2024 Jubilee Cup:

 

Goodwick edge out Clarby to lift Jubilee Cup

 

Goodwick United 3 -  Clarbeston Road 2

 
League champions Goodwick United drew first blood in the Pembrokeshire Football League season as a double strike from Rhys Jones helped them to a 3-2 win over Clarbeston Road.
 
The return of the annual clash between the title winners and Senior Cup holders yielded five goals at Monkton Lane, and also a red card as Jonny Horgan was sent off for the Phoenix Boys late on.
 
There was an also a minute’s silence before kick-off out of respect for the late Brian Hawkins, who died last month having contributed so much to the local game as both a referee and an administrator.
 
It was Goodwick who controlled the first 45 minutes, and after Jones had a low free-kick tipped round the post by Clarby keeper Rhys Mansell, they deservedly led midway through the half.
 
Will Haworth’s cross from the right was volleyed home by Rhys Dalling, and the striker came close to a second minutes later, latching onto a through ball from Jones before seeing his angled effort pushed onto the post by Mansell.
 
Early in the second half and it was Haworth then denied by a combination of the keeper and the woodwork, before Horgan found the bottom corner only to be flagged offside.
 
But on the hour mark Clarby struck back. And it appeared Goodwick didn’t heed the lesson of the cup final as Matthew Davies, who headed home the winner on the Meadow when unmarked in the area, did the same again at the back post after Rheinallt George’s long throw-in was flicked into his path.
 
They were level for mere minutes though, as James Bryan was bundled over in the area and in another flashback to the Senior Cup clash, Jones stepped up to try and beat Mansell from the spot.
 
That day, the midfielder went to his right only to see his effort saved, but while Mansell dived the same way again, this time Jones went to the left and his spot-kick nestled in the corner. The look he gave the keeper afterwards signified his relief.
 
And it was Jones who then supplied the goal of the game on the 67-minute mark, executing an expert first-time finish at the back post after Dalling had showed quick feet on the left before delivering a precise cross into his path.
 
Clarby weren’t done though and hit back immediately when Jake Booth’s in-swinging corner caught out Goodwick keeper Nick Jones, and deflected off Dan Bryce who could only watch as the ball trickled over the line.
 
It was Goodwick who saw out the closing minutes though, but not without jeopardy after Horgan was sent off by referee Sion Jenkins in injury time after lashing out in retaliation, meaning he’ll be suspended for their opening league clash with Carew on Tuesday.
 
Goodwick United: Nick Jones, James Bryan, Steven Dockerty, Daniel Bryce, Scott Delaney (Captain), Luke Hayward, Rhys Jones, Jake Smith, Rhys Dalling, Will Haworth, Jonny Horgan. Subs: Keegan Summers, Tyler Booker, Tyler Morris, Kyle Smith, Iwan James.
 
Clarbeston Road: Ryan Mansell, Sam Hurton, Joules Ward, Travis Jones, Rheinallt George (Captain), Tom Withers, Jake Booth, Matthew Davies, Ben John, Jake Wesley, Josh Wood. Subs: Matthew Griffiths, Richard Bevan, Liam Sheehan.




 
Referee: Sion Jenkins.
 
Assistants: Ioan Nevatte, Richard Gwyther.
 
Fourth Official: Mark Hicks.