Roberts shows her class as Blues prove too strong (From Western Telegraph)

Roberts shows her class as Blues prove too strong

Haverfordwest County 6 Tenby 1

Welsh International Laura Roberts showed her class in the Womens Cup Final recently with a woman of the match performance that was just too much for Tenby to cope with.

The St Davids school pupil caused havoc down the left wing with a series of speedy, skilful runs that totally bemused the Tenby defence, especially in the first half when she scored two of her three goals.

Womens football in the county is growing in popularity each year with more and more players becoming interested in the sport and as a consequence the standard has risen sharply. The players are skilful, fit and determined to succeed and this final proved it.

Haverfordwest entered the game as firm favourites and they soon proved why by taking the lead early in the first half.

The ball was played up field from defence into the path of Roberts and her pace and skill did the rest as she waltzed around a few would be tacklers to slam the ball past the despairing Sarah Cooper.

Tenby came back with an attack of their own as Ann Marie Dooley and Michaela Bevan had chances but they found Meryl Hancock in inspired form between the sticks for the Town.

Haverfordwest were always looking to move the ball up field and played some neat football in the process.

They soon got their second when Roberts again ran at the defence and scored with a similar effort to her first.

Nicola Aston almost pulled one back for the Seasiders when she tried a shot from distance and although well struck, it skimmed agonisingly over the bar.

Two-nil quickly became 3-0 when the Town again played some attacking soccer and Jo Raymond was on hand to slip the ball under the keeper to give them a comfortable cushion going into the break.

It was evident during the first half that the favourites just had that extra pace which is so important in the game and they really made it show in the second half when they scored another three goals.

Jodie Cato scored the first after she latched on to a corner while Katie Roscoe had a simple tap-in to record the fifth.

To Tenbys credit, they never gave in and had chances of their own through Aston and Carrie Slack but Hancock made two good saves.

Haverfordwest made it 6-0 mid-way through the half when Roberts completed her hat trick with another wonderful solo effort and although they had plenty of chances afterwards, they just couldnt find the back of the net.

Tenby gained a consolation goal towards the end of the game when Michaela Bevan latched on to a cross and slammed in the ball as it ricochet around the box for a great goal.

Unfortunately for them, they couldnt manage another as the Haverfordwest defence held firm and they thoroughly deserved their winners medals at the end of the match.