PHOTOS:
2017 Senior Cup winners Merlins Bridge




Runners up Clarbeston Road


Wizards skipper Chris Ormond holds cup aloft
Goal scorers Chris Ormond and Joe Leahy
Match officials Kevin Milich, Charles Davies, Dai Badger and Angus Scourfield

 

Senior Cup final:

Merlins Bridge 2 - Clarbeston Road 1

 
Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium
Referee: Charles Davies
Assistants: Dave Badger & Kevin Milich
Fourth Official: Angus Scourfield
 
Goals from Joe Leahy and skipper Chris Ormond sealed Senior Cup glory for Merlins Bridge as The Wizards narrowly overcame Clarbeston Road to win the trophy for the eighth time against a team appearing in their first-ever final.
 
In a tight and often scrappy contest, it was Leahy who volleyed Bridge ahead in the first half, only for Clarbie midfielder Mike Turpin to level with a fabulous 30 yard free kick.
 
But then it was Ormond who struck what proved to be the decisive goal after the break, firing high into the net from close range after being teed up by Steve McNabney.
 

Success at first time of asking for manager Thomas

 
It means Nathan Thomas finishes his first full season as Bridge boss with the club’s first trophy since winning the league title in 2012 – whilst Clarbie miss out on an historic double having already been crowned Division Two champions this season.
 
In nigh on perfect weather conditions at The Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, it was Bridge who threatened first, and it took a brilliant headed clearance from Clarbie full back Llewellyn George to prevent McNabney getting on the end of Leahy’s in-swinging cross.
 
Moments later, The Wizards went close again when Luke Hayward whipped in a free kick from the right, but Ormond’s nod down just evaded McNabney.
 

Clarbie claw their way back in end to end play

 
However, soon it was Clarbie’s turn to threaten from a set piece, as Turpin’s free kick from half way found Richard Bevan on the right side of the area, but he opted to head across goal and his effort drifted wide.
 
Turpin was then again the provider when his corner was headed over by Dan Rees – but then it was The Wizards who fashioned the first clear chance when McNabney’s cross found its way to Dai Davies, whose close range shot was well blocked by Clarbie keeper Matthew Davies.
 
The latter was then involved in a moment of slight controversy as he appeared to throw the ball up in the air by accident and then catch it – but referee Charles Davies waved play on as The Wizards appealed for an indirect free kick in front of goal.
 

Golden chance for underdogs before falling behind

Chances from open play were few and far between in the opening half hour, and sure enough, it was another set piece from which the Division Two side missed a golden chance to lead when Turpin’s long range free kick was fumbled by Bridge keeper Gary Thomas – who recovered well to deny Bevan as he followed up the rebound from six yards out.
 
But after Clarbie centre back Rees had to be alert to clear away Hayward’s header across goal – it was The Wizards who took the lead 36 minutes in.
 
Hayward’s cross from the right found its way to the unmarked Leahy, who swivelled and controlled his half volley well to fire a low effort past Davies.
 

Back come Clarbie within four minutes

 
The advantage lasted just four minutes though, as Turpin responded in sublime fashion for Clarbie as the midfielder seemed set to cross from a free kick out on the right and almost 30 yards from goal – but instead brilliantly curled a direct shot that nestled into the top corner of Thomas’ near post.
 
The goal ensured the sides were level at the break, and the early stages of the second half were somewhat stagnated, with the only opening falling the way of The Wizards as McNabney headed over from a deep cross by left back Simon Thomas.
 
Bridge did have the ball in the net when Leahy dinked home with his left foot – but the effort was rightfully ruled out for offside.
 

Double blow for Matthew Ellis’s team

 
And then twelve minutes into the second half Clarbie were dealt a double hammer blow as Turpin, their best performer on the day, was forced off injured – and just 60 seconds later, the favourites led again.
 
A Simon Thomas free kick from half way fell to McNabney, who did brilliantly to turn on the right hand side of the area and surge to the by-line, before pulling a pass back to Ormond who duly struck a powerful shot high into the net.
 

