All flair in mud and war (From Western Telegraph)

All flair in mud and war

GOODWICK UTD 1 HAKIN UTD 5

Hakin triumphed on Saturday in a physical game that threatened to boil over on several occasions.

In bitter winds and heavy conditions some uncompromising tackles by both sets of players kept the temperature red hot.

Both teams rose above the elements to play quality, attacking, skillful football in a pulsating game that showed both sides top-of-the-table credentials.

Goodwick were competitive to the end, but Hakin had too much of a physical presence at the back and too much skill up front for the battling home side.

But Goodwick did threaten several times early on, soaking up the constant Hakin pressure and hitting at pace on the counter-attack.

The speed of Chris O'Sullivan caused problems for Hakin. And when Nigel Delaney got on the end of a lovely one-two it looked like they might take the lead. But the tenacious midfielder hit his shot straight at the Hakin keeper.

Hakin were then awarded a free-kick 35 yards out it, and it seemed there was little danger.

But Mark Devonald stepped up to the mark and hit a vicious shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar. Goodwick keeper Darren Turner saw it too late to react - but the venomous shot was so perfectly placed he would not have stood a chance anyway. Devonald impressed throughout with sharp shooting, tight control and incisive passing.

The home side were still in shock when two minutes later Hakin again put pressure on the defence. Alan Davies took too long getting in his back pass and Michael Cooper latched onto a poor ball. His shot from a tight angle hit the post and sat up in the mud - straight into the path of Paul Jones. He does not miss from two yards.

It then looked like Goodwick might capitulate after a decent opening. But before half-time a hugely controversial penalty put them right back in it. Goodwick felt a ball had been headed over the goal line from a corner. Referee Jonathan Twigg disagreed. And then players surrounded the referee in protests that turned ugly.

Amid the melee a penalty was given for handball on the line - which infuriated the Hakin players.

Referee Jonathan Twigg did well to restore some sense of calm amid the storm.

When that calm had been restored, Chris O'Sullivan neatly tucked away the penalty.

The teams turned round with the scoreline suggesting a tight second half ahead. But after the restart there was only one team in it. On five minutes, Paul Jones went on a run that created a brilliant shooting chance for himself but his shot lacked power.

Soon after he was played through by Michael Cooper. When his marker lost his footing in the mud and Jonah went one-on-one with the keeper, all of Goodwick must have known the result.

The sharp-shooting front man duly obliged dispatched the ball into the bottom-right corner.

But Goodwick were not over and done with and almost struck back straight away with another goalmouth scramble. But no-one from the home side could find the last touch needed to guide the ball into the back of the net.

And by this stage, Hakin were delivering lessons in taking your chances. Leighton Edwards was next to add his name to the scoresheet as Hakin increasingly dominated. After some neat work and a little bit of luck in the box, he was left with a simple tap in. And Kristan Bennet finished the scoring with a coolly placed shot after Goodwick failed to clear a corner.

Jonah went hunting for his hat-trick when he mesmerised the home keeper on a tricky run. But he could only shoot into the side netting, much to the delight of the home crowd. He was then lucky not to get sent off after an off-the-ball flare-up with Nigel Delaney.

Goodwick by then were resigned to defeat. But when their substitute striker Bernie Armstrong found himself with the ball on the six yard line he could not believe his luck. But the big striker could only lamely pass the ball back to the keeper.

By the end of the second half, it was that sort of game for Goodwick, run ragged by the power and pace of the Hakin machine.