Jonah jolts cup holders (From Western Telegraph)

Jonah jolts cup holders

Hakin United 5 Ragged School 1

Four goals by Paul Jones helped Hakin United take their rightful place in the last four of the West Wales Cup as they eventually proved too strong for holders Ragged School, who had battled all the way until Jonah tormented them in the last quarter with his clinical finishing.

But the Vikings also have cause to praise keeper Jason Bomber Morgan because he produced three top-drawer saves in the first half to take his team into the break at 2-1 when they might have been trailing - and then palmed away a Lee Sullivan penalty soon after his side had taken a 3-1 lead to make sure that the homesters werent rocked back by such a quick reply.

Ragged School had perhaps used up their quota of luck in last seasons final at the Vetch Field because they squeezed home by 1-0 against the Vikings, who looked by far the better side but couldnt score.

Chris Tanseys men had gained a fair measure of revenge when they slammed Ragged School 8-3 in the final of the West Wales Supercup at Carmarthen - but this victory finally blitzed that loss last season as the Vikings are now in the last four again and eager to make it a third appearance in quick succession at West Wales footballs Big Day.

Hakin made a cracking start with a goal in the second minute after Paul Jones had won a corner on the left. It was hooked into the area with such venom by Paul Chapman that it beat Ragged School keeper Richard Evans and everyone else packed in there before it flew into the far top corner like an exocet missile.

Ragged School should have levelled as Neil Jones floated in a right-flank cross that found the forward of big striker Andrew Lawrie, but Jason Morgan somehow flung himself to his right to palm the ball away to safety. Bomber Morgan made another good save almost immediately when Mark Evans drilled in a free kick that he pushed over the bar.

Lawrie also headed over before Hakin added a second goal after 14 minutes as the industry of skipper Gary Dawes and Paul Turner in midfield gave Chapman the space to lob the ball neatly over the visiting back four and Jonah pounced to volley the ball home from 12 yards.

Ragged School responded immediately with a goal of their own as Spider Jones was again the provider on the right and this time little midfield dynamo Ian Lynch nipped in to head low past a stranded Morgan. The visitors could have been in front at the midway section of the half but Sullivan fired inches wide when well-placed and Morgan again showed his agility with a double save from Lawrie, aided by Gerrard Grey in the clearance.

Ade Haworth was booked for a fairly innocuous challenge on Lynch and after 35 minutes the Vikings were forced to make a change as Kristan Bennett was suffering with a bad chest and was replaced by Karl Rhead, who soon took control and tightened things up in the back four.

Hakin played into the cold breeze after the break and Mike Cooper went close after only 30 seconds - and thought he had scored from a Rhead free-kick, only to be recalled because referee Mike Jones had spotted a foul on the keeper by his namesake Paul.

But the Vikings were not to be denied and they scored their third goal in the eighth minute as Nigel Armstrong played a clever ball through to Paul Jones, who held off a strong challenge by Jason Norris and slid the ball home with casual ease.

But if Hakin thought they had done enough, the opposition showed just why they have been a top Swansea side after Dawes was yellow-carded and from the free kick, Gerrard Grey was found guilty of hand ball in the box, to the vociferous dismay of the home crowd. But Bomber Morgan showed his athleticism for a big man as he flung himself to his left and pushed away Sullivans penalty attempt.

It was a vital watershed in the game because Ragged School started to look a little indecisive as Mike Cooper had a shot blocked and then Jonah claimed a superb hat-trick as he raced through, had his first shot blocked but netted the rebound.

Shaun Mills added his power to the Hakin midfield instead of Turner, and Ade Haworth almost got his name on the scoresheet but was just wide of the left hand post before the Vikings went nap when Paul Jones latched onto a Mills pass and sped through a rattled back four again, cut across the box, rounded Evans with consummate ease and slid the ball into an empty net.

It was quality finishing and shortly after, Jones was taken off after receiving a bang as manager Tansey knows how important the diminutive striker is to his cause.

He was again the man of the match, closely followed by the Bomber for his huge part in the success, while Karl Rhead had a very good game at the back alongside Armstrong and Andrew Postlethwaite, as did the rest of this Hakin squad that oozes class and competitive spirit!