Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League – Division 1

 

 

St Ishmaels 1 Goodwick United 1

Sometimes, lightning does strike twice, writes Fraser Watson.

For the second time this season, Tish were left ruing an injury time Goodwick equaliser as Sion O'Sullivan's close range finish ensured the points between the two sides were shared. It seemed as if Ethan Davies' cool finish on the brink of half-time would prove the defining moment, but after a combative afternoon that saw Stefan Hayes sent off for the visitors - O'Sullivan came off the bench to turn in Jake Smith's cross.

On balance, the result was a fair one. But it was also one that helps neither side's now dwindling hopes of catching leaders Hakin, and the nature of the late goal would have felt like a cruel blow for Graham Ninnis and his side.
 

Both sides hit bar before Davies strikes

Both sides were missing key strikers with Aaron Hallam injured and Rhys Dalling still suspended, and in a frantic opening period chances came and went. In just the second minute Will Haworth's free-kick fell to Kyle O'Sullivan and the Goodwick midfielder flashed an angled shot inches over the bar - before Scott Delaney saw his close-range effort blocked by Nathan Thomas.

At the other end, two set-piece deliveries from Adam Kingsbeer found Brennan Devonald, but the Tish centre-back failed to connect properly first time around before seeing his header tipped onto the woodwork by the returning James Gwilt.

In the final moments of the half Goodwick seemingly looked more likely as O'Sullivan's 20-yard free kick forced a diving save out of Owen Thomas and Smith poked a shot against the bar, with Haworth crowded out in the goalmouth scramble that followed.

But then moments before the whistle it was Tish who struck with the move of the match. The home side broke up field and the counter attack culminated with Kingsbeer putting Davies clean through, and the forward placed a precise finish past Gwilt.
 

Late pressure pays off for Goodwick

Both sides appeared to up the ante after the break and went close, again from dead ball situations. O'Sullivan's whipped ball across goal just evaded Delaney at the back post, before a Tish attack was ended when Tyler Sheil was hacked down by the booked Ben Adams - leading to Kingsbeer's curling free kick being tipped wide by Gwilt.

The introduction of Rhys Jones nearly yielded an instant leveller when he went through only for his low shot to be saved by Thomas, but at the other end Sheil continued to cause problems as his cross-shot bounced away off the bar.

As tempers rose, Devonald and Smith clashed which led to a flashpoint between the players, and cautions for both, while Joel Mills and Jago also went into the book before Hayes, already on a yellow for an earlier foul, again mistimed a tackle and saw red.

In the final moments though, the 10 men poured forward and were denied at the death when a Jones corner saw Tish sub Dan Coe make a last-ditch clearance on his own line. That appeared to be the moment that sealed three points for Tish, before they were denied in the 94th minute as Smith's cross from the left was stabbed high into the net by O'Sullivan.

Man of the match: Brennan Devonald

Would have been disappointed not to have scored from his two first-half chances but as Goodwick pressed in the second half, the aerial prowess of Devonald wad crucial in holding them off. Numerous times he headed balls clear, made one superb sliding block, and led by example at the back.

Tish manager Graham Ninnis: "I'm gutted with that, it's happened home and away (with Goodwick) but I'm still so proud of them. The boys battled away but again it shows we've come a long way. From scraping to stay in the division last year to where we are now, disappointed to draw with Goodwick, and hopefully we can kick on again."

Goodwick coach Matthew Fox: "It's mixed emotions. To be fair to the boys they kept going and I think a draw was a fair reflection - we'd have been disappointed to lose it but I'm sure they are more disappointed than us given the late equaliser. We came out the blocks well and didn't take a couple of half chances, and credit to Tish they hit us then with a really well taken goal."

St Ishmaels: Owen Thomas, Sol Goodall, Thomas Williams, Finley Armstrong, Brennan Devonald (Captain), Tyler Sheil (Dylan Ninnis 86), Adam Kingsbeer, Ieuan Hawkins, Joel Mills, Nathan Thomas, Ethan Davies (Dan Coe 73). Subs not used: Mathew Thomas, Louis Godden.

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Josh Wood, Ross Jones, Scott Delaney (Captain), Stefan Hayes, Ben Adams (Rhys Jones 59), Jake Smith, Kyle O’Sullivan, Will Haworth (Kieran Blundell 70), Jonny Horgan, Tom Jago (Sion O'Sullivan 70).


Referee: Stefan Jenkins.