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SENIOR CUP FINAL Preview 2010 - part 2 . . .
The Predictions . . .
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Who will win the Senior Cup Final?The Blue Riband event of local football is almost upon us again and across the county there is a great deal of conjecture about who is going to win the 2009/10 Final as Merlins Bridge take on Goodwick United at the Bridge Meadow Stadium. The Bridge lost in the final to Hakin United last season and will be eager to win the silverware this campaign, not least because it is likely to give them the double (unless they do something really stupid in the run-in to the league crown) whilst Goodwick United haven’t won the Senior Cup for 11 years. It piles pressure on both camps and our trawl amongst the managers in the first division shows that the Wizards start as fairly firm favourites, especially since they travelled to Phoenix Park for a vital league match a couple of weeks ago and came away with a deserved 3-1 victory over Goodwick. Experienced management teams Both teams have astute management teams that have a wealth of experience, with Matthew Price still playing for the Wizards and scoring lots of goals and having Peter Jones as his co-manager, someone who is a Wizard through and through and a great servant of the club. It is a similar story at Goodwick, where Bernie Armstrong is manager, after many years of goal-grabbing for the club, as well as at Fishguard, Merlins Bridge and Lamphey, to name but a few. Bernie played in six Senior Cup Finals but this will be his first as boss. He will have Brian Morris alongside him and, like Peter Jones at the Bridge, he lives and breathes football at Phoenix Park. Strong at the back Both sides are also strong at the back, with Ian Kerrison in goal for the Wizards and with Matthew D’Ivry, Paul Thomas, Chris Ormond and Haydn Ralph likely to be in the back four whilst Carl Woodhouse will be keeper for Goodwick and have Wayne O’Sullivan, Anthony Couzens, Nigel Delaney and Darren Devonald in front of him. These are two good defences but the Wizards lack a little height for the aerial battle whilst Goodwick might be turned by the pace of Merlin’s Bridge front two – very interesting! Powerful midfields They are fairly evenly matched in midfield, although Simon Thomas is a loss for the Bridge but they have Mike Canton, the experienced Marcus Taylor, Nathan and Peter Thomas as a combative unit which can also push forward and score goals. Goodwick will use Ryan Thomas and Tom Jones as their ball winners whilst Kieran O’Brien and Johnny Horgan could pose a threat on the flanks – but they will miss the injured Steve Evans if he doesn’t make it. Goals galore Both sides are also capable of scoring a pile of goals, with Price joined up front by Steve McNabney for the Wizards, with both hoping to use their real pace to turn the Goodwick defence. Price in particular has scored goals wherever he has played whilst McNabney can pull out real winners! Goodwick have a proven goal-scorer in Dan Williams playing alongside talented teenager Jay Brockway, who has a real nose for goals, and this duo might have the advantage in the air if the Goodwick wide players can get the ball into the danger zones. So who will win the Senior Cup? Merlins Bridge are deservedly favourites for what could be an epic battle and it would be very easy to sit on the fence for this one because it looks so close. But if pushed I would go for Goodwick United because sometimes one feels that a team’s name is on the cup – and Goodwick certainly got out of jail in the semi-final as they allowed Pennar to score two goals in the last three minutes, conceded a penalty in extra time – but still came away with a dramatic win after a penalty shoot out. This match could even go that way – and I would have Carl Woodhouse as my keeper if that situation arose because he loves it, saving and scoring goals! |
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Local football bosses confirm Merlins Bridge as firm favourites to win Senior Cup over underdogs Goodwick United Pembrokeshire Football League Division One managers have spoken to Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk telling us who they think will win the eagerly awaited Senior Cup Final, that takes place at the Bridge Meadow on Saturday, 17th April, kick-off 2.30 pm. |
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Here’s what the managers had to say . . .
