Busby stars in superb Swifts win (From Western Telegraph)

Busby stars in superb Swifts win

Monkton Swifts 3 Merlins Bridge 1

At the start of the season Dean Busby was being touted as one of the shining lights at Haverfordwest County. A player with experience gained at Cardiff City, and at just 19-years of age, a player with enormous potential who could help the Bluebirds realise their goal of fielding a fully home grown side.

How times change. The Bluebirds have reverted back to fielding a team full of outsiders (well, nearly, anyway) and Busby now finds himself playing for Monkton Swifts. Well Swifts manager Benno Jones wont be complaining as Busby was the undisputed star of the show on Saturday by scoring two brilliant goals and tormenting the visitors all afternoon.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Monkton could have scored four, maybe five goals. They were dominant from the off and stretched the visiting defence to the full. With Mark Powell using his Welsh League experience in midfield and James Archer orchestrating things at the back, they were able to build plenty of momentum in their quest for goals.

They scored their first quite early on as Busby received the ball from a throw-in, and with his back towards the goal, proceeded to flick the ball up, turn in on movement and volley the ball over the disbelieving Gwyn Thomas for an outstanding goal, that if shown on TV, would surely be a candidate for goal of the season.

With their tails up, the Swifts attacked at will. Busby agin went close but shot over the bar and Ian Rome must still be wondering how he missed an open goal, by heading just wide. Barry Dilworth and Lee Jones also got in on the act but for some reason, none of them could find the back of the net.

The second goal finally came towards the end of the half as Lee Jones scored from a free-kick and although it was a cause for celebration, the Swifts knew that they should have scored more, especially as they were playing against the wind in the second half.

Merlins Bridge came out after the break with all guns blazing. They too had a couple of half chances in the first half, but with the benefit of the wind at their backs, they had the confidence to push forward and test veteran keeper Maurice Jones.

Newly signed striker Gareth Williams, who left Camrose last week had a couple of chances to pull one back, but the Wizards didnt have to wait too long before reducing the deficit, after James Archer was judged to have pushed Peter Jones in the box, and a penalty was awarded, which Peter Thomas neatly tucked away.

The Bridge made a couple of menacing moves towards the goal but came to nothing while to their credit, whenever the Swifts pushed forward, they always looked quite dangerous, even after Paul Jarvis was sent off for a second bookable offence, although his dismissal could be deemed a little harsh.

Busby put the game beyond doubt with only a few minutes to go with another great effort after playing a neat one, two with Paul Webb down the left, his powerful half volley leaving Thomas with no chance to make the save.

The Bridge did make one, final, late effort to get something out of the game but Jason Rice shot over the bar and Sean Jones hit just wide, but the Swifts were good value for their win and deserved the three points.