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Milford United overcame the dismissal of Scott Griffiths to secure a 2-1 victory over cup holders Clarbeston Road on Friday (Mar 14) at the Bridge Meadow in the semi final of the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup, to set up a date with local rivals Hakin United on Saturday (April 12).
A fervent atmosphere engulfed the stadium as referee Sean O’Connor started the second Senior Cup semi-final at the Ogi Bridge Meadow, on a night made for football. The early possession was dominated by Clarbeston Road but following controlled inter play between Sam Davies, Wesley Hill and Joey Jones the Robins made their first foray into the Clarby penalty area to earn a corner on four minutes. Liam Davies delivered a testing dead ball into the danger area, which evaded goalkeeper Rhys Mansell, allowing an unmarked Jack Dyer at the back post to place his volley from ten yards cooly into the corner of the net.
The early breakthrough rattled the Clarby rhythm, their usual composure on the ball and in the penalty box awry, the team ethos replaced as individuals sought the moment of glory, with passes and shots missing the intended target, the frustration evident, with Mathew Davies collecting the games first caution on twenty minutes for a cynical late challenge on the impressive Robins midfielder Jones on 20 minutes.
Milford custodian, 18 year old Charlie Malloy stood as a rock behind his defence, led by skipper Scott Griffiths alongside Anthony Hubbuck, Davies and Rhys Brawn at right full back. Malloy exuded confidence to distribute the ball in open play with either foot and his handling impeccable as the white shirted Clarby side settled to dominate possession, as the game reached the half hour mark.
Milford had their chances to double the lead, pin ball in the box saw Sam Hurton make a goal line clearance as Scott Reid and Liam Davies combined, Jones again on hand to deliver a cross which involved Wesley Hill in the offensive play, Joules Ward a tough tackling defender in assisting Hurton.
On the stroke of half time a lapse in concentration by Milford at a corner saw a weak clearance establish a pin ball situation on the six yard box line and it took a goal line clearance from Ieuan Rutherford to keep his side in front as they disappeared for their half-time oranges.
An early second half chance fell to Laurie Haworth, his left foot drive from the edge of the box not troubling the imposing figure of Malloy, the goalkeeper saving again from Haworth on 50 minutes after his mazy dribble created space, central midfielder Travis Jones sitting in the quarter back position beginning to influence play with frontman Ben John the outlet ball to bring in Haworth. Jones had a rasping drive from 20 yards which dipped over the cross bar at the Withybush end of the ground, and Davies also clipped his half chance over, the feeling of an equaliser evident to the 529 spectators as teenage goal scorer Dyer was replaced by Morgan Picton on the hour mark, Malloy making a stunning save low to his left from Davies strike after John again set up the play.
The game was tied at 1-1 as John switched flanks and left a wave of red shirts in his wake as he came from the left and buried his right foot shot from fifteen yards beyond a despairing Malloy, manager Steve Parks prompted to replace Sam Davies, with his namesake Curtis, but a minute later skipper Griffiths made the long trudge to the changing rooms as ‘Rocky’ John was fouled on the edge of the box and Griffiths deemed guilty of destroying a goal scoring opportunity by experienced referee O’Connor, a man who has officiated the blue ribband final and also managed a cup winning Goodwick outfit.
Will Goodall became the third Robins change as he took his place in the heart of the defence as Brawn made way, player-manager Mathew Ellis giving way to Jake Wesley.
The flow of traffic didn’t change after the plethora of substitutions, Milford struggling to match the physical presence of the Clarby side, conceding soft free kicks, Malloy again a commanding presence as he dominated his penalty area, teenager Wesley missing a golden opportunity on 75 minutes when he failed to connect with the goal at his mercy before Malloy pulled off a double save, Parks bravely throwing on another teenager Tommy Powles for Liam Davies.
With ten minutes to play marauding centre back Hubbard should have put his side ahead from ten yards but he pulled his effort wide of Mansell’s far post, before the experience of Reid did have the Robins chirping as he cooly put his shot from twelve yards into the bottom corner after Hills good work set him up, to send the Milford fans wild before Jones was then guilty of not putting the game to bed a minute later.
Rhys Lloyd-Roberts came on for Ward with five minutes to play as Mathew Fox rolled the dice for the cup holders, Reid miscuing a half chance for Milford, Haworth replaced by teenager Henry Lucas as the game went into six minutes of added on time, the final Milford replacement saw Rutherford replaced by Ben Lloyd. Jones drove a free kick into the danger zone but Jake Booth's shot didn’t trouble man of the match Malloy, the jubilation evident at the final whistle as the ten men set up a cup final to whet the appetite of all football lovers, against local rivals Hakin United.
Clarbeston Road
Rhys Mansell; Josh Wood ©️; Joules Ward (Rhys Lloyd-Thomas: 83); Travis Jones; Sam Hurton; Mathew Griffiths; Jake Booth; Mathew Ellis (Jake Wesley: 60); Ben John; Mathew Davies; Laurie Haworth (Henry Lucas: 89)
Unused substitutes:
Richard Bevans; Steffan Thomas
Milford United
Charlie Malloy; Rhys Brawn (Wil Goodall: 65); Sam Davies (Curtis Davies: 60); Anthony Hubbuck; Scott Griffiths ©️; Ieuan Rutherford; Joey Jones; Jack Dyer (Morgan Picton: 58); Scott Reid; Wesley Hill; Liam Davies (Tommy Powles: 75)
Unused substitute:
Benjamin Lloyd
Match photos by MW10 Sports Photography
Photo Gallery (click to view in full)
