PHOTOS:
Winners Goodwick United
Runners up Neyland
Goodwick skipper Wayne O'Sullivan receives Senior Cup from Pembrokeshire Football League Association President Phil Devonald
Man of the match Rhys Dalling receives the ball off Dai Malloy of Manderwood
Royston Holman presents the Lillian Holman Memorial Cup to Goodwick United manager Nigel Delaney

Senior Cup Final:

 

Goodwick United 1 - Neyland 0

 
Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest
Referee: Paul; Rooney.
Assistants: Angus Scourfield and Alan Boswell.
Fourth Official: Roy Boswell.
Man of the Match: Rhys Dalling.
 
 
Rhys Dalling was the toast of his Goodwick United colleagues and supporters, and also picked up the man of the match award after the match from sponsors Manderwoods,  as his second half header ensured Goodwick United’s season ended in glory as they beat Neyland to claim the 2014/2015 Senior Cup at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
 
Dalling broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half, as he pounced from close range after Lewis Banks had flicked on a Steff Hayes’ free kick – and it proved the only goal of a tight final.

 
Early chances go abegging at both ends

 
Despite driving rain and an inevitably slippery pitch, the early stages were played at a frantic pace and five minutes in, it was the Nomads who missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when Mike Chandler drove in a low cross from the left, but with Goodwick keeper Dean Hopson stranded, Nathan Warlow fired wide from close range as the ball seemed to take an awkward bounce.
 
Nigel Delaney’s men then had their first sight of goal when a Rob Morgans’ corner was cleared back into the path of the midfielder, and his first time shot was palmed away at his near post by Neyland No 1 Patrick Hannon – whilst at the other end, Wayne Parry surged forward and fed Chandler, who dragged his 20 yard shot just wide.

 
Honours even in first half

 
Indeed, it was Ian Baker’s men who were looking the more likely to open the scoring, as Goodwick skipper Wayne O’Sullivan almost headed into his own net, before Chandler saw his deep cross tipped over the bar by Hopson.
 
But as the half wore on, the Phoenix Boys came more and more into the contest, and had their best opening on the half hour mark when Jonny Horgan weaved his way into the area, before seeing his shot brilliantly blocked by a sliding Paul Hannon in the Nomads’ goal.
 
From the resultant Morgans’ corner, O’Sullivan headed wide, as did Banks when he got on the end of another Morgans’ set piece moments later – and Goodwick winger Karl Hedley then volleyed across goal from a tight angle, but Delaney’s men were dealt a body blow when captain O’Sullivan was forced

 

off with a groin injury.
 
It was the Nomads who then went close again before the break when Chandler got on the end of a Warlow cross, but O’Sullivan’s replacement, Darren Devonald, was on hand to clear off his own line as he settled in well alongside the outstanding Steff Hayes, Llyr Tobin and Scott Delaney, who switched to the heart of the defence and looked totally at home.
 

Vital goal comes after 52 minutes

 

It remained tight in the opening moments of the second half, before Neyland midfielder Gary Power narrowly failed to get on the end of a Parry header across goal, but after 52 minutes, came the decisive moment, as Goodwick were awarded a free kick on half way after Warlow was penalised for a foul on Hayes.
 
The latter pumped the resultant set piece forward, and after Banks did well to flick on with his back to goal, Dalling nipped in to nod past Patrick Hannon from six yards out.
 
 
Buoyed by the goal, the Phoenix Boys took control and the influential Morgans fired wide from close range, before seeing his deflected shot loop inches over the bar. Dalling then dispossessed Paul Hannon and cut into the area, but fired his shot straight at Paul’s brother Patrick in the Neyland goal.
 

Nomads try to claw their way back

 
But just as Delaney’s men appeared comfortable, midway through the half, the Nomads created two golden chances as Aaron McQuillan got on the end of a long punt forward from keeper Hannon and went clean through on goal, only for his shot to be palmed away by Hopson, and just seconds later, McQuillan was fouled by Llyr Tobin on the edge of the area, and from the free kick, Power put a free header wide with the goal at his mercy.
 
Dalling then had a close range shot blocked, before a long ball forward caused problems in the Goodwick defence – and Tobin brought down McQuillan as he tried to capitalise. Tobin was booked by referee Paul Rooney for his troubles, but Paul Hannon could only fire the 20 yard free kick into the wall.
 

Goodwick defend well – and almost grab another goal

 
The Nomads continued to try and press, but both Scott Delaney and Kieran O’Brien made crucial clearances under pressure as their side held firm - and with five minutes left, it was Goodwick who nearly sealed the win when Dalling was bravely denied by onrushing keeper Hannon.
 
But to the credit of the Phoenix Boys, they kept their composure late on to see out the final moments without any serious alarm, as they recaptured the trophy they last won in 2009/2010. It means the club have now won the trophy six times, while for Neyland, who were appearing in their first final, the wait for the prestigious silverware goes on.
 

Managers’ thoughts

 
“It was very tight and I told the boys at half time one goal would win it,” said Delaney afterwards, who was celebrating his fourth Senior Cup win, but first as a manager. “They had those chances midway through the second half, but after that, we defended well and I didn’t feel we were ever going to lose the lead.”
 
Delaney admitted the challenge for his side now was to build on their cup success and mount a serious title challenge next season. “That is definitely the aim for us,” he added.
 
Meanwhile opposite number Ian Baker admitted he was ‘exceptionally disappointed’ to have come so close.
“It was tight, but at the end of the day the bounce of the ball was in their favour today and that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
 

Presentations take place

 
Goodwick United manager Nigel Delaney received the Lilian Holman Memorial trophy from Roy Holman, traditionally awarded to the winning manager, whilst Chris Tansey and Dai Malloy (Manderwood’s) adjudged Rhys Dalling to be man of the match and awarded him the match ball, which was donated by Ocky White Travel Ltd.
It was Phil Devonald who then presented the trophy to winning skipper O’Sullivan, to bring the curtain down on the 2014/2015 Pembrokeshire Football League season.
 
Goodwick United: Dean Hopson, Scott Delaney, Wayne O’Sullivan (capt) (Darren Devonald 35), Llyr Tobin, Steff Hayes, Lewis Banks (Steve Evans 82), Kieran O’Brien, Karl Hedley, Rob Morgans, Rhys Dalling, Jonny Horgan. Sub not used: Jordan Griffiths.
Booked: Morgans (53), Tobin (76), Evans (83).
 
Neyland: Patrick Hannon, Sean Hannon (capt), Gary Power, Nick Koomen, Andrew Kemp, Henry Durrant, Nathan Warlow, Wayne Parry, Paul Hannon, Mike Chandler (Ollie Marshall 79), Aaron McQuillan (Jeremy Evans 90). Sub not used: Andrew Davies.
Booked: Power (41).