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A fantastic all round performance from Tenby striker Scott Ferney on Saturday (Mar 1) in the West Wales Intermediate Cup, saw him bag a brace as his magic all day saw off Merlins Bridge 5-2 in the all Pembrokeshire quarter final held at the Pembrokeshire Sports Village.
Ferney had been instrumental alongside full backs Sam Butler and Ned Davies as the pivot for the Seasiders as they dominated the ball and territory for the opening quarter, laying their attacking intent to use the width of the pitch to drive at a home defence. Former Wizard Joe Leahy gained the upper hand in the centre of the park with his combination play alongside Spencer Williams and Jacob Hipkiss, leaving the home midfield of Dai Davies, Josh Thomas, Nathan Evans and Tom Gwilliam at times chasing shadows and not putting young centre half Kieran Allen under any pressure. Spencer Williams drew a foul from Evans midway through the half after he was set up by Ned Davies, allowing Ferney, a former Welsh league and Wizards incumbent to sweetly strike a left foot free kick from twenty yards over the defensive wall, leaving home custodian James Dickson rooted to his goal line.
With a thoroughly deserved lead Tenby seamlessly transitioned the ball allowing Darryl Williams and Curtis Hurlow opportunities to run at a back tracking defensive line marshalled by home skipper Jordan Thomas and Morgan Richards which included veteran former Haverfordwest Couty star Lee Hudgell and a youthful Henry Thomas. Visiting skipper Dan Storer split no hairs as he conjured up space for Spencer Williams to bury a left foot drive and a 2-0 with ten minutes of the half remaining, the Bridge players rattled further five minutes later as referee Sion Jenkins awarded a drop ball to Tenby who were attacking the School end, from which Darryl Williams delivered a perfect low cross for Hipkiss from ten yards, to give Gareth Noot's team a commanding 3-0 lead at half time.
The Bridge are notorious fighters and returned for the second half after a pep talk from manager Mike Preddy and Paul Thomas with a determined and at times robust approach, Davies seeing a yellow card for leaving Ferney crumpled on the floor after 47 minutes, front men Jason Griffiths and Hayden Dimond more involved as skipper Thomas pushed forward. Visiting goalkeeper Dylan Noot made an outstanding save on 50 minutes as Gwillam struck a well defined effort at goal, the resultant rebound just escaping the advancing Griffiths whose stretched effort hit the outside of the post.
Storer collected a yellow card for his tackle in the middle of the park, as his side found themselves pressed backwards for the first time in the tie, and as the game turned the hour mark, Dimond took control of the ball on the halfway line, having the skill to create space for himself, and the vision to see Noot on the edge of his penalty box to calmly rifle a precise drive into the unguarded net to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
Tenby, with coaches Dewi Davies and former Bristol Rovers professional Richard Perry urging their charges to keep control of the game found outlets in Ned Davies and Butler, the experienced full back pushing Ferney for the man of the match accolade for his complete defensive performance, Ferney having an opportunity with a close range header which was dealt with by Dickson before Rhys Morgan replaced Hipkiss and the Bridge sent on former manager Matthew D’ivry for Griffiths. Leahy pulled up with a hamstring strain midway through the half to be replaced by James Arden which disrupted the formation and interrupted the pace of the Tenby performance as the game headed into the final fifteen minutes.
Jenkins, who controlled the game with aplomb, dealing with verbal frustrations from players like the thoroughbred he is, as he allowed the players the opportunity to take up several advantages after fouls, the whistler from Sageston galloping around the paddock for over 7km and he wasn’t horsing around as he close to play to award a penalty with ten minutes remaining after Hurlow collected a yellow card as he made a rash tackle on Evans, allowing a Dimond to confidently reduce the score to 3-2, Allen immediately replaced by Charlie Gregory, allowing a reshuffle of positions once again as he instantly came to terms with the pace of the game, to influence his side moving forward.
Tenby had the guile and astuteness to use Ferney, Evans and Hurlow as key outlets to end the home sides spirit, Morgan delicately setting up Arden for the defining moment in the game with seven minutes remaining, the substitute serenely making it 4-2 with a measured effort. The final statement of magic came from Ferney a minute later who finished off the good work once again by Morgan too secure his second of the game and a 5-2 final result, teenager Billy Evans thrown into the fray as Jenkins watch drifted into added on time, who ended the game to resounding cheers from the seasiders amongst handshakes once the testosterone and commentary subsided.
The result sees Tenby reach the Semi-Finals of the West Wales Intermediate Cup for the first time in the club's history.
Match photos by MW10 Sports Photography.
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