2026 West Wales Intermediate Cup Final

 
 
 

Penlan 0 - Hakin United 1

 

Hakin United nervously held on to retain the West Wales Intermediate Cup at the expense of arch-rivals West Wales Premier outfit Penlan at the Swansea.com Stadium on Thursday evening, writes Gordon Thomas.
 
Remarkably this was Hakin’s third final in four years as proud manager Scott Davies’ Hakin outfit became the first Pembrokeshire team to win back-to-back finals and so are history makers.
 
Vikings’ top-notch striker Ashley Bevan was the cup hero as he got on the end of Shane Walsh’s inviting pass inside the area to slide home the only goal scored in the first period of a competitively fought final.
 
Penlan started brightly as left sided midfielder Kyle Hughes struck an edge of the area deflected shot agonisingly wide also Kieran Jenkins curled a right footed shot straight to Vikings’ goalkeeper Rory Williams.
 
A mistake at the back allowed Jenkins to force a good save from Williams and at the other end Jack Britton failed to get enough on a header to trouble the Penlan keeper from inside the box.
 
A half-cleared corner allowed Camron Thomas to get his shot away which was blocked and rebounded to Bevan who also had his goal-bound efforts blocked.
 
Vikings’ keeper Williams put in a terrific sliding tackle outside the area to deny Penlan; it was risky tackle but he timed it perfectly.
 
Ben Aldred struck a wicked rising 25 yarder which flew over Luke Davies’ crossbar, it was Hakin’s best chance of the opening period.
 
Midfielders Jack Britton and Jordan Kilby both picked up yellow cards for sliding in to the tackle as it became a little scrappy.
 
The Vikings opened the scoring in the 34^th minute as Walsh made good ground down the left before he unselfishly squared the ball to Bavan who slid in to find the back of the net and the Vikings narrowly held on to lead 1-0 at half time.
 
Shortly after the break there was a delay in play for a few minutes waiting for the Swansea.com Stadium to put on the lights.
 
Dylyn Perkins had a shot blocked by Hakin’s Britton inside the box as Penlan went in search for an equaliser.
 
An inviting cross by Kieran King was half cleared only for Bevan to flash a shot over the bar from the 18 yard box. The striker was looking very dangerous and he proved a handful for the Penlan defenders.
 
Aldred fell awkwardly on his ankle after clearing Perkins’ dangerous curling free kick from the right, whipped in with his trusty left foot. Aldred limped off, which was a blow and he was replaced by Craig Nicholson who slotted into the heart of the Vikings’ defence alongside the immaculate Jay Power, Kieran King and the impressive left back Camron Thomas.
 
Penlan’s strong central defender Jack Jenkins picked up a yellow card for deliberately taking down Bevan from behind.
 
Liam Parks got on the end of a through ball which  went over the head of keeper Davies, but the substitute lost his footing at a crucial moment, and minutes later Parks cut back to Dolling, who flashed a low shot just wide.
 
Late in the game Penlan were reduced to ten men as substitute Anthony Finselbach was issued a straight red card by referee Ben Williams for clattering Matthew Broome.
 
At the final whistle the Hakin players and travelling supporters celebrated ecstatically an excellent win which earned them a league and cup double.
 
Hakin United have won this cup five times during their club history and are placed third in the all time winners’ list behind West End and Ragged School who have both won it seven times.
 
Penlan: Luke Davies, Jenson Lorey, Corey Young (Jaye Tebay, 89), Liam Logan (captain), Jack Jenkins, Jamie James, Kyle Hughes, Navan Green (Anthony Finselbach 76), Thomas Davies, Kieran Jenkins, Dylan Perkins (Jayden Blackmore76).
Substitutes not used: Robert Shannon, , Kian Finselbach.
 
Hakin United: Rory Williams, Kieran King, Camron Thomas, Ben Aldred (Craig Nicholson 70), Jay Power, Jack Britton, Cameron Brunton (Mason Dolling 59), Jordan Kilby (Mark Jones. 90), Ashley Bevan (Liam Parks 74), Ryan Wilson (Captain), Shane Walsh (Matthew Broome 83).
 
Referee: Ben Williams.
 
Assistants: Cilan Thomas & Nick Pryor.
 
Fourth Official: Kevin Price.