Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League
 
2024 Senior Cup Semi-Final

 
 

Carew 3 – Clarbeston Road 5

(Clarbeston Road win 5-3 after extra time)
 

Super sub Jake Wesley starred with a superb hat-trick which secured Clarbeston Road a dramatic extra time victory against stunned Carew at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday evening.
 
Sonny Phillips, James Hinchliffe and Marcus Griffiths (penalty) grabbed the all-important goals for Carew as they looked to be heading for victory, but Ben John and super sub Wesley scored twice to force extra time. Rooks’ skipper Sonny Phillips received his marching orders in stoppage time as Carew went down to ten men.
 
Teenager Wesley completed his hat-trick as he bagged his side’s fourth goal in the 106^th minute, seven minutes later Haworth added the Road’s fifth.
 
Clarbeston Road came into this semi-final in confident mood as they had already beaten Carew twice in the league this season, on both occasions in entertaining high scoring affairs.
 
This clash proved just as dramatic as the Road gained an incredible comeback victory to win this highly entertaining game in the extra time period.
 
The Road took an early lead through Ben John’s brilliant strike, the striker was set-up by Jake Booth before he struck an unstoppable 15 yard strike which crashed in the back of Tom Davies’ net.
 
However, it was short lived as the Rooks equalised as skipper Sonny Phillips scored directly from a corner.
 
Road goalkeeper Rhys Mansell parried Phillips’ free kick which fell invitingly for James Hinchliffe who volleyed home from close range to put the Rooks ahead.
 
A minute later the Rooks were awarded a penalty as Hinchliffe was brought down inside the box, referee Gareth Elliott didn’t hesitate as he pointed straight to the spot. Up stepped Marcus Griffiths who smashed his 12 yard effort into the back of the net which gave his side a healthy 3-1 cushion at the break.
 
Jake Wesley replaced Rob Morgans; the substitute had only been on the pitch six minutes before he scored from a neat John assist to put the Road right back in the tie - then in the 82^nd minute he struck again to level matters which forced this gripping clash into extra time as Carew skipper Phillips was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
 
The pendulum swung in Matthew Fox’s Clarby Road’s favour as 18-year-old Wesley scored the fourth, it completed a personal hat-trick. Haworth added a fifth and there was no way back for the shell shocked Rooks. After the final whistle Carew’s Shaun Whitfield was issued a straight red card as tensions were running high.
 
Now Clarbeston Road have set-up a mouth-watering final against hot favourites and current holders Goodwick United which will be staged at the same venue next Saturday (27^th April) afternoon.




 
Carew: Tom Davies, Shaun Whitfield (Alex Bayley 105’), Sonny Phillips (Captain), Gareth Lewis, Sam Southcott, Jonty Bennett, Marcus Griffiths, Connor Davies, Dylan Morgan, James Hinchliffe, Curtis Hurlow.
 
Unused substitutes:  James Harries, Archie Smith, Iwan Izzard, Jack Christopher.
 
Clarbeston Road: Rhys Mansell, Josh Wood, Joules Ward (Ben Clague 100’), Travis Jones, Rheinallt George (Captain), Tom Withers, Jake Booth (Matthew Ellis 105’), Matthew Davies (Sam Hurton 101’), Ben John, Rob Morgans (Jake Wesley 67’), Laurie Haworth.
 
Unused substitute: George Thomas.
 
Referee: Gareth Elliott.
 
Assistants: Stefan Jenkins & Sean O’Connor.
 
Fourth Official: Jonathan Twigg.




 

Pictures by Matthew Kelly of Rawphotography