West Wales Intermediate Cup round 4:

 

Fishguard Sports 0 - Penlan AFC 3

 

They had to deal with rain, mud, and a committed display from hosts Fishguard - but that didn't prevent Penlan from making in into the quarter-finals with room to spare at Tregroes, writes Fraser Watson.
 
Heavy pre-game downpours meant ground staff working on the surface right up until kick-off, and with the game inevitably dictated by the conditions, it was the visitors who adapted better as two goals from Kieran Jenkins and one from substitute Kyle Hughes got the job done.
 
The hosts, meanwhile, were combative throughout despite struggling to create clear chances, but to compound the result had Tom Lawrence sent off late on after being booked twice in a matter of minutes.
 

Visitors score after scrappy start

 
From the opening moments it was clear that balls into the danger zone and goalmouth scrambles were the order of the day. Short passes fell short of targets, long balls stopped on the surface, and bodies flayed everywhere as the sides battled for possession.
 
But it was Penlan who carried more threat as Fishguard defenders Greg Hughes and Anthony Couzens both blocked goal-bound shots before the opener came 15 minutes in. Thomas Williams, a threat throughout in attack, swung in a corner that found its way through to Jenkins and the striker fired high into the net.
 
The same player had a chance to make it two moments later but dinked his shot over the onrushing Ryan Sinnott and wide, before another Williams cross came back off the bar.
 
Keeper Sinnott then did well to palm away a Ben Williams shot before the Sports has their first chance as Luke Thomas, starved of service for much of the first 45 minutes, latched onto bouncing ball but couldn't get his angled volley on target.
 

Penlan pull away in second-half

 
The early stages of the second period mirrored that first and within six minutes of the restart, Penlan had daylight. From a free-kick out wide, Dylan Perkins swung a left-footed ball in and an unmarked Williams planted a header low into the corner.
 
However, Fishguard then responded with their best spell of the game as Steve Lewis added some energy off the bench, and amid a series of corners Greg Hughes had an effort tipped over by away keeper Luke Davies.
 
As the hosts continued to press though, they inevitably left space at the back and after Williams fired over from close range, the killer blow came. Jack Jenkins played a ball over the top and with referee Jeff Moore ignoring home pleas for offside, Hughes ran clean through before rounding Sinnott and tapping in.
 
Lawrence then earned himself a red before the final whistle after twice mistiming tackles, and it was the away side, and their large band of travelling fans, who could reflect on a difficult job well done.







 
Fishguard manager Phil Jones: "Credit to Penlan, we did our best to compete with them but when we had the ball they were around us like a pack out of wolves. We did well in the second half and gave it a good shot and I'll be telling the boys in the dressing room that that's the standard we need to be at every Saturday."
 
Penlan coach Craig Jones:  "Fair play to Fishguard they got the game on. We do like to play out from the back but today we had to adapt to the conditions and got the ball forward well. They were putting a bit of pressure on us in the second-half so we scored the third goal at a good time."
 
Man of the match: Thomas Williams
 
He didn't get on the score sheet, but the winger defied the conditions more than most. Constantly drew in defenders in the first-half and his deliveries into the danger area caused Fishguard problems throughout.
 
The final word:
 
Fishguard were anything but outclassed and can at least be satisfied with the effort and endeavour if not the result. But in reality, their focus now turns to their main priority and that's staying up in Division One.
 
Despite having games in hand, they lie three points off Narberth and survival - with some crunch games to come. Commitment simply has to be converted into points.
 
As for Penlan, given their West Wales Premier League form the perception remains this current side isn't as strong as the one which won back-to-back West Wales Cups in 2023 and 2024. However, they are club with the experience and know-how in this competition, and after negotiating a potentially tricky tie with room to spare, anyone who draws them in the last-eight is in for a serious battle.
 
As a sidenote, the visitors brought a busload of supporters with both sets of players holding socials back at the clubhouse afterwards. To see that side of the West Wales Cup, and indeed local sport, still going strong is heartening to see.
 
Fishguard Sports: Ryan Sinnott, Haydn Hughes (Jack Griffiths 70), Anthony Couzens, Patrick Hughes, Greg Hughes, Adam Lawrence, Henry Sturman (Sean Thomas 57), William Moore (Tom Lawrence 70), Tom Merry, Josh Bland (Steve Lewis 57), Luke Thomas (Danny Hopkin 70).
 
Penlan AFC: Luke Davies, Ben Williams, Corey Young, Jamie James, Jack Jenkins, Liam Logan, Dylan Perkins (John Lorey 67), Nayan Green, Jayden Blackmore (Kian Finselbach 79), Kieran Jenkins (Kyle Hughes 67), Thomas Williams. Sub not used: Theo Adams.
 
Referee: Jeff Moore.