THIS weekend’s action in Pembrokeshire’s First Division saw the competition heat up further, with notable performances both at the top and the bottom of the table. Here’s the full breakdown:

St Ishmaels 4-3 Carew

St Ishmaels secured their second win of the season with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Carew, continuing a positive run of form after thrashing Herbrandston 8-0 last week. This recent string of good results has seen them climb out of the relegation zone. While it’s still early days, St Ishmaels appear to be building momentum after their shaky start to the season.

Clarbeston Road 5-0 Merlins Bridge

Clarbeston Road put in a commanding performance against Merlins Bridge, securing a 5-0 victory. Ben John and Laurie Haworth both bagged two goals, while Matthew Griffiths also got on the scoresheet, highlighting Clarbeston’s attacking prowess. They remain firmly in the top half of the table and continue to push for a top three finish.

Hakin United 1-0 Kilgetty

Hakin United, currently second in the table, had to grind out a 1-0 win against Kilgetty, with Shane Walsh scoring the decisive goal. Despite a solid defensive display from Kilgetty, Hakin’s resilience shone through, though the match once again showed that they are not as dominant as in previous seasons. The victory sees Hakin stay two points behind league leaders Goodwick United.

Milford United 1-6 Tenby

Tenby continued their scintillating form with a dominant 6-1 win over Milford United. Scott Ferney led the charge with a hat-trick, supported by goals from Daniel Storer, Joe Leahy, and James Adern. Milford managed a single goal through Anthony Hubbuck, but Tenby’s quality shone through. Tenby now sits third in the league and looks capable of pushing the top two, Hakin and Goodwick.

Monkton Swifts 2-3 Goodwick United

Goodwick United, the league leaders, maintained their position at the top after a tough 3-2 win against Monkton Swifts. Goodwick continue to set the pace, but with teams like Tenby and Hakin United hot on their heels, the title race promises to be closer this year compared to previous seasons.

Pennar Robins 8-1 Herbrandston

Pennar Robins inflicted yet another heavy defeat on bottom-placed Herbrandston, this time winning 8-1. Herbrandston remains winless and rooted to the bottom of the table, having conceded a staggering 49 goals in just seven matches. They are looking increasingly likely to face relegation unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in form.

IN an enthralling encounter at Pembrokeshire Sports Village, Merlin’s Bridge reserves triumphed over their counterparts from Hakin with a convincing 4-1 victory on Saturday. Striker Danny Pearce was the hero, scoring twice to propel the Wizards to their sixth-place standing in the league, just two points behind the youthful Vikings.

The Wizards have maintained an unbeaten record throughout September, contrasting sharply with the Vikings, who, despite a recent win against league leaders Camrose, succumbed to their second defeat in three games. The home side took command from the start, winning crucial individual battles and dominating key areas of the pitch. An early yellow card for a robust challenge on key midfielder Scott Paddison did not aid the Vikings’ cause.

Paddison’s cautious play thereafter allowed Merlin’s Bridge to overrun the midfield, with veterans Karl Hedley and Liam Manwaring outplaying their younger counterparts. Wingers David Cromwell and Billy Jay Martin consistently troubled the Vikings’ defence, particularly full backs Lewis Llewellin and captain Tom Evans.

Although Hakin’s centre-back duo, Gareth Fawcett and Dylan McGuire, managed to contain Pearce for periods, he broke through midway through the first half with a superb finish from a Cromwell assist. Manwaring added to the tally before Pearce completed his brace, bringing the score to an impressive 3-0 by the half-hour mark.

The second half saw further strategic shifts from home manager Jamie Palmer, introducing speedster George Mabuzane to maintain pressure, which paid off when Cromwell netted the fourth goal. The visitors’ struggles continued as they received a third yellow card and suffered an injury to captain Evans, forcing them to finish the match defensively weakened.

Despite being significantly outplayed, the Vikings found a late consolation goal through young Henry Mathew, though it did little to overshadow a dominant display by the Wizards. Goalkeeper Ben Henton, supported by a stalwart defence including Paul Thomas and Ashton Plunkett, had little to do but was finally beaten by the spirited late effort.

Looking ahead, Merlin’s Bridge enjoys a break before facing title contenders Narberth, while Hakin will hope to regroup as they host relegation-threatened Carew reserves at the Observatory Ground on October 5th.

ON a surprisingly sunny September afternoon, Clarbeston Road welcomed Merlin’s Bridge in what was anticipated to be a tightly contested encounter. The newly robotically cut pitch looked pristine, setting the stage for a match between two teams harbouring ambitions to challenge the league’s top two.

In front of a decent crowd, Merlin’s Bridge won the toss and opted to kick off. The visitors started well, as Haydn Dimond’s pace and physicality immediately caused problems for the Clarbeston Road defence. However, it was the home side who struck first. In their very first attack, the in-form Ben “Rocky” John opened the scoring with a composed finish, demonstrating why he’s currently playing the best football of his career.

From that point on, Merlin’s Bridge were largely on the back foot. Despite a spirited performance from club stalwart Dai Davies and the relentless work of Dimond, Bridge found themselves chasing shadows for much of the half. Laurie Howarth added a second goal before the break, and in truth, the scoreline could have been far more comfortable by half-time, with Clarbeston Road unlucky not to be further ahead.

An injury to Bridge captain Jordan Thomas early on disrupted the visitors’ defensive shape, but in reality, they were second best in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half began with Merlin’s Bridge still hopeful of a revival, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly quashed. Within ten minutes of the restart, Rocky and Laurie Howarth both added to their personal tallies, making it 4-0 and effectively ending the contest. Despite Merlin’s Bridge’s continued efforts, they struggled to mount any serious threat, and a late goal capped off an impressive performance for the home side, sealing a dominant 5-0 victory.

Credit must go to both teams for maintaining a respectful attitude throughout the match, with referee Marty Jones having a trouble-free afternoon officiating.

Man of the Match: Ben “Rocky” John – a commanding presence throughout, and instrumental in Clarbeston Road’s victory.

Final Score:
Clarbeston Road 5-0 Merlin’s Bridge