2024 Senior Cup Final Preview:

 
 
I have long held a view that sometimes in team sports, no matter what level, that a team is destined to win the trophy, often snatching victory in the closing seconds of an early round when all seemed lost and then going on to win the silverware, sometimes when they have started the big day as underdogs.
 
And having watched Manchester United almost throw away a three-goal lead and only taking on their city rivals because the useless VAR system decreed that a Coventry City player’s toenail had been off-side and the Sky Blues lost their nerve in the penalty shoot-out.
 
And last Saturday evening at The Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium it looked as if Carew would be in this season’s Senior Cup Final as they led 3-1 against Clarbeston Road and seemed set for enjoy another appearance at the Senior Cup Final.
 
But then Clarbeston introduced 18 year old Jake Wesley off the bench and he scored two goals to take the game into extra time - real fairytale stuff if you like.
 
And then the unlikely story continued with two more Clarbie goals to see them though 5-3 and a chance to win the Senior Cup for the first time ever!
 
So, if I had a spare £100 in my back pocket now I might risk that on United to beat Man City in the knowledge that shocks can and do happen - and that’s why I have a feeling in my heart (not my head!) that Clarbeston Road might upset the local football apple cart at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday.
 
They take on a Goodwick United who are current Senior Cup holders and have already again walked away with the division one title as reward for their quality play under their management team of Chris O’Sullivan, Nigel Delaney and Lee Morgan.
 
But Clarbie have an equally respected coaching duo as Matthew Fox and Matthew Ellis are co-managers who have not only been involved with the senior side but also coach in the club’s junior set-up and encourage the conveyor belt of talent coming through.
 
So what do I base my forecast of a narrow Clarbie win on against eight-times previous winners?
Much will be relied upon for goals by Ben ‘Rocky’ John and Laurie Haworth, with Rob Morgans eager to do well against his former team mates and young Wesley waiting to inflict more damage alongside 16 year old George Thomas.
 
Skipper Rheinallt George not only needed to push forward for set-pieces but to try an organise his defence in the ultimate challenge of stemming the pace up front of Rhys Dalling and Will Haworth, plus the deadly dead-ball specialism of Rhys Jones.
 
Then there’s the aerial threat of Goodwick skipper Scott Delaney and James Bryan also posed at set-pieces, and it is easy to see whey Goodwick won 4-0 at Clarbie and 5-1 at home - and will have the wide-open spaces to suit them at The Ogi Bridge Meadow.
 
So it is likely that my reputation as a rubbish tipster will continue and although I will be surprised if my scorecast of 2-1 comes to fruition perhaps I have a bit of ‘Mystic Meg’ in me and I won’t have to put up with all the jibes when I walk around the ground!