More chances conceded by The Wizards

 
Clarbie came close to another leveller as in a goalmouth scramble, defenders Rheinallt George and Tom Glover both had close range shots blocked, before George’s header back into the six yard box was flicked onto the foot of the post by Bevan.
 
But as the half wore in, The Bridge appeared the most likely to strike again, and after Leahy headed another Thomas free kick straight at keeper Davies – substitute Adam Hawkins pounced on a poor throw in by Rheinallt George and surged 40 yards into the area, but was dispossessed by Glover at the crucial moment.
 

Hearts in mouth time for Clarbie

 
Moments later Clarbie hearts were in mouths as Leahy looked to play in Hawkins, but keeper Davies raced a long way out of his goal to bring down the striker.
Referee Davies consulted with assistant David Badger, before opting to give the goalie a yellow card.
 
Leahy whipped the resultant free kick towards goal, but Davies punched away well under pressure.
 
At the other end, Clarbie player manager Matthew Ellis set substitute Ton Reubens free down the left flank, but he lost his footing as he looked to cut past Ormond and into the area.
 

Ellis tries to fire up his troops

 
Ellis continued to try and create something and it was from his in-swinging corner that Bevan headed narrowly over at the near post.
 
But just when the contest seemed to be petering out, The Wizards were forced to survive a frantic scramble in their own box before winger Will Haworth, kept largely quiet by Clarbie on the day, broke upfield and into the area, only to be denied by the onrushing Davies.
 
There was still time for one last Clarbie chance as keeper Davies pumped a free kick into the Bridge box, and another ensuing scramble saw Ellis fire an effort towards goal that substitute Matthew Griffiths narrowly failed to divert past Bridge keeper Thomas.
 

Thomas takes the manager’s plaudits . . .

 
And after five minutes of added time, referee Davies signalled an eighth cup win for The Wizards.
 
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Wizards boss Thomas told Telegraph Sport afterwards.
 
“I’m a big believer in you get out what you put in, and we deserve this for everything we’ve put in during the season.”
 
The victory ended a Bridge run of three successive final defeats, and Thomas admitted it was a statistic he was relieved to banish.
 
“We came into this with massive pressure on us, we were the favourites and most people were predicting us to win. But I think we dealt with it.
 
“It was a tight and a perhaps scrappy game. But as manager I don’t care about that - it’s about the result and I’m delighted for the boys.”
 

. . . And Ellis has mixed emotions

 
Opposite number Ellis admitted to mixed emotions.
 
“I’m disappointed because it was a tight game and we had chances right at the end,” he said.
“We stopped them playing their best football but I do think things changed a bit when Mike Turpin went off.
 
“But at the start of the season we had lost players, had no manager, and were wondering if we would have a proper team. And yet we are in the Senior Cup final after being promoted.
“I’m proud of how we’ve done and being here today was just reward for everyone.”
 
Players, coaches, and supporters then gathered for the presentations, and winning skipper Ormond received the silverware on behalf of his side from Dave Olyott, President of the Pembrokeshire Football League.
 
And Ormond’s day then got even better, as he was awarded the man of the match award, adjudicated by Sean Hannon of league sponsors Manderwood Timber Engineering.
 
Merlins Bridge: Gary Thomas, Matthew D’Ivry, Chris Ormond, Sion Price, Simon Thomas, Luke Hayward (Adam Hawkins 55), Peter Thomas, Dai Davies, Will Haworth, Joe Leahy, Steve McNabney, (Jordan Raymond 92).
Sub not used: Andrew John.

Clarbeston Road: Matthew Davies, Llewellyn George, Dan Rees, Tom Glover, Rheinallt George, Matthew Ellis, Mike Turpin (Greg Brown 55), Raff Barnett, Josh Wood, Jason Griffiths (Matthew Griffiths 82), Richard Bevan (Tom Reubens 68).