Goodwick win epic penalty shoot-out marathon

PHOTOS:
Goodwick's Chris O'Sullivan blocks Ashley Bevan's cross
Ben Steele plays a through ball for the Vikings

 
West Wales Intermediate Cup:

Goodwick United 3 - Hakin United 3
(After extra time – Goodwick win 6-5 on penalties)

Referee: Jeff Moore (Llanelli)
 

Matches between Goodwick United and Hakin United are traditionally hard-fought but this epic West Wales Intermediate Cup match will long linger in the memory of those in attendance as it took 120 minutes of red-blooded football and an amazing tally of 24 penalties before Goodwick finally killed off the Vikings’ hopes!

It left the Phoenix Park boys delighted and the Vikings to look back on three chances to win where they only had to find the net but home keeper James Gwilt, like his opposite number James Manson, made some epic saves.

Bright start by Vikings but Goodwick grab only goal

 
It was Hakin who made much of the early running as Ashley Bevan twice posed a threat on the left and James Stanmore showed a little bit of magic on the right but these efforts came to nought, as did another chance where Bevan and Ben Steele combined wide out but Nick Woodrow’s shot was blocked in a goalmouth scramble.

But Goodwick took the lead with the only goal of the first half when Chris O’Sullivan knocked in a free-kick and Kieran O’Brien rose above the rest to head past Manson – with young players of the calibre of Steff Hayes and Scott Delaney working well with old hands Wayne O’Sullivan and Anthony Couzens also involved.

Vikings claw their way back – but miss chance to bury match

 
Hakin levelled within six minutes of the restart when a through ball allowed Woodrow to find the net from a shot that at first seemed to be scuffed and as fortunes ebbed and swayed a Rhys Dalling screamer rapped the woodwork for Goodwick before The Vikings took the lead when Stanmore scored after a corner.

The visitors looked likely to add a third after 62 minutes when Bevan was up-ended in the box but Stanmore’s spot-kick rapped the post the rebound was headed against the bar before being scrambled clear.
 
Fortunes ebb and flow
 
Bevan and Steele had further chances for Hakin and Kieran O’Brien’s header and an Adam Raymond pile-driver failed to bring reward for Goodwick before they finally drew level when Morgans found the net after good work by midfielders O’Sullivan and Raymond.

Goodwick regained the initiative after 12 minutes of extra time when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Chris O’Sullivan slammed the ball into the top corner – and it seemed as if that would prove to be enough – but Hakin showed what bonny battlers they are when Stanmore headed home superbly with just a minute to go of extra time.

It nicely set up that dramatic penalty shoot-out where there were nicely taken goals, excellent saves by both keepers, some kicks that hit the woodwork and others which were completely botched in the tense atmosphere at the Phoenix Club end.

But in the end the keeping skills of Gwilt and the experience of Raymond saw Goodwick United through on afternoon where it was a pity that either side had to lose!
 
Penalty Sequence (Goodwick United first):
Adam Raymond – Scored                    Scott Reid – Saved                                     1-0
Chris O’Sullivan – Missed                    James Stanmore – Scored                          1-1
Johnny Horgan – Missed                      Marc Jones – Missed     - Retaken - Scored 1-2
Rob Morgans – Scored                          Ashley Bevan – Missed                             2-2
Rhys Dalling – Saved                           Nicky Woodrow – Saved                             2-2
Kieran O’Brien – Missed                      Matthew Broome – Missed                          2-2
Anthony Couzens – Hit bar                   Mike Cooper – Saved                                 2-2
Wayne O’Sullivan – Scored                   Ewan Findlay – Scored                              3-3
Steff Hayes – Missed                          Steve Mathias – Saved                                3-3
Scott Delaney – Scored                       Jonty Bennett – Scored                              4-4
James Gwilt – Scored                          James Manson – Scored                            5-5
Adam Raymond – Scored                     Scott Reid – Saved                                   6-5
 
 
Goodwick United: James Gwilt: Anthony Couzens; Scott Delaney; Wayne O’Sullivan, Steff Hayes: Adam Raymond; Chris O’Sullivan; Kieran O’Brien; Johnny Horgan: Rhys Dalling; Jake Davies. Subs: Steven Dockerty; Jordan Griffiths; Rob Morgans.
Hakin United: James Manson: Matthew Broome; Ewan Findlay; Daniel Armstrong; Mark Jones: James Stanmore; Steve Mathias; Jonty Bennett; Ashley Bevan: Ben Steele; Nicky Woodrow. Subs: Mike Cooper; Scott Reid; Daniel Evans.
 
 
The only other Pembrokeshire team involved in the West Wales Intermediate Cup on Saturday was Merlins Bridge who lost 4-2 at Seven Sisters.

Fishguard Sports knock West Dragons out of Senior Cup

There was a cup upset in the Senior Cup second round where Second Division Fishguard Sports won 1-0 against First Division West Dragons at St Mary’s. The only goal of the cup-tie was scored in the second half by Richard Morgan, who was the Sports’ goal hero.

Narberth were too strong for Saundersfoot Sports, winning 5-2 at Jesse Road. The Bluebirds’ goal scorers were Tony Evans with a hat-trick, and a goal each for Ashley Williams and Chris Brown.
 
There two games played in the Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League First Division.
Johnston won 5-1 at home against Pennar Robins, scoring the goals for the Tigers were Adam Hawkins (2), Ryan Doyle Luke Hayward and Joey George; Jake Clarke scored the visitors’ only goal of the match.

At the Athletic Ground Neyland overcame St Clears 2-0, Justin Harding and Mike Chandler found the back of the net for the Nomads.

Neyland goal scorers Mike Cahndler and Justin Harding
Picture by Martin Jones




Tony Evans scored a hat-trick for Narberth
Picture by Susan McKehon