Sport

Saints stun Felinfoel in extra time

Published

4 years ago

November 7, 2021

ST CLEARS booked their place in the third round of the West Wales Cup on Saturday (Nov 6) as they beat Felinfoel 3-2 after extra time.

Felinfoel had not lost in any league or cup game prior to Saturday’s match but Nathan Evans’ goal gave the Saints an excellent win in tricky conditions.

Rain battered the pitch for much of the game but it did not dampen the spirits of the Felinfoel supporters who had come to support their team.

It was the Saints though who had the first real chance of the game as Nico Setaro sent Ashley Williams through on goal but his effort was well saved by Felinfoel keeper Anthony Andrews.

Sadly for Williams he was forced off moments later with an injury and was replaced by Steve Thomas.

Felinfoel then had a great chance to score as Chris James looped the ball over the defenders for Jordan Badman but his shot was beaten away by Saints keeper Jason Jones.

Nathan Evans and Ben John then linked up well down the right and they set up Jon Seeley but he saw his shot saved.

Goal: Chris James’ free kick flies into the net

With 26 minutes gone the visitors were awarded a free kick and James curled the ball superbly into the top corner of the net.

The Saints responded well to going behind as they won a corner. Evans sent the corner into the box and Nick Squire headed down towards goal but after his header was blocked the ball fell to Danny Peters who tried to turn the ball in. There were shouts for a penalty but the referee waved away the appeals.

David Owens then saw a shot saved for the visitors before James saw a header go wide.

At the other end John’s cross found Steve Evans but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and the ball was pushed out for a corner.

Nathan Evans took the resulting corner and Kyran Lewis ran in at the front post to smash a header home to level the game.

It was a deserved equaliser and they nearly took the lead just a minute into the second half but John’s long range effort was tipped over the bar.

Just four minutes later though Felinfoel were back in front. The Saints attempted to pass the ball out from the back but when Martin Thomas missed the ball, Tom Roberts took the ball and fired it into the bottom corner of the net.

Twenty minutes into the second half the Saints were level once more. Will Evans, who had only come on as a sub just a minute earlier, ran down the right and cut in from the byline and his cross hit the Felinfoel keeper and bounced just over the line before it was kicked away.

The Saints were now on top and they came close to scoring from a corner soon after. A shot was blocked wide for another corner but Saints players were convinced the ball had hit a hand. Their vehement protests were waved away by the referee.

There was another chance for Nathan Evans as a free kick was played short but his shot was blocked before being tipped over by the Felinfoel keeper.

Will Evans then cut inside from the right and curled the ball towards goal but he watched agonisingly as his effort went inches wide of the angle of crossbar and post.

He had another chance to win two minutes before the end when the ball fell to him at the back post but he shot into the side netting.

That was the last of the action in the 90 minutes and it meant extra time would be needed to separate the sides.

The home side had another penalty appeal waved away early on in the first period of extra time but neither were able to find a goal.

In the second period of extra time, Steven Evans played in Nathan Evans whose shot from the edge of the box went in off the post.

Felinfoel looked for a late goal which would have taken the game to penalties but James saw a free kick go over the bar.

Nicky Morgan then won a free kick for the away side wide on the left, despite Jason Baxter appearing to get the ball, but they were unable to find the net.

Craig Lewis saw a shot go wide for Felinfoel who then sent up keeper Andrews for the resulting corner.

However, they were unable to score as the Saints held on for an excellent win.

Will Evans looks on as his shot goes just over

Related Topics:Felinfoel Football St Clears West Wales Cup

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Haverfordwest RFC names Team of the Week

Published

2 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

HAVERFORDWEST Rugby Football Club has announced its latest Team of the Week, celebrating standout performers from across the junior age groups following another busy weekend of fixtures.

Players from the U7s through to the U16s Eagles have been highlighted for their work rate, teamwork and commitment on the pitch, with coaches praising the effort shown by all who took part.

The club said the selections recognise not only individual performances but the dedication shown by players at training and during matches throughout the season.

Parents and supporters were quick to share their congratulations online, with particular praise for U12s players George Bentley and Tom Wheeler, who impressed during their fixture.

Team of the Week – 14 December 2025

U7s: Ollie Bromham & Arthur Slee
U8s: Theo Headland & Lyla Phillips
U9s: Theo Canton & George Thornton
U10s: Rhys Davies
U10s Eagles: Frankie Campbell
U11s: Griff Jenkins & Ollie Edwards
U12s: George Bentley & Tom Wheeler
U12s Eagles: Cyra Ellis
U15s: Logan Keane
U16s Eagles: Laura Cichon

Coaches thanked players and families for their continued support as Haverfordwest RFC moves through the winter fixtures, saying the positivity around the club remains a key part of its success.

