Dean drives Goodwick into semis (From Western Telegraph)

Dean drives Goodwick into semis

Goodwick United 5 Herbrandston 0

Two goals by midfielder James Dean helped Goodwick United into the semi-finals of the Senior Cup as they proved just a little too strong and worldly-wise for a Herbrandston side which played its heart out and showed why they are doing so well in the second division under coach Tony Fawcett, as they had slightly the better of the first 20 minutes and were only a goal adrift at the break.

But then Dean, Dai and Barry Hayes took control of the midfield and there was only going to be one winner - but Herbie certainly didnt throw in the towel and with no fewer than eight players under the age of 22 this is a team of immense potential.

Herbie came into this cup tussle on the back of a superb 3-0 win against section leaders Saundersfoot, while Sean OConnors side had lost 7-1 to Ystradgynlais with an abject performance in the West Wales Cup.

Herbie also opted for three defenders as Matthew Price and Steve Batty looked to break wide out, with Price almost scoring in the first minute but he was unable to stretch quite far enough at the far post to touch home a Justin Goffin low cross.

Had that gone in then Goodwick might have again suffered from low confidence but they gradually grew in strength as Barry Hayes and teenager Carl Lewis played some nice touch football.

Herbie defender Adam Galdo was lucky to escape an early yellow card with a late challenge on Barry Hayes and it took them until the 21st minute before Goodwick had their first shot, when Wayne OSullivan linked with Lewis before hooking in a ball which Steve Dimond saved under his own crossbar.

After 27 minutes of even play, Goodwick snatched the lead after a Barry Hayes corner had been partially cleared out to Dean, who swept the ball out wide, again under pressure, so that Barry Hayes could send in a cross from the right which allowed Ryan Thomas to stoop low and head home at the near post.

Herbie had a half chance when a neat onetwo between Goffin and Alex Galdo allowed the former a sight of goal but his low shot was covered at the post by James Gwilt before opposite number Steve Dimond did the same at the other end, when Ryan Thomas drove the ball in from the right and Steve Summers sought a rebound in vain.

Summers hit the post and the busy Thomas toe-poked a chance wide - but Goodwick showed why they have been such a good cup team over the years as Blackford, Steve Jenkins and the indomitable John Bailley tightened things up at the back, and their midfield began to win the possession that took them to a second score when Barry Hayes played a route one ball down the middle and brother Dai showed typical composure as he waited until Dimond had committed himself and then tucked a right foot nudge into the top right corner over the outstretched Herbie keeper.

Goodwick also started the second half with a bang as Carl Lewis saw his low cross touched over the bar by Herbie defender Steve Batty and Lewis fired just wide after good work by Dean and Hayes, who set up Goodwicks third with a neat through ball which allowed Dean to drill a left foot shot past the stranded Dimond.

Adrian Jenkins and Carlo Giannuzzi looked good in the Herbie midfield but Goodwick werent afraid to make their physical presence felt and they gradually pulled further away as Ryan Thomas turned provider on the right, setting up the chance for Wayne OSullivan to score with a first-time low shot and then from a quick free kick, it was sub Tom Jones who crossed for Dean to head home at the far post.

Sandwiched in between was a header at the near post from Blackford which hit the post and Jenkins was just unable to touch in a cross from Rob Couzens.

At the other end, Goffin and Alex Galdo, just 16-years-old, tried hard to break down the home defence but the final whistle saw Goodwick into the last four, while Herbrandston coach Tony Fawcett can take a lot of pluses out of this tie because he is going to have a very good side if he can keep hold of these young players.