Outdoor Sports News - with PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

County on Cloud Nine

 

Pembroke County 9 - Llanishen & Caerphilly 0

Pembroke County hockey club recently hosted Llanishen & Caerphilly Hockey Club in a postponed fixture from earlier in the season and was the second home fixture in as many days for County.

 A big effort was put in from the club to allow County to put a strong team out for the second time in the weekend. Some players were still recovering from their efforts in the game the day before and nursing small knocks.
County were in good condition compared to their opposition, who not only travelled a long distance to play the game but were also shorthanded as they only had only managed to obtain ten players. County started strong and for once stuck to their game plan and passed the ball fluidly around the opposition resulting on a well worked move leading to Danny Pryke slotting Home County’s opener.  The game and County's passing remained fluid and with some great link up play the goals continued to come, with goals coming from Richard Shuttlesworth & Paul Tough who expertly converted two from short corners & two from open play.  

Game slowed down by the visitors

At the interval, County lead 6-0, which would have been 6-1 if Andrew Major hadn't pulled off a great save after the County defence was breached against the run of play.  During the 2nd half as the County players grew hungry for goals, Mark Brimacombe made a great solo run and chipped the keeper, only to see his effort, helped over goal line by Scott Lewis.
The increasingly frustrated visiting team dragged county's game down to their level and physicality, making the game bitty and not much of a game for the spectators. The umpires grew tired of the constant stick tackles and over-physical play. Scott Lewis was the unfortunate player with an over-exuberant challenge, which resulted in him sitting out for ten minutes in the sin bin.  

With County down to ten men, Paul Jewell lead the team from the back, marshalling the play and ensuring the county defence was not breached with the help Nick Brookes & Paul Thomas who were on fine form throughout the weekend.  
When County's team were restored to eleven men, captain Mark Brimacombe enforced County's game plan, resulting a further two goals, which came from good passing moves from the county midfield linking with the forwards for Ed Clements and Sammy Young to slot home a goal each, which seemed fitting after their efforts throughout the weekends matches.
It was an awesome effort from the whole team, on a tough weekend with special thanks to Darren Cole for kitting out, and manning the sideline as a super emergency sub even though he only had one good foot.

The South Hook LNG Man of the Match was Paul Jewell.

Team:

Mark Brimacombe (C), Andrew Major (GK), Nicholas Brookes, Paul Thomas, Paul Jewell, Richard Shuttlesworth, Edward Clements, Danny Pryke, Sam Young, Paul Tough, Scott Lewis, Darren Cole.

 

No luck in the Capital

 

Whitchurch D 0 - Pembroke County 0

On a warm sunny Saturday afternoon Pembroke County travelled to Cardiff to take on Whitchurch D, who have had an inconsistent start to the season with one win and two loses. Pembroke County, on the other hand have had a very positive start with a 100% record of two wins.
Pembroke County travelled with a strong squad for an away game with 15 players being present. County welcomed back Edward Clements from injury and a warm return to the club for Gareth Davies returning after a few seasons absence and Sam Kirkhouse from a summer break in their strong 15-man squad.
County started at a fast pace and attacked from the start through runs down the right from Danny Pryke and the left through Scott Lewis. Paul Tough saw shots saved left, right and centre. Jack Pinson tried to control the game from his deep midfield role, but as the half went on attacks started to flow up the middle of the park with players trying to dribble through the players rather then pass around them. Sam Kirkhouse came onto the pitch to make his return to the club and picked up where he left off with some brilliant tackling and stick skills setting attacks away for County. The half time whistle came and County were in disbelief that it was still nil-nil.

Cracking goal disallowed

County made two changes at half time with Gareth Davies coming on to start the second half in the defence due to Paul Jewell picking up a slight knock and Darren Cole starting on the left for Scott Lewis. County moved the ball down the right side of the pitch with Danny Pryke driving to the baseline of the D and pulling the ball back to Paul Tough who took a touch and hit the ball crisply and the net bulge but the Whitchurch goalkeeper ran to the umpires,  who conferred and to the disbelief of all the County players the goal was disallowed as according to the umpire and the goalkeeper the ball went through a hole in the side netting. County players couldn’t see a hole but continued the game still pressing for a goal.
With County still pushing forward it allowed Whitchurch to break on a further three occasions and end up in one on one with the County goalkeeper, Andrew Major who managed to save them all. So unfortunately and unbelievably the game finished with a nil-nil score line.

The South Hook LNG men of the Match were Andrew Major and Sam Kirkhouse.
The White Lion Duffer of the day was Mark Brimacombe.

Team: Mark Brimbacombe (C), Andrew Major (GK) Danny Pryke, Nicholas Brookes, Paul Jewell, Sam, Paul Thomas, Paul Tough, Darren Cole, Scott Lewis, Gavin Bernard, Dylan Williams, Jack Pinson, Ed Clements, Gareth Davies.

 

County bounce back with excellent win

 

Pembroke County 2 - Swansea University A 1

After the set back of drawing 0-0 away last week, County were at home against Swansea University A, who arrived with a sixteen man squad. County exploited an attacking opportunity down the left wing that quickly broke down, allowing Swansea to put pressure on Pembroke’s defence. Unlike last week, County were able to move the ball around neatly, establishing their passing game. However Swansea also looked to move the ball around, leading to a 0-0 score line going into half time.   

Another goal-less first half

After half time County increased the pressure on Swansea University and from the right side of the pitch Jack Pinson gained a short corner for County. A quick injection to the top of the D to Paul Tough, stopped by Danny Pryke and then moved back to Paul Tough by Paul Thomas, saw Paul Tough slot the ball in the goal.

County extended their lead through another short corner that was fired to the left of the D to Mark Brimacombe, who passed the ball at pace diagonally across the D, connecting with the stick of Ed Clements who swept the ball into the back of the goal.

Swansea managed to gain a goal back that left a nervous last five minutes for County. However with Danny Pryke holding the ball up down the right wing and good defensive positional play, County saw the game out with a 2-1 victory.

Team:

Andrew Major, Paul Thomas, Paul Jewells, Nicholas Brookes, Jack Pinson, Edward Clements, Mark Brimacombe, Danny Pryke, Sam Young, Paul Tough, Scott Lewis, Gavin Bernard, Dylan Williams and Darren Cole.

 

PHOTOS:

County v Whitchurch.

County v Swansea University.