PHOTOS
Division Two champions Clarbeston Road
Jason Griffiths and Matthew Ellis with the cup
The Ellis family celebrate
Father Steve and son Tom Glover with the cup

Division Two:

Clarbeston Road 5 - Saundersfoot Sports 2

A hat -trick from ace striker Jason Griffiths helped seal Clarbeston Road’s return to top flight football in Pembrokeshire as they were crowned Division Two champions with a 5-2 win over Saundersfoot Sports.

Clarbie’s back-to-back wins over Herbrandston last Saturday and Tuesday had left them needing just a point from two games to take the title, and they looked determined to get the job done quickly as they led 3-0 after just 17 minutes.

Player manager Matthew Ellis opted to leave himself on the bench, and he watched his team make a fast start as Richard Bevan had a close range shot blocked, and strike partner Griffiths flashed a left foot shot narrowly over.

But it only took nine minutes for Clarbie to lead, when Griffiths found space on the edge of the area, and drilled a left foot shot that Saundersfoot keeper Sam Franklyn couldn’t prevent finding the bottom corner.

Just four minutes afterwards it was 2-0, as home centre back Dan Rees crossed for Bevan, and after his header was saved by Franklyn, Griffiths blasted in the rebound from six yards.

The one way traffic continued as Griffiths shot wide from a Matthew Davies’ cutback, and the skipper again came close to an early hat trick when his angled shot was beaten away by Franklyn.

However, just 17 minutes in it was 3-0 after Clarbie full back Josh Wood had a shot blocked, and the rebound fell to Greg Brown, who made no mistake from inside the area.

At that stage The Sports were really struggling to get a foothold in proceedings, but then missed a great chance to pull a goal back when a long ball forward from Geoff Marsh found striker Jake Webster, who rounded home keeper Dan Richards but was unbalanced as he shot wide with his left foot.

At the other end Davies had an angled shot cleared off the line, and Griffiths again went close to his treble when he headed Brown’s cross straight at Franklyn.

Then seven minutes before half time, the visitors did get back in the game when Webster did well to flick a header into the net from right back Paul Hodge’s cross.

And after Griffiths had two more quickfire efforts blocked by the Saundersfoot defence, it was Webster who threatened again for the away side when his curling free kick was pushed away by Richards.

But from the final play of the half, Clarbie missed a golden chance to go in 4-1 up as Wood reached the by-line and played the ball across goal to Bevan, but he skied his shot over with the goal at his mercy.

Bevan’s bad luck continued within 10 seconds of the second half restart as he pounced on a loose ball but could only find the post with his driven effort, before Clarbie midfielder Raff Barnett had a long range effort saved by Franklyn.

The home side however, perhaps had the Senior Cup final a week Saturday in mind as they failed to match their intensity of the first 45 minutes, and it wasn’t until the final quarter that they went close again when Davies hit a half volley that Franklyn palmed to safety.

The Sports fashioned another chance themselves when Sam Coleman’s free kick found Paul Hodge at the back post, who couldn’t get his sliding effort on target.

With 13 minutes left, Griffiths finally sealed his hat trick when he tapped home after Bevan’s shot was saved by Franklyn – and six minutes later it was Bevan himself who eventually got on the scoresheet, following in to make it 5-1 after Barnett’s shot had cannoned back off the post.

Yet Saundersfoot kept going and four minutes from time they grabbed a consolation goal when Hodge dispossessed Clarbie defender Tom Glover on the right edge of the box, and then with his left foot, curled a delightful effort into the far top corner.

But it failed to take the gloss off what could be the start of a history making month for Clarbie, and after the club were congratulated by Pembrokeshire Football league committee member Roger Wood, it was Chairperson Rowena Lloyd who presented the squad with medals, and the league trophy to captain Jason Griffiths.

And with their final league game at Lawrenny on Saturday now effectively a meaningless one, Clarbie will no doubt rest players ahead of a first ever Senior Cup final appearance against Merlins Bridge at The Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday, April 22.

Clarbeston Road: Dan Richards, Josh Wood, Matthew Griffiths, Greg Brown, Dan Rees (Jacque Montague HT), Tom Glover, Tom Reubens, Raff Barnett, Matthew Davies, Jason Griffiths, Richard Bevan.
Subs not used: Matthew Ellis, Michael Turpin.

Saundersfoot Sports: Sam Franklyn, Paul Hodge, Sam Coleman, Kyle Marsh, Nathan Milward, Geoff Marsh, Harry Goforth, Jonathan Griffin, George Taylor, Jake Webster, Adam Uka (Richard Walwyn 81).
Referee: Bernie Armstrong.