Moore strike gives Herbrandston the edge (From Western Telegraph)

Moore strike gives Herbrandston the edge

Herbrandston 1 Johnston 0

A goal by Adrian Moore just two minutes after the interval settled the Second Division Cup Final in favour of Herbrandston - and gave Tony Fawcetts talented young side some consolation for just missing out on promotion to the top echelon.

They started out as hot favourites but encountered stern resistance from Johnston, who had slightly the better of a quiet first quarter and shared the spoils up until the break.

But whatever coach Fawcett said to his side at the break it worked because they almost scored from the kick-off and were ahead a minute later when Moore struck with his trusty left boot.

Alex Galdo had fired in a cross-volley from the right which Steve James had dealt with well, pushing it away, but Galdo popped up again on the other flank, beat his marker and fired a low shot as James cut down the angle. The ball hit the inside of the post and rebounded to Moore, who seemed to take an age to control the ball but was able to resist a late lunge from Glyn Ruloff to slam the ball home.

Although starting as underdogs, Johnston were better into their stride and they had early chances that fell to Ben Phillips and player/manager Jim Payne - but both were saved by Herbies veteran keeper Steve Dimond.

With the pitch inevitably bumpy because of the recent dry spell, Herbie took time to settle and their first half-chance came in the 17th minute, when a Galdo cross from the right saw Nico Giannuzzi put in a spectacular dive beyond the far post - but his header flew wide of the woodwork.

Adrian Jenkins also showed his dribbling skills on the left in a good combination with skipper Steve Batty but the latters drilled cross was cut out by Ruloff, who at 41 was the youngest of an experienced defensive trio which included keeper James (43) and Mick Algieri (49). Teenager Tim Morgan-Jones also looked the part at left back and Payne posed a threat up front, his burst near half time looking good until a timely tackle by the unflappable Paul Hood snuffed out the danger.

After Moore had put Herbie ahead they brought on Greg Murdoch as fresh legs up front and he posed a threat with his extra yard of pace that helped pull the Johnston defenders wide. The ploy almost worked when Matthew Price used that space on the right but Steve James got down well before Murdoch could gain the all-important touch.

Johnstons best chance fell to Andrew Sture but his shot was blocked by Hood and the Tigers brought on their subs to try and inject some pace up front. But they were unable to wrest the midfield initiative away from Herbie as Tim Roberts and Nico Giannuzzi were very strong, with Price and Jenkins doing well wide out. They finished the stronger as Murdoch had two clear-cut chances to make the game safe, the first a one-on-one where Steve James did well to cut down the angles and make a good save - and the second where the teenage striker blasted the ball over the bar.

But it mattered little because Herbrandston were still that goal to the good at the final whistle from Byron Phillips, who had a good game in control and only had to book Jim Payne for dissent. The trophy was presented to Herbrandston skipper Steve Batty by James Williams Pembrokeshire League president Alan Roach and he was right in saying that it had been a final worth watching, with Herbrandston deserved victors against a Tigers outfit which fought to the finish!