Narberth 2

Merlins Bridge 4

A STUNNING hat-trick by Stephen McNabney earned Merlins Bridge victory at title chasing Narberth.

This was a cracking game, where McNabney grabbed the plaudits, but Bridge keeper Carl Woodhouse saved two penalties to deny Narberth.

McNabney scored with a volley after ten minutes, the striker latching onto an intelligent Matthew D’Ivry ball over the top. Narberth equalised as Morgan Preece’s cross was diverted into his own net by D’Ivry.

The visitors regained the lead Nathan Greene fired into the bottom corner. Peter Thomas brought down Matthew Price inside the box, Adi Jones’ penalty save by Woodhouse. Woodhouse clatters Preece in the area and Price made no mistake from the spot.

McNabney gets on the end of Lee Hudgell’s cross that gave the visitors a 2-3 half-time lead.

In the 75th minute McNabney scores his third with a delightful 30 yard free kick. In the 82nd minute D’Ivry sent off for handball in the area and Price is denied by Woodhouse from the resulting spot-kick.

Narberth: John Durbridge, Dorian Davies, Iestyn Scourfield, Richard Henton, Jamie Fleig, Marc Hughes, Justin Blewitt, Adi Jones, Aled Thomas, Matthew Price, Morgan Preece. Subs: Callum O’Connell, Kyle Quartermaine, Dominic Norcross.

Merlins Bridge: Carl Woodhouse, Matthew D’Ivry, Peter Thomas, Paul Thomas, Lee Hudgell, Jordan Raymond, Dai Davies, Johnny Sable, Simon Thomas, Nathan Greene, Stephen McNabney. Sub: Daniel Bryce.

Referee: Kevin Bowen.