Sport

Bluebirds’ European Journey Continues in Season Four of You Can Have It All

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Herald Sport

Club documentary series returns to document Haverfordwest County’s historic UEFA Conference League campaign

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY has confirmed the return of their club documentary series, You Can Have It All (YCHIA), later this month, showcasing the thrilling journey of last summer’s European adventure.

YCHIA first began filming in 2021, with Season One covering a rollercoaster 2021-22 campaign for the Bluebirds. The season ended with a dramatic top-flight survival, following a challenging period. Season Two shifted focus to the 2022-23 season, which saw the club qualify for Europe for the first time since 2004. The Bluebirds’ stunning play-off victory, which included back-to-back penalty shoot-out wins against Cardiff Met and Newtown, marked manager Tony Pennock’s first season in charge as a major success.

The excitement intensified as the series continued to cover their historic European campaign, which began with a trip to North Macedonia to face KF Shkëndija. Returning to Cardiff City Stadium for the second leg, the Bluebirds made club history by winning their first-ever European tie on penalties. The drama then took them to the Faroe Islands to face B36 Tórshavn, where they were controversially edged out by a single goal in the return leg.

Now, with further continental success under their belts, YCHIA returns for its fourth season, documenting last summer’s European adventure. This season follows Haverfordwest County’s journey through the qualifying rounds of the newly rebranded UEFA Conference League (UECL).

Providing exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the series tracks the Bluebirds’ travels to Malta for the first leg of their UECL first qualifying round tie against Floriana, and the return leg at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli a week later. The season also covers the build-up to the competition, including a visit to Geneva for the UEFA draw and a match against reigning Northern Ireland champions Linfield at Windsor Park, the national stadium.

Season Four will be released in three episodes on December 18, December 23, and January 2. You can watch You Can Have It All on Haverfordwest County’s YouTube channel by following this link. The club will also share highlights and snippets of the documentary across their social media platforms, so be sure to follow them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)!

News

Pembroke Dock coach helped steer Lando Norris to F1 world title

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Seren Baker

Local mentor recalls seven-year-old Norris as “one to watch from day one”

A FORMER Pembroke Dock man has been revealed as one of the earliest influences behind newly-crowned Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris – adding an unexpected Pembrokeshire chapter to one of the biggest sporting stories of the year.

Robert Dodds, who grew up in Pembroke Dock before later moving to Poole, was Norris’s first coach at BKC Racing. He began mentoring the future McLaren star when he was just seven years old, helping shape the early foundations of a career that reached its peak on Sunday (Dec 7) when Norris secured the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to The Herald, Mr Dodds said Norris’s talent was obvious from the very first outing.

“There was something special about him from day one,” he said. “By the time he was eight, he was already as quick as the 10–12-year-olds. He just had this will about him – he wanted it.”

Pembrokeshire link to a global success story

Dodds coached Norris for four years, guiding him through kart setup, technique, and competitive racecraft. He says he remains “immensely proud” that his own Pembrokeshire roots now form a small part of the world champion’s rise.

“Ten or fifteen years ago he was sat in the front of my van as we drove to tracks,” he said. “Now he’s flying around the world racing in Monaco. It’s incredible how far he’s come.”

That early development included a fierce sibling rivalry with Norris’s older brother, Oliver – something Dodds believes accelerated his progress.

“Because of that rivalry, his pace shot up. He wanted to beat his brother – and then he wanted to beat everyone.”

BKC Racing has produced other top talents too, including 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Phil Hanson, further underlining the pedigree of the team that helped launch Norris’s career.

The moment a champion first stood out

Dodds still recalls an early test at Clay Pigeon Raceway, where a seven-year-old Norris completed a lap in 39 seconds – a benchmark usually achieved only by much older cadet racers.

“He came past me with his thumb up – this tiny kid doing senior cadet times. That was the moment we knew.”

Norris seals his first world title

Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, claimed his first podium in 2020, took pole position in 2021 and secured his first Grand Prix win in Miami in 2024. His 2025 campaign saw him take multiple victories before clinching the world championship in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first British driver since Lewis Hamilton to lift the title.

Pride back home in Pembrokeshire

Motorsport fans across the county followed Sunday’s title decider closely, with many celebrating the unexpected local connection.

A local F1 fan who watched the race in a Haverfordwest pub told The Herald:
“Everyone here was proud of Lando – and hearing that one of his early coaches came from Pembroke Dock makes it feel like Pembrokeshire had a tiny part in his journey.”

Dodds, who continues to mentor young racers today, says Norris’s success is already inspiring the next generation.

“It’s like something out of a film. I’m proud of what he’s achieved – and proud to have been part of the journey.”

For Pembrokeshire, the story adds a local footnote to a global sporting triumph – and a reminder that world champions sometimes start out much closer to home than anyone realises.

Cover image:

Proud mentor: Pembroke Dock’s Robert Dodds helped shape Norris’s early racing career (Pic: Robert Dodds)