Sport
Brave Neyland fall at semi-final hurdle as Lords dream ends
NEYLAND Cricket Club were knocked out of the Village Cup on Sunday (Aug 8) as opponents Alvanley booked their place in the final at Lords.
It wasn’t to be for Neyland but they can still hold their heads high after an excellent run in the competition which saw them beat teams from Mansfield and Derbyshire to reach the semi-final stage.
There was a good crowd at Neyland Athletic Ground for the game with a good number also coming down from Alvanley.
The Cheshire side won the toss and chose to bat first but they lost two quick wickets to slip to a score of 1-2.
Patrick Hannon trapped Alex Reid leg before for a duck and he also had Lee Ainsworth caught by Nick Koomen for another duck.
However, Michael Rowlands and Simon Gee steadied the ship as they shared 87 runs for the third wicket.
That partnership was eventually brought to an end by Koomen who had Rowlands caught by Ross Hardy on a score of 45.
Koomen then had Chris Wright caught by Ashley Sutton and Stephen Charles stumped by Sean Hannon to reduce Alvanley to 114-5.
Gee had hit five fours and a six as he reached a score of 55 but Koomen struck again to have him caught by Patrick Bellerby.
Andy Bennion and Charlie Fletcher added another 27 runs for the seventh wicket but Bennion then saw himself caught by Brad McDermott-Jenkins off the bowling of Hardy on a score of 14 that had included a four and a six.
Fletcher followed soon after when he was bowled by McDermott-Jenkins.
Chris Charles hit a four and a six in his score of 17 from 9 balls but he was then caught by Sutton off the bowling of Hardy.
It all meant that Alvanley had finished their innings on 188-9, giving Neyland a target of 189 to win the game.
However, their task became much harder earlier on in their reply as they lost opener Nick Koomen when he was caught by Alex Reid off the bowling of James Ecclestone.
It got worse as Ecclestone trapped Ashley Sutton leg before with the next ball to leave Neyland on 9-2.
Patrick Bellerby also fell cheaply as he was caught by Michael Rowlands off the bowling of Ecclestone.
Scott Jones scored 12 but he also fell to Ecclestone as he sent the stumps flying with an excellent delivery.
That made it 31-4 and it was soon 38-5 as Hardy was run out by Chris Wright.
Gregg Miller and Nathan Banner looked to steady the ship as they shared 29 runs for the sixth wicket.
That gave the home side a glimmer of hope but those hopes were soon dashed by Alvanley’s Stephen Charles.
He had Gregg Miller caught by Lee Ainsworth and with the next ball he trapped Nathan Banner leg before on a score of 24.
With the following delivery he bowled Brad McDermott-Jenkins to claim an excellent hat trick to reduce Neyland to 67-8 in a short space of time.
Andrew Miller and Sean Hannon shared another 33 runs as they became Neyland’s last hopes of winning the game.
Hannon hit two fours and a six in a score of 14 but he was then bowled by Stephen Charles.
And when Patrick Hannon was run out soon after, it meant Neyland were bowled out for 102.
Miller finished unbeaten 21 but it wasn’t enough to stop the visitors from reaching Lords.
As well as their league campaign, Neyland now have the Welsh Cup quarter final to look forward to. They play Newport in Neyland on Sunday, August 15, with the semi-finals taking place a week later.
Sport
New Hedges Saundersfoot win cup final in style.
Division Four Cup Final
New Hedges Saundersfoot 7-1 St Ishmaels Reserves
The Division Four Cup Final between New Hedges Saundersfoot and St Ishmaels reserves took place at Monkton Swifts, witnessed by an eager crowd. The game, officiated by Sean O’Connor, with Gareth Elliot and Dean Driscoll as assistant referees, promised an intense battle for the coveted trophy.
From the onset, New Hedges Saundersfoot showcased their dominance. Owen, Miles, Davidson, and Marsh all getting on the score sheet leading to an impressive goal tally.
The Mice never gave up and battled well but they struggled to contain their opponent’s attacking quality. Thomas Williams managed the one and only goal for Tish.
The final score stood at an emphatic 7-1 in favor of New Hedges Saundersfoot, underlining their superiority throughout the match.
New Hedges Saundersfoot emerged as deserved victors, clinching the silverware and adding a significant achievement to their season. Their comprehensive victory in the cup final will undoubtedly be celebrated by players and fans alike. Despite falling short of promotion in their league campaign, this triumph will serve as a testament to their talent and resilience on the field.
In conclusion, the Division Four Cup Final witnessed a commendable display of skill and determination from both teams. Congratulations to New Hedges Saundersfoot for their outstanding performance and well-deserved victory in the final.
News
Tigers second division Cup Champions
In a thrilling Pembrokeshire Division Two Cup final under the floodlights of Bridge Meadow Stadium, fans witnessed an epic battle between Monkton Swifts reserves and Johnston. Despite Monkton Swifts reserves being touted as favorites, Johnston proved their mettle from the outset.
The game kicked off with a burst of energy as Johnston’s center half, Craig Bendall, seized an early opportunity to put his team ahead just ten minutes into the match. However, Monkton Swifts’ prolific Scotsman, Davis, swiftly responded with an equalizer, showcasing the resilience of the favourites.
The momentum shifted again when the dynamic duo of Alfie and Scott Crawford of Johnston orchestrated a beautifully executed goal, putting Johnston back in the lead at 2-1.
As the game progressed, Monkton Swifts brought in reinforcements, including Ben Steele, to regain control. Their efforts paid off when Jordan Kilby leveled the score at 2-2 with just under 20 minutes remaining.
But the Crawfords had other plans. Combining once more, Scott provided the assist for Alfie, who coolly finished to put Johnston ahead once again.
With time running out, Monkton Swifts launched a relentless onslaught in search of an equalizer. However, Johnston’s defense held firm, defying the odds to clinch the Division Two Cup title in a memorable victory.
The match showcased the passion and determination of both teams, with Johnston emerging as deserving champions in a fiercely contested final at Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Sport
Promotion, relegation and everything in between.
As we come to the end of the 2023-2024 season it’s time to look at the winners and losers so to speak as most promotion and relegation battles are now all sewn up.
We begin at the very top where Goodwick United have blown away the first division to become deserved champions elect. At the opposite end of the table Fishguard Sports struggled all season and we comfortably relegated, going down with them are Neyland who’s relegation was confirmed a few weeks ago. Neither team were cut adrift and battled right until the end which is credit to both outfits, sometimes relegation can act as a spring broad and both clubs will be hoping this is the case.
Monkton Swifts reserves were the outstanding team in the second division and were a cut above the rest on their journey to becoming league champions on 56 points with an impressive plus 61 goal difference. As Monkton can’t be promoted due to their first team being in the first division it allowed both Herbrandston and St Ishmaels to be promoted. Herbrandston finished in third on 40 points, whilst the Mice just beat them to second place ending up on 42 points. Both clubs will now use the summer to prepare for the step up that awaits.
At the opposite end of the division, Cosheston never really got going and after their points deduction ended on a lowly 6 points which is never going to be enough to avoid relegation. The second relegation place was much closer with St Clears, Carew reserves and Broad Haven all being in a dog fight for the majority of the season. Broad Haven showed good fight and character which steered them clear of trouble while Carew found form at a key time, which means St Clears will play their football in the third division next season.
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