PHOTOS:
Winners Goodwick United
Runners up Hakin United
Goodwick United skipper Kieran O'Brien receives Jubilee Cup off League chairperson Rowenna Lloyd
Officials Kevin Milich, James Olyott and Charles Davies

 

Jubilee Cup:

Goodwick United 4 - Hakin United 2

An excellent second half display ensured that Goodwick United retained the Jubilee Cup at the expense of Hakin United at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Last season’s treble winners struck the first psychological blow in this season’s title race by claiming the trophy, the traditional curtain raiser to the Pembrokeshire league season, for the third time.

The teams were locked at 1-1 at the break after Goodwick’s Jordan Griffiths cancelled our Ryan Wilson’s early strike, but three goals in the space of 17 second half minutes from Karl Hedley, Adam Raymond, and Johnny Horgan put the Phoenix Boys in control – before Ben Steele grabbed a late consolation for The Vikings.

Kristan Bennett’s men should have been ahead inside the opening 20 seconds when Nicky Woodrow latched onto a Steele pass, but mishit his effort straight at Goodwick keeper Casey Walters.

At the other end, Griffiths pounced on a Jonty Bennett mistake to go through on goal – only for the defender to recover well and get back to clear the danger.

Superb goal

And seven minutes in, Hakin led when Woodrow’s deep cross from left was met first time by Wilson – who volleyed superbly into the top corner.

The Phoenix Boys were level just six minutes later though, as Wayne O’ Sullivan’s free kick was headed past Hakin keeper James Manson by Steve Dockerty – and although Ewan Findlay cleared off the line, Manson was adjudged to have taken out the Goodwick winger after he played the ball.

The keeper was booked, the first of seven yellow cards to be shown by referee James Olyott on the night, and Griffiths made no mistake with the penalty.

The remainder of the first half was full of intensity but there was little more in the way of goalmouth action before Woodrow stabbed a shot wide from a tight angle.

Last season’s Division One top scorer then had claims for a penalty turned down when he went down in the area after clashing with Walters – before the keeper’s long punt upfield saw Raymond denied by the onrushing Manson.

Early in the second half, Steele had a low free kick well held by Walters – but on 57 minutes, it was Nigel Delaney’s men who took control.

Hedley strikes

Winger Hedley went clean through on goal, and despite seeing his first effort cannon back off the post, he made no mistake with the rebound.

Adam John then had another penalty claim turned down for Hakin and Steele saw his close range volley deflected over - but on 72 minutes, came the decisive blow as Dockerty’s ball from the right found Raymond, and with Manson stranded out of his goal, the striker slotted home from 20 yards out.

And two minutes later it was 4-1, as Raymond’s shot deflected into the path of Hedley, who squared for substitute Horgan to tap into an empty net.

Horgan went close to his second when he fired a left footed shot just wide of the top corner – before in the 90th minute, Steele latched onto a sliding clearance from Hakin substitute Luke Phillips, rounded Walters, and slotted home.

But it came too late to affect the outcome, and it was Goodwick captain O’Brien who received the silverware afterwards from Pembrokeshire League Chairperson Rowenna Lloyd.

The Division One season kicks off next Tuesday, August 23rd.

Goodwick United: Casey Walters, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan, Scott Delaney, Anthony Couzens (Charlie Davies 77), Karl Hedley (Matty Delaney 88), Llyr Tobin, Kieran O’Brien, Steve Dockerty, Jordan Griffiths (Johnny Horgan 73), Adam Raymond.

Hakin United: James Manson, Matthew Broome, Ewan Findlay, Jonty Bennett (Luke Phillips 80), Daniel Armstrong, (Bradley Barrett 33), Craig Nicholson, Ryan Wilson, Steve Mathias (Ben Aldred 50), Adam John, Ben Steele, Nicky Woodrow.
Referee: James Olyott.
Assistants: Charles Davies and Kevin Milich.