Micky's Pembrokeshire
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SENIOR CUP FINAL 2011 : Football Preview - part 2 . . .
The Predictions . . .
to - - - The Experts predictions..to - - - Bill Carne's predictions..
to - - - the Managers' predictions..
Bluebirds can break their Senior Cup duck – says The Expert
The Expert believes that an upset is on the cards when underdogs Haverfordwest County face favourites Hakin United in the Senior Cup Final at the New Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Highly experienced Haverfordwest County manager Derek Roberts knows that his side have been given no chance of beating Hakin United, and that’s where The Expert thinks that the Bluebirds boss will be extra determined to outwit his opposite number Gary Dawes.
Man for man and the Vikings definitely have the edge, but the Bluebirds’ impressive semi final victory over holders Goodwick United proved that they would not be any pushovers.
Danger man Luke
Striker Luke Robinson is the Bluebirds’ danger man and the Vikings defence have shown in the league that it is vulnerable to conceding goals.
The Bluebirds can boast two former Welsh Schoolboy internationals in their midfield ranks in the form of Ricky Watts and Craig George. The Bluebirds are a young side bursting with energy and if they hold their nerve and play to their full potential then the Vikings will be in for an uncomfortable and frustrating afternoon.
Former Hakin United goalkeeper James Manson will be between the sticks for Haverfordwest County and he is relishing the prospect of picking-up a winners’ medal at the expense of his former team-mates.
“Cup finals have a nasty habit of not favouring the favourites,” said The Expert, “so don’t be surprised if the Bluebirds pull off a win for the first time in the club’s history at their fifth attempt.”
to - - - The Experts predictions.. : to - - - Bill Carne's predictions.. : to - - - the Managers' predictions..
Hakin are the team in form – by Bill Carne
I read The Expert’s comments with great interest because he knows his stuff in football and rarely gets things wrong. – but I think he might just have plumped for the wrong team on this occasion.
Forget all the hype about it being nice for Haverfordwest County to be in the final for the first time since 1968 and perhaps to finally win the cup at their fifth attempt – or the fact that Hakin United have won it regularly. All that stuff goes out of the window when the teams walk out on to the superb playing surface at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, as does the suggestion that home advantage will be a great assist to the county’s Pembrokeshire League side, since they rarely play their games on the hallowed first team turf.
Goal grabbers galore!
I fully recognise that Luke Robinson can score goals but I think that Dai Davies and Harry Allen will be equally as important for Haverfordwest because they will need to win midfield ball to try and stifle the powerful goal scorers in the Viking’s camp. I think they might prove the difference because players of the calibre of Ashley Bevan, Jamie Davies, Michael Cooper, Nicky Woodrow and especially Paul Jones are adept at finding the net for Hakin.
James Stanmore and Steve Mathias will be eager to boss the midfield – a vital area – whilst Andrew Kingston, Dan Harts, Leigh Marchant and Matthew Broome have a big job to do at the back alongside experienced keeper Steve Hartley. It is true that the Vikings will be without skipper Ewan Findlay and perhaps two other regulars but there is strength in depth at The Obs – and a manager in Gary Dawes who is used to winning!
to - - - The Experts predictions.. :
to - - - Bill Carne's predictions.. :
to - - - the Managers' predictions..
to - - - The Experts predictions.. : to - - - Bill Carne's predictions.. : to - - - the Managers' predictions..
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