Hakin show their class in top table clash (From Western Telegraph)

Hakin show their class in top table clash

Hakin United 4 Tenby 2

Hakin United once again proved why they are head and shoulders above any other team in the county with a comprehensive victory over Tenby at the weekend.

Although the visitors went in to the game as the leaders in Division One, they were out muscled and out played at the Observatory ground by a side intent on winning by a considerable margin.

In truth, Hakin could have scored a few more, but Tenby skipper Dewi Davies, was in inspired form between the sticks and he pulled off a series of fine saves to deny the home side and Paul Jones in particular, a higher proportion of goals.

The game was won and lost in mid field. Tenby were without inspirational player/assistant manager, Deryn Brace, and Hakin were indebted to their skipper Gary Dawes, for an assured display in the centre of the park where he used his strength to his advantage. Although he overstepped the mark on one occasion and received a yellow card for his enthusiasm, he ran Andrew Postlethwaite close for the man of the match tag with a barnstorming display which was an inspiration to his team.

Postlethwaite, playing at right back, was in awesome form. Not only does he have tremendous skill, he also has a footballing vision that is joy to watch at times. He is always looking to put players into space and one pass especially sticks in the mind, where he unleashed a 45 yard ball to Adi Howarth in the second half, who scored after controlling the ball and shooting past Davies.

The first half was an even affair with both sides intent on playing attacking football. Hakin took the lead early on as they pressurised the visiting defence and a mix up at the back allowed Paul Jones to nip in and score. Tenby responded with a goal of their own after Karl Rhead felled Anthony Griffiths, who had a great game for Tenby, in the box and Gavin Scotcher stepped up to nonchalantly strike the ball past Jason Morgan.

The game now took on a new dimension as the tempo increased and the ball was played from end to end.

Davies pulled off a fine save from Howarth while Morgan was forced into action as Scotcher tried a speculative overhead kick. Scott McLaughlin, playing on the left for Tenby and a player with real skill, caused the Hakin defence a few headaches and he was next to offer a shot, but the ball crept just wide.

Tenby finished the stronger of the sides in the first half with Dominic Subbiani going close after Griffiths had played him through but Morgan was up to the task.

The interval obviously did Hakin more good than the visitors as they came out after the break and scored almost immediately as Jones was brought down in the box. He got up, dusted himself down and proceeded to score from the spot.

For the next few minutes the game belonged to the home side as Jones quickly added to his brace with a well taken goal from a Postlethwaite free-kick. The goal was typical of Jones as he was quickest to the ball and instinct did the rest as he somehow managed to get a touch on it through the melee of players.

Another free-kick by Postlethwaite soon after saw the ball fly neatly into the path of Karl Rhead who timed his header to perfection only to see it brilliantly saved by Davies.

The save obviously inspired the visitors as they pushed the ball downfield and great interplay between Scotcher and Ryan Lawrence almost resulted in the latter scoring, but his shot was well saved.

And then came the killer blow for Tenby as Postlethwaite produced that wonder pass and Howarth increased the lead.

Dawes almost made it five, but his shot flew inches wide but it was Tenby who had the final say as Scotcher put McLaughlin clear and he scored at the end of the game.

It was as much as Tenby deserved as they played their part in a wonderful game but Hakin were just too strong on the day and it looks as though they will finish the league unbeaten again.