St Ishmaels reached the Quarter Finals of the Senior Cup on Saturday (Mar 7), turning round a 3-1 half time deficit to overcome Division 1 rivals Narberth 4-3 writes Jonathan Twigg, in a dour encounter which saw two penalties, a plethora of yellow cards alongside two red cards, for Narberth Manager Ryan Williams and midfielder Jamie Thomas.
In the first game played in the village for six weeks, the pitch was heavy which didn’t help either side who like to move the ball across the floor, the home side looking to utilise wide player Tyler Sheils and teenager Ethan Davies, with Nathan Thomas and Jack Mills often the orchestrators from central midfielder. Jamie Thomas was the first name noted by Fishguard referee Sean O’Connor for a late challenge on Thomas before returning striker Aaron Hallam opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes, full back Tom Williams setting Davies free and his through ball allowed Hallam to keep his composure and drive the ball low beyond the advancing visiting goalkeeper Dan James.
The lead lasted 2 minutes, the visitors coming to life with a move down their left which saw centre half Brennan Devonald penalised for handball, his arms high and away from his body, veteran former Haverfordwest striker Steffan Williams firing the ball beyond home custodian Owen Thomas. The games tempo had escalated, Thomas booked for a late challenge but Narberth held the momentum with Dylan Williams and Lewis Bansal, home centre half Finlay Armstrong giving away a free kick on the 20 yards from goal and Bansal powered the ball beyond Thomas on 25 minutes off the underside of the bar.
Williams was carded for delaying the restart of a free kick a minute later and centre half Connor Bowen followed him into O’Connor's book before the half hour for a late challenge, as did midfielder Jacob Layfield, James making two outstanding saves from Hallam and Thomas to keep his side ahead. The Bluebirds when they had the ball combined well in their offensive play, Karl Jones and full back Dan David helping endeavouring to play in Williams, who had little given to him from home full backs in Williams and Archie Hillier-Wood on the right. Narberth extended their lead on the stroke of half time, a corner into the mixer from Layfield saw centre half Kyle Quartermaine deliver a bullet header into the net.
The second half saw both teams jousting for the upper hand, Adam Kingsbeer becoming more prominent for the Mice in the centre of the field, his play releasing Williams on 55 minutes and the teenager found Sheil who cut in from the left and unchallenged put the ball beyond James to reduce the arrears to 3-2. It prompted manager Williams to replace a tiring Thomas with Jordan Preece on the hour, home full back Williams carded for dissent and Hiller-Wood replaced by Jospeh Davies. Williams was yellow carded for his protests for consistency in law application from the touchline as the game bubbled, over his namesake for St Ishmaels delaying a free kick.
Thomas made way for the fresh legs of Ieuan Hawkins and 5 minutes later the game was levelled with a quarter of an hour to play, Hallam striking his second of the game from 12 yards, the penalty awarded as Quartermaine went through his opponent. There were protests from the green shirted Narberth players which delayed the kick, with reference to the foul being inside the penalty area, O’Connor well sighted to make the decision without diffidence. Clearly irked Williams protests saw him receive a second card and trudge to the changing room, home manager Graham Ninnis sensing his side had the momentum replaced Davies with Corey Richards as they sought the goal to set up the Quarter Final tie against second division New Hedges Saundersfoot next weekend.
The winning goal did come on 85 minutes, Mills striking a beauty to the delight of the home support, which was to much for Thomas, who despite being substituted allowed his commentary to boil over and he headed the same way on 85 minutes, Mills himself ending the game with a yellow card as it entered added on time.
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