Another successful afternoon witnessed the return to winning ways with the First X1 beating a strong Goodwick outfit by 2 goals to nil. Both teams started well after the pre-match warm ups. It quickly became evident that the sides were evenly matched and it would probably be a case of which team wanted the winning status more. The home keeper, Patrick Hannon brought off a couple of magnificent saves in the first period from shots which most of the crowd would have placed their mortgage on finishing up I the net.
It was midway through the first half when the Nomads struck first. Gary Power, playing in an unaccustomed left back position took a free kick out wide just inside the opposition’s half. His 40 yard cross-come shot evaded the Goodwick defence and the keeper as it rose and fell in to the top right hand corner of the net.
Goodwick were reduced to ten men when Wayne O’Sullivan was dismissed after the homester’s gave away a free kick but then the visiting player over-excessively ‘pushed out’ at a Neyland midfielder. The half ended without any change to the 1-0 scoreline.
During the second half it was apparent that the visitors exuded greater determination and the home side seemed to find it difficult coping with the ten men. As the half proceeded many of those on the line felt that Goodwick would sneak an equaliser. In an effort to ‘turn things around’ and visiting keeper James Gwillt brought the ball outside the area and proceeded to move down the pitch in an ‘attacking mode’. However when he reached the half way line he lost control of the ball which fell at the feet of Scott Jones playing at right back for the Nomads. He controlled the ball, rounded an opponent, saw the vacant goal some 45 yards away, struck the most accurate of shots and netted the Nomad’s second. Although Goodwick did not relent in their attempts to move forward the Nomads held firm till the final whistle to gain a 2-0 victory and move up to 5th in the First Division.
Team: Patrick Hannon, Scott Jones, Nicky Koomen, Paul Hannon, Gary Power, Nathan Warlow, Wayne Vaughan-Parry, Henry Durrant, Mikey Chandler, Leigh Power, Sean Hannon, Andrew Kemp.
Pictured below are goal scorers Gary Power (with the dirty shirt!!!) and Scott Jones
Meanwhile the 2nd X1 suffered an away defeat at Monkton Swifts in a high-scoring 5-3 result.
In the morning fixture, the under 12’s beat Clarbeston Road 3-2 at the Athletic Ground. There was only one mini fixture with a 10-5 win away to Merlin’s Bridge.
Next week there is no First Team fixture whilst the 2nd X1 are home to Pendine in the 4th Division Cup.
Congratulations must be extended to Jonny Sutton who has been short listed for the “Club Organiser” of the Year in the Annual Pembrokeshire Sports Awards held at Folly Farm and sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, the Western Telegraph, Valero and Folly Farm. The club and the town wish you every success on the evening!
