Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League – Division 1

 
 

Hakin United 1 - Goodwick United 0

 


For much of the afternoon it looked like the champagne would have to remain on ice for Hakin United - and then came Ashley Bevan's moment, writes Fraser Watson.
 
With time running out, a clash badly affected by gale-force winds was settled by a player now well used to occasions like these, as the veteran forward blasted in from close range to break Goodwick's resistance and ensure the Division 1 trophy would be coming to The Obs for the 21st time.
 
Title deciders between these two sides have become commonplace in this past decade, but today the dynamic was different. There was no jeopardy of winner takes all, no off-field controversies to overshadow matters, not even any flare-ups of note - just two seasoned rivals again refusing to give an inch to each other.
 

Blowing in the wind

 
Both sides were without key personnel for differing reasons but in truth, for 45 minutes the spectacle was ruined by nothing else but Storm Dave. As gusts blew across the pitch both sets of players struggled to assert any kind of control, with chances inevitably hard to come by.
 
It was Rhys Jones who had the first meaningful effort when his in-swinging free-kick was pushed away by Hakin keeper Rory Williams, while Jordan Griffiths was also close to getting on the end of a Jake Smith cross.
 
At the other end, Camron Thomas flashed a volley narrowly over the bar and then it was his ball in that nearly found Mason Dolling at the back post, but it wasn't until the final moments that we had the game's first big chance. Liam Parks played in Cameron Brunton and he bore down on goal, only for James Gwilt to rush out and superbly block his effort.
 
In the second period though, it was The Vikings who go in the ascendancy. Youngster Dolling had an increasing influence on the right-hand side and both he and Brunton fired efforts wide, and then the closing stages became frantic as the home side pushed for a winner.
 
Thomas had a shot blocked in the six-yard box before Bevan turned and struck a left-foot effort that beat Gwilt but found the underside of the bar - with Dolling unable to head in the rebound.
 

A final twist

 

At that point, it appeared Goodwick would hold out for a draw they largely merited but with a minute of normal time left, a Jack Britton free-kick was spilled by Gwilt, with Bevan on hand to turn in the loose ball and spark the celebrations.
 
The moment was harsh on Gwilt, who has history of standout displays in this fixture, and who had been faultless for most of the afternoon. And sure enough, he then made amends in injury time by twice denying Brunton from point-blank range.
 
Still, the contest wasn't done and in the dying seconds it was Williams who had to be alert, having to adjust to grasp Jones' whipped ball in as it bounced awkwardly off the turf with Rhys Dalling lurking.
 
Seconds later, the final whistle confirmed what for weeks has appeared inevitable - Hakin being champions. Although for both sides, it signalled anything but the end of their respective seasons, with the Phoenix Boys set to play a Senior Cup semi-final with St Ishmaels this Friday and Scott Davies and co still awaiting a date for their West Wales Cup semi-final.
 
"I think any other team I would have been confident of us getting a goal in the second half," said Davies afterwards.
 
"But with it being Goodwick, as current champions, I wouldn't have been surprised if they held out or even gone up the other end and nicked it. So, I'm delighted that we got the late goal against them and got over the line.
 
"It's nice to get it wrapped up today. Some boys will be out on their feet right now for sure."
 
Man of the match: Mason Dolling
 
It wasn't an easy afternoon for any player to shine but Dolling, on a rare first-team start, took his opportunity. The winger was involved in the bulk of Hakin's second-half attacks and wasn't afraid to get on the ball despite the difficult conditions.
 
Hakin United: Rory Williams, Matthew Broome, Jake Merry, Jay Power (capt), Camron Thomas, Mark Jones (Jack Britton 62), Craig Nicholson (Hayden Dimond 77), Cameron Brunton, Mason Dolling, Liam Parks (Scott Paddison 71), Ashley Bevan. Subs not used: Ryan Wilson, Gareth Fawcett.
 
Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Josh Wood, Scott Delaney (capt), Ross Jones, Stefan Hayes (Sean O'Sullivan 66), Jake Smith, Ben Adams, Rhys Jones, Guto Roberts (Johnny Horgan 82), Will Haworth (Rhys Dalling HT), Jordan Griffiths. Sub not used: Kieran Blundell.
 
Referee: Stefan Jenkins.