Senior Cup quarter-final:

 
 

Goodwick United 0 - Hakin United 3

 
Referee: Sion Jenkins (who had a very good game with his quiet control)
 
Hakin United caused a major upset as they were comfortable winners in this Senior Cup quarter-final, played in front of a large crowd at Phoenix Park, in a match where they always looked that little sharper and never stopped battling away against a Goodwick United  side which never really got going, trailed by 2-0 after only 18 minutes, and conceded a decisive third goal after 73 minutes which effectively sealed the issue, writes Bill Carne.
 
In this battle of the league’s top two teams, second-placed Hakin are seven points adrift in the race for the title and The Vikings could have no complaints about a 4-1 defeat at the same venue just two weeks earlier. But this reversal of fortunes was a revelation!
 
Goodwick might point out that they had loud appeals for a penalty turned down in the first half when they were two goals adrift but referee Sion Jenkins, who was well placed to give the decision, thought otherwise in what was a marginal choice either way, and in what was one of relatively few chances for the home side.
 
Hakin not only scored three goals but might have added a couple more in the second half as they had excellent performances by Ben Aldred, Kieran King, Henry Mayhew and especially Jake Merry at the back as they restricted the home side to very few chances.
 
Gareth Fawcett pulling off the save of the match at a key time was another vital factor as Rhys Dalling’s trickery in the six-yard box saw him fire in a wicked left-footed  drive but the big keeper stuck out his right leg to make a reflex save that kept The Vikings two goals clear.
 
Those two goals came early on after the initial sparring between two good sides and after 14 minutes Ryan Wilson released Liam Parkes, who found space out on the right and his speculative shot flew past Nick Jones and into the Goodwick net.
 
Even worse was to follow after 18 minutes when Hakin added a second as Jordan Kilby beat the Goodwick cover for speed but had his first attempt blocked by keeper Jones – only for the rebound to bounce perfectly in front of him and he tapped in to an empty net!
 
To be fair, the Phoenix Boys they kept plugging away but with Jack Britton and Shane Walsh using their vast experience in organising the Hakin midfield there were relatively few half chances from a lot of high balls.
 
Even at 0-2 it was felt Goodwick could only get batter after the break as Scott Delaney, Sean Pemberton, Rhys Jones and Jake Smith tried hard to create space for Dalling, Will Haworth and Johnny Horgan they were soon closed down so the early break-back just didn’t arrive.




 
And on 73 minutes the unthinkable happened as Hakin grabbed a third goal to bury any lingering hopes for Goodwick supporters as Hakin pressed on the left and Britton popped up with the ball at his feet in the box after more good work by skipper Wilson – and although it wasn’t the strongest left-foot shot he has ever scored from it was accurate enough to bobble inside the far post – and it was 3-0!
 
As Goodwick tried hard to press forward they left space for Hakin to counter and quick thinking set Parks through the middle but his shot was saved.
 
Hakin United will now meet Pennar Robins in an all division one semi-final scheduled to be played at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium in March and manager Scott Davies will be preaching until then about the need to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground!






 
Goodwick United: Nick Jones, Matthew Delaney, James Bryan (66’ Dafydd Cole), Sean Pemberton, Scott Delaney (Captain), Steven Dockerty (21’ Luke Hayward), Rhys Jones, Jake Smith, Rhys Dalling, Will Haworth, Jonny Horgan (57’ Kieran Blundell).
 
 Hakin United: Gareth Fawcett, Kieran King, Jake Merry, Ben Aldred, Craig Nicholson, Jordan Kilby, Jack Britton, Liam Parks, Ryan Wilson (Captain), Shane Walsh, Henry Mayhew. Unused subs: Justin Harding, Mason Dolling, Jack Griffiths, Adrian Devonald, Mark Jones.





 
 
Quotes:
 
Chris O’Sullivan (Goodwick United Manager):
We can have no excuses for defeat because quite simply we weren’t at the races today – and everyone, the players from 1-14 and myself, must share the responsibility for that, with credit going to Hakin for the way they played. I felt we were flat in the pre-match warm-up sand spoke to the players about it – but we just didn’t go out with all guns firing, like we normally do. Now we have to focus on our other commitments, like the league and West Wales Cup, which will be talking about at our next training session!
 
 
Scott Davies (Hakin United Manager):
We have a lot of respect for Goodwick but I’m delighted because this shows our spirit as we battled back from a different result two weeks ago. We could have no complaints then but this shows the pride the players have for their performances, and for the club. I didn’t use any replacements because everyone was playing so well but I know they would also have given 100% for The Vikings’ cause. It is great to reach the semi-final but we won’t be complacent because we know how good Pennar can be.
 
 
Tony Pennock (Haverfordwest County Manager):
I usually only see the finals that are played on our pitch but I thought it would be nice to see a local cup-tie that involved a couple of ex-Bluebirds. I felt Hakin adapted to the wind and conditions underfoot the better so that although Goodwick had plenty of possession they never really got going, especially after conceding those two early goals. Hakin were quick on the counter-attack and I think the better side on the day definitely won!