Goodwick do the double with emphatic Senior Cup win

Dan Metcalf

29/04/2023

Sport

Match Photos provided by MW10 Sports Photography

Goodwick United have been crowned Senior Cup champions after defeating Monkton Swifts 5-1 at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Goodwick ran ahead with the lead thanks to an empathetic first-half performance in which they took a three-goal lead in the opening 20 minutes.

Rhys Jones put his side ahead in the 8th minute with a left-footed volley across goal after a scramble in the box when Scott Delaney flicked the ball on from a Jonny Horgan corner.

It was an opening goal that Goodwick deserved with a fast-paced aggressive start, with Jonny Horgan and Steven Dockerty already having efforts on goal.

Jonny Horgan continued to have joy down the left flank and saw a shot deflected behind for a corner after a fantastic ball from striker Rhys Dalling.

Goodwick then doubled their lead from the resulting corner. Luke Hayward’s cross caused confusion in the box before Rhys Jones managed to get a shot away, with his effort deflected past the Monkton goalkeeper by his own defender.

Monkton’s vulnerability at defending corners continued and only five minutes later, Luke Hayward set up another goal with Scott Delaney’s header eventually trickling over the line to make it three.

Until then there had only been one side in it, but in the 25th minute, Monkton finally got in on the action with Ben Steele setting up Declan Carroll to make it 1-3. The forward had battled with Steffan Hayes before laying off to the on-running midfielder finished, with the Goodwick coaching staff furious that a free-kick was not awarded in their favour.

Monkton’s young goalkeeper Taylor Gullam then made a good save from Rhys Dalling who showed excellent control to bring down a long ball before cutting inside and shooting.

It was Jonny Horgan causing problems for the Monkton defence once again, running down the left wing in the 39th minute before whipping a ball in. His cross evaded the Monkton defence only to be struck beautifully by the outside right foot of Rhys Jones from just outside the box, a fantastic effort to complete his hat-trick.

Goodwick continued to get joy from the wings with Scott Delaney consistently finding his wingers or playing. Their last chance of the half came after good work from Jake Smith in midfield who played a ball through to Ben Adams on the left who then saw his shot saved.

With such a commanding first-half lead it was always going to be the case of managing the game in the second half for Goodwick, with a much more subdued 45 minutes.

In a half of few chances it was once again Rhys Jones who lit up the stadium with a fantastic long range effort after bringing the ball down from a Jonny Horgan cross, a stunning hit to make it five.

In the 82nd minute, Monkton were reduced to ten men when Ross Jones brought down substitute forward Nathan Greene as the last man when a ball was played over the top to him.

As the game drew to a close, Goodwick gave minutes to their promising youth contingent, a fitting end to a strong performance, representative of their achievements as a football club.

Connect Pembrokeshire Man of the Match: Rhys Jones

Match Photos provided by MW10 Sports Photography