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| Steve Brown – Clarbeston Road
Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 2 I really think that Merlins Bridge will be too strong for Goodwick United in most departments. They have quality strikers and that’s where they’ll win - with that added firepower. Man of the match: Stephen McNabney. |
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Derek Roberts – Haverfordwest County
Scorecast: Goodwick United 2 – Merlins Bridge 3 Pricey and McNabney will cause the Goodwick defence a headache. I think it will be a high scoring affair with the Bridge winning by the odd-goal in five. Man of the match: Stephen McNabney or Ryan Thomas. |
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Gary Dawes – Hakin United
Scorecast: Goodwick United 3 – Merlins Bridge 1 Gary has won the Senior Cup as a player and manager and he expects Bernie Armstrong (Hakin born and bred) to follow in his footsteps. I think Goodwick will have the desire and hunger to win it. Bernie never tipped us when we were in the final – but I’ll show him some Hakin loyalty! Man of the match: Danny Williams. |
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Matthew Price – Merlins Bridge Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 3 Obviously, I want us to perform the better team on the day. We have a habit of going a goal behind, but we are strong in midfield, and up front, and we should have enough in the locker to beat Goodwick. Funny things can happen in cup finals. Man of the match: Carl Woodhouse. |
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Bernie Armstrong – Goodwick United
Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 2 Cup finals don’t always go to plan. I’m happy we’re the underdogs – that takes the pressure off us and we’ll just out there and give it our best shot. I think it will be close – but I think my boys we’ll just edge it. Man of the match: Nigel Delaney. |
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Steve Batty – Herbrandston
Scorecast: Goodwick United 2 – Merlins Bridge 1 It’s my gut feeling. The Bridge has a lot of league games to get through and by the time they get to the Bridge Meadow. I think Goodwick will be fresher. Man of the match: Carl Woodhouse. |
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Chris Lloyd – Pennar Robins
Scorecast: Goodwick United 0 – Merlins Bridge 2 The Bridge are too solid a nut too crack, and are too pacy up front and they will cause Goodwick plenty of problems at the back. Man of the match: Wayne O’Sullivan. |
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Mike Lewis – Tenby
Scorecast: Goodwick United 0 – Merlins Bridge 2 The front pairing of Pricey and McNabney for the Bridge has too much pace for the Goodwick defence to cope with. Our defence is good - but the two up front are the only ones that have really hurt us this season. Man of the match: Stephen McNabney. |
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Paul Hannon – Neyland
Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 3 I fancy Merlins Bridge to win it. They have a lot more options going forward, plus they are clever at the back. Man of the match: Marcus Taylor. |
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Peter Cole – Solva
Scorecast: Goodwick United 2 – Merlins Bridge 3 Peter had to ask his son Jason on his opinion on who he thinks will win the cup. Jason saw both semi finals and based his prediction on what he saw. He says it will be a high scoring affair with the Wizards edging a five-goal thriller. Peter’s sitting on the fence! Man of the match: Carl Woodhouse. |
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| Liam Stapleton – Monkton Swifts
Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 3 The Bridge are too strong in midfield and up front. So for me it has to be a 3-1 win for the Wizards. Ryan Thomas will be the danger man for Goodwick; he’s had a terrific season. Man of the match: Stephen McNabney. |
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Bobby Bevan – Kilgetty
Scorecast: Goodwick United 2 – Merlins Bridge 3 I think the Bridge are the better side, they are more consistent and will be eager to erase last year’s disappointing cup final defeat. Man of the match: Carl Woodhouse. |
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Nigel Thomas – Narberth
Scorecast: Goodwick United 3 – Merlins Bridge 2 I think Goodwick’s overall balance will see them home. Ryan Thomas is the star man. I think he’ll relish putting one over on his former teammates. Man of the match: Ryan Thomas. |
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Adrian Blundell – Prendergast Villa
Scorecast: Goodwick United 1 – Merlins Bridge 2 It’s the Bridge’s year; they lost the final last year and definitely won’t make the same mistake. The Bridge will have to watch Ryan Thomas - he’ll cover every blade of grass in his quest for cup glory. Man of the match: Matthew Price. |
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