Hakin United are hot favourites to beat Milford United

By Gordon Thomas

Hakin United are hot favourites to beat Milford United in an all-First Division derby Senior Cup Final clash which will take place at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday, 12^th April, with kick-off at 2.30pm.
 
The Vikings hold the record of winning the most Senior Cup Finals - they have remarkably lifted the silverware on  twelve occasions.
 
Milford United last won the Senior Cup four times on the trot way back from 1959 to 1963 so this is a huge day out for The Robins’ players and supporters.
 
Vikings manager Scott Davies’ team have finished second in the league this season - they have also reached the semi-finals of the West Wales Intermediate Cup where they will take on West Wales Premier team St Josephs.
 
Robins’ manager Steve Parks’ outfit will be relegated alongside Herbrandston;  after the bitter disappointment of learning their fate recently they will play in the Second Division next season, so they go into this final as massive underdogs.
 
Back in November of last year the Vikings won 5-0 against the Robins at Marble Hall and then in January followed up at the Obs with an emphatic 7-0 victory, so they’ve scored twelve goals without reply, which shows the enormity of the prospect of a Robins’ win in the cup.
 
Hakin United have an extremely strong squad and manager Davies will have a headache picking his 14-man squad for the ‘Blue Riband’ event.
 
Skipper and midfield maestro Ryan Wilson has had an exceptional season and also getting his fair share of important goals. Hot shot striker Shane Walsh is the Vikings’ top scorer, but former Welsh League striker Ashley Bevan is also vying for a spot in the starting lineup.
 
There’s also the high calibre of players such as Mark Jones, Alfie Stotter, Leon Luby, Jack Griffiths, Jack Britton, Ben Aldred, and Liam Parks (son of Robins’ manager Steve Parks). In defence Kieran King, Jake Merry, Jay Power, Camron Thomas (returning from injury) will all be vying to get the nod whilst Gareth Fawcett will be between the sticks.
 
As for The Robins, Scott Griffiths, who was sent off in the semi final victory over Clarbeston Road, will wear the armband in defence alongside Anthony Hubbuck, Rhys Brawn and Curtis Davies. Top-notch striker Scott Reid (brother of Hakin United’s Mark Jones) will lead their attack, aided by possibly Liam Parr, Liam Davies and Joey Jones.
 
Others in contention to start will be Ieuan Rutherford, Joey Jones, Jack Dyer, Tommy Powles, Wesley Hill; with excellent teenager Charlie Malloy as goalkeeper, whilst Ben Lloyd and Alex Ouzman are also hoping to be involved.
 
Pembrokeshire Sport believes this is the first time these derby rivals have met in the final – and it takes a brave man to bet against Hakin United lifting the Senior Cup for the thirteenth time in the club’s proud history as Steve Parks’ Robins will need to be at their very best if they’re going to cause a massive upset.
 
 

It has to be The Vikings – but it’s a special Milford Haven day!  

 

By Fraser Watson Firstly, it’s fantastic to see Milford United back on this stage. My generation grew up knowing them as a Welsh League club - a benchmark for players capable of pushing to a higher level. Fortunes have obviously fluctuated since, none more so than this season with a Senior Cup final appearance coupled with relegation.
 
They have plenty of capable players. Scott Griffiths has been as consistent as any centre-back in the county this past decade, and in Scott Reid, they have a striker who remains clinical in front of goal. His semi-final winner proved that. Milford should be fired up - it’s an opportunity to not only win their first Senior Cup since 1963, a staggering statistic for a club their size, but also a game that could salvage this season.
 
Having said all that, I can’t see beyond a Hakin win on Saturday. Their form since the league defeat at Goodwick in February has been strong, and it’s an occasion most of their players have experienced before. And while Milford have ample motivation as the underdogs, Hakin, too, have much to play for.
 
They are still chasing a unique cup double, and after their semi-final win over Pennar it was refreshing to hear key forward Shane Walsh state that was the definite squad goal. This is also a club not used to periods without silverware - it’s been 29 years since the club went three consecutive seasons without a trophy. Last year proved that being favourites guarantees nothing in a Senior Cup final, but I don’t expect Scott Davies and co to slip up on Saturday.
 
Regardless, it will be a huge day for the Milford Haven area. Two derby rival clubs with big followings, and big histories. It will be worth attending.
 
 

It’s hard to bet against the hot favourites

 
By Bill Carne
 
Having read the comments from Gordon and Fraser it is hard to voice a difference of opinion although I did pick Clarbeston Road to beat Goodwick United and look what happened!
 
On this occasion a Robins’ victory would be a real boost after they have just been relegated but as good a manager as Steve Parks is, and how promising his mainly-young squad are, even I find it hard to pick them – although there will be great odds from local bookies if such a thing happened!
 
Hakin United also have a very astute manager in Scott Davies and I’m sure he will have been preaching the need to avoid over-confidence at all costs to his squad, which has terrific strength in depth.
 
If Milford United did win, I would be thrilled for a late legend of theirs in Brian Burgoyne, who was a Robin through as player, manager, official and anything else required.
 
But similarly, I think of the late Joe Lennon, who was a front runner in the junior development at The Obs, and there would be a wicked Irish grin on his face if he could look down on a win for Hakin United.!