Goodwick bow out at Phoenix Park

PHOTO:
Goodwick battle for an equaliser

FAW Trophy Round Four:

Goodwick United 0 - Pencoed Athletic 1

A first-half penalty from Pencoed Athletic striker Kyle Owen proved decisive as the visitors beat Goodwick United at Phoenix Park to progress into the last 16 of the FAW Trophy.

Owen made no mistake 25 minutes in as he sent Goodwick keeper Dean Hopson the wrong way from the spot, after Wayne O’Sullivan had been adjudged to have fouled Pencoed midfielder Richard Lewis.

The hosts went into the game as Pembrokeshire’s last representatives in the competition, against a side lying 13th in the Premier Division of the South Wales Alliance League.

Visitors start well – and score from the spot

And it was the visitors who had the first real chance when Hopson failed to gather an Owen corner, but Lewis could only scoop the loose ball over.

Rhys Thomas then dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area for Pencoed – before what proved to be the pivotal moment when Lewis broke down the right side of the area, and after he was caught by a sliding O’Sullivan, referee Ben Williams had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Owen subsequently drilled his penalty into the bottom corner – and moments later the home side were in danger again as Hopson did well to push away a Rhys Goss volley from 20 yards out.

Pencoed’s Evan Price then fired into the side netting from a tight angle – before The Phoenix Boys fashioned their first real opening when Matthew Delaney’s chipped cross was headed narrowly wide by Jordan Griffiths.

Goodwick claw their way back

Nigel Delaney’s side then began to assert themselves and full back Stefan Hayes’ deep cross found Sean Seymour-Davies, who could only direct his header back across goal – before a Raymond free kick rebounded off the wall and into the path of Griffiths, but his effort was too close to away keeper Matthew Roberts.

At the other end Price went down in the box under a challenge from Hayes – only to be booked for simulation, and on the stroke of half time Marc Turner scuffed an effort wastefully wide from close range.
The Phoenix Boys came out with greater urgency after the break and within minutes of the restart, came close to levelling.

Griffiths saw his low effort fumbled onto the post by Roberts, who then recovered well to thwart Seymour-Davies as he followed up the rebound.

Chances at both ends

But as Goodwick pressed, the visitors looked increasingly threatening on the break and should have doubled the lead when Goss cut into the area and squared for Owen, who fired over with Hopson rooted to the spot.

Home winger Steven Dockerty then pounced on some hesitant defending before curling a 20-yard effort inches wide, and substitute Ben John went close from a similar range just moments after replacing Anthony Couzens – as Delaney opted to go three at the back for the final stages.

Both sides continued to fashion chances and Turner’s rising effort was beaten away by Hopson, and O’Sullivan prevented the Pencoed midfielder following up the rebound with a last ditch tackle.
On the 80 minute mark, Goodwick went perilously close again when Griffiths surged into the area, only to see his effort beat Roberts and roll right across the face of goal.

Still no more goals at either end

But seconds later the tie should have been over when a Rhys Thomas clearance found its way to Pencoed substitute Jack Delve, who went clean through on goal before dragging his left foot shot wide.

Fellow substitute Griffin Williams also nearly sealed it when his shot was palmed away by Hopson – before in the dying moments The Phoenix Boys fashioned one last opening when Scott Delaney’s free kick found its way to Seymour-Davies, who turned well before shooting wide of the near post.

It proved the last chance of a hard fought tie, and the delight of the travelling players and supporters was evident at the final whistle as they celebrated a place in Round Five.

For Delaney’s side, the result represented a second cup exit in two games after they also went out of the West Wales Intermediate Cup at the hands of Seven Sisters two weeks ago – a run they will be looking to address this Saturday when they go to Solva in the quarter finals of the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup.

Goodwick United: Dean Hopson, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan (Nigel Delaney 90), Scott Delaney, Anthony Couzens (Ben John 71), Karl Hedley, Mathew Delaney, Adam Raymond, Steven Dockerty, Sean Seymour Davies, Jordan Griffiths (Johnny Horgan 82).

Pencoed Athletic: Matthew Roberts, Ashley Beckett, Gavin Richardson (Craig Hopkins 71), Evan Price, Paul Martin (Griffin Williams 68), Richard Lewis, Marc Turner, Rhys Thomas, Kyle Owen, Rhys Goss (Jack Delve 77).

Subs not used: Jack Hopkin, Keegan Alexander-Rees.

Referee: Ben Williams.