Third Division Cup final:

 

Broad Haven 3 - Milford Athletic 0

It was three ‘n easy for Broad Haven at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium tonight as they maintained their recent dominance of the Third Division Cup.

They claimed the trophy for the third successive year as a brace of goals from Julian Wood and a super strike from Jonny White gave them a 3-0 win over a Milford Athletic side that competed well for 45 minutes, but then struggled to live with the pace of Dave Sudbury’s team thereafter.

Any fears of a tense, tight final were blown away in the opening few minutes as both sides fashioned clear chances.

From their first attack, Broad Haven almost led as striker Josh Beer was denied in the six yard box by a brave block from Athletic defender Chris Scoble.

At the other end, Jack Daines latched onto a long ball forward, but couldn’t keep his balance as he went through on goal and miscued his shot wide.

The frantic opening continued as White pulled a left foot shot inches past the far post for Broad Haven, but again Athletic responded as Michael Fuller’s through ball set up Liam Clark, who blasted his left foot shot over.

But then on the half hour mark, it was Sudbury’s men who led following a flowing move.

Spencer Le Petit linked with Alan Llewellyn who in turn found Sam Barton in space on the right-hand side of the area, and his cross-shot was turned in by Wood from close range.

Barton then had a great chance to extend his side’s lead but failed to connect properly in front of goal from Beer’s low cross.

And before the break, Paul Howard’s side nearly levelled when Clark showed great control before seeing his close range volley blocked away by Broad Haven keeper Jon Jones.

But if the first half was close, then the opening stages of the second half were anything but as the cup holders took command with two goals within seven minutes of the re-start.

Firstly Wood volleyed in from 10 yards after being teed up by Barton’s knock down – and then came the goal of the game, as White made ground down the left wing before cutting into the area and blasting a right foot shot high into the net.

Beer missed a chance to make it four when he curled over from the edge of the area, and then Wood came close to a spectacular hat-trick when Athletic keeper Jamie Bird’s sliding clearance fell into his path, but with the keeper stranded, his 40 yard effort was narrowly over.

Beer then side footed wide when through one on one with Bird, before the keeper denied the striker again by keeping out his angled effort with his leg.

Athletic did come close to a consolation when substitute David Hawkins just failed to meet Jamie Davies' inswinging free kick with his outstretched leg, but Broad Haven comfortably saw out the closing stages to complete the first part of what they hope will be a Third Division League and Cup double.

"Both sides had chances in the first half and to be fair they should have punished us," admitted Sudbury.
"But we came out and played really well second half. We've won this three years in a row but in the nicest possible way I don't want to win next year as I want to be promoted this season."

Broad Haven: Jon Jones, Owen Grey, Tom Merry, Ian Harvey (Sam Pettit 85), Peter Thomas, Julian Wood (Archie Thomas 76), Alan Llewellyn, Spencer Le Petit, Josh Beer, Jonny White, Sam Barton (Dan Church 88).

Milford Athletic: Jamie Bird, Sean Kettle, Sam Daines (David Hawkins 74), Nathan Lewis, Chris Scoble, Michael Fuller, Kyle Davies (Nick Griffiths 73), Scott Walters, Jack Daines (Daniel Picton 62), Jamie Davies, Liam Clark.

Referee: Jeff Hurton.
Assistants: Karl Davies and Neill Crawshaw.
Fourth official: Alan Boswell.