just before the twenty minute mark his opposite number in Scott Delaney squared things up with a trademark header.
Goodwick then took the lead when another set piece caused problems for Clarby who failed to deal with a free kick before Rhys Dalling latched onto the loose ball to volley his team into the lead. However the lead was short lived as the impressive Jake Booth found the net at the second time of asking to make it all square at the break.
Halfway through the second half another set piece led to the equaliser when Matthew Davies headed home a Laurie Haworth corner. Goodwick manager O’Sullivan rung the changes in search of a way to find an equaliser. Newly introduced striker Nathan Greene was fouled in the box and Rhys Jones had the chance to level the cup final, however Rhys Mansell had other ideas and he saved the penalty. The save gave his team a huge boast and belief that this could be their day, and indeed it was.
Most of the season we have hyped up the quality and character of this Clarby team and praised Matthew Fox and his players. Fox has done a excellent job and this is just rewards, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Clarby began this cup run by beating Hakin who have dominated this cup for so many years. An excellent achievement for all involved and an interesting plot going into next season, will Clarby be able to challange Goodwick in the league also.
For Goodwick it’ll be a bitterly disappointing defeat in a season of such dominance just the one trophy will be the least most expected from this quality side. Many thought Goodwick would win the treble and they were certainly capable, which will be the frustrating factor for the Goodwick management.
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
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