Goodwick United marched into the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup Quarter Finals after a convincing 7-0 victory over fellow Division 1 side Merlins Bridge on Saturday (Feb 21) writes Jonathan Twigg, the Wizards were reduced to 9 men after Mathew D'Ivry and Nathan Evans saw red on the hour mark, with their side 4-0 in arrears at the time.
The visitors started brightly, wingman Will Haworth tormenting the back four on several occasions as his pace and direct running created opportunities for front men Ben Adams and Johnny Horgan, Haworth himself having an early opportunity saved by home custodian Ben Henton. Haworth opened the scoring as he took hold of the ball from man of the match Rhys Jones after half an hour, cutting in from the right before setting himself for a speculative 25 yard effort, Henton inexplicably letting the shot through his legs to the disbelief of his team mates and howls of delight from the visiting supporters.
Both sides were forced into using early substitutions, veteran Bridge play maker Jamie Palmer replaced by Iestyn Howells after 14 minutes and Guto Roberts entered the amphitheatre as Horgan limped off minutes after the opening goal. Sandwiched between Jake Smith and Liam Mainwaring had received cautions from East Williamston referee Steffan Jenkins as the central areas were competitive, Dai Davies and his team mate Nathan Evans having a battle royal with Sion O’Sullivan, referee Jenkins turning down appeals for a Bridge penalty when striker Scott Crawford tumbled in the area when under pressure from visiting captain Scott Delaney.
The game lacked decisive direction despite the Phoenix Park outfit controlling possession and territory, the home players vociferous in their questioning of the referee, who worked hard to allow advantage to be played, a mark of his temperament for the game meaning he was in the right position to give transparent and forthright decisions, despite the ongoing diatribe. With two minutes of the opening half remaining a penalty was awarded after centre half Andrew John was adjudged to have brought down Adams, John finding his name recorded in the ‘black book’, two minutes after veteran full back D'Ivry also found himself in the same place for a robust challenge.
Jones was the central figure, sending Henton the wrong way from 12 yards and then two minutes later he pushed a peach of a pass to split John and his co central defender, skipper Jordan Thomas, Adams used his pace and experience to rattle Henton’s net to all but end the encounter at half time.
Guto Roberts made it 4-0 as he sliced skilfully in from the left and placed his shot with precision into the far corner of the net 7 minutes before the incident which saw the red cards and a melee ensue which took several minutes for Jenkins to restore calm. D'Ivry was dismissed for a punch at Jones and Evans talked himself into a red card having received a sin bin caution for dissent, visiting manager Nigel Delaney also seeing yellow for leaving his technical area.
Goodwick were well led by skipper Scott Delaney as he instilled composure on his side after the melee, fellow central defender Ross Jones alongside full backs Steff Hayes and Josh Wood solid in their team play, Jones and Delaney also having the passing range to set Haworth and Adams offensive play, goalkeeper Nick Jones also having that delivery in his armoury as he commanded his area with confidence, Gwilliam turning another Roberts' effort into his own net on 68 minutes.
Billy Martin replaced Gwilliam and Hayes stepped aside for teenager Tyler Morris, Goodwick also blooded 16 year old Cade Watts for the impressive man of the match awardee with a quarter of an hour to play, Delaney thumping home a header from Haworth’s delivery a minute later making it 6-0.
Crawford made way for teenager Oscar Willington and Davies was exchanged for 17 year old Daniel Isaac as the game ebbed to its final 10 minutes, Watts having the final word netting after Woods teed him up, the 7-0 score line removing any hangover the visitors had from their WWFA Intermediate cup exit 7 days previously at Garden Village.
