Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League Division One:

Clarbeston Road 1–5 West Dragons

THE West Dragons are up and running in Division One after striking five times to notch their first win at Clarbeston Road tonight.

It was Clarbie's first home game since returning to the top flight this season, and although the visitors alreadt led 4-1 at half time, that doesn’t begin to tell the full story of a frenetic first 45 minutes in which the hosts wasted a hatful of chances, and The Dragons themselves were reduced to ten men when Dorian Davies was sent off.

It was Clarbie who should have led inside 60 seconds as Tom Reubens latched onto a poor back pass from Gethin Roberts, but his attempted chip went straight into the hands of Dragons keeper Ben Henton.

And just second later Reubens went close again, beating Henton to a bouncing ball over the top, only for his stabbed effort to roll wide of the far post.

But under temporary managers Steve Allen and Lee Palmer, the visitors then got a foothold and Jordan Richards turned well in the area before blasting a left foot shot over.

His strike partner Scott Crawford then went clean through only to see his effort blocked by onrushing home keeper Dan Richards – but 16 minutes in, The Dragons did make the breakthrough.

Tony Evans’ 30 yard free kick deflected into the path of Richards, who swivelled and buried a right foot shot into the far bottom corner.

Clarbie almost levelled immediately and again it was Reubens who threatened, turning Nick Squire in the area before seeing his low angled shot blocked by the feet of Henton.

And then 25 minutes in The Dragons grabbed a second, as Crawford teed up Jordan Williams to fire home from close range.

At the other end, Clarbie continued to create chances of their own, and after Ben Barnett’s volley was palmed away by Henton – they wasted their biggest opportunity of all when Reubens squared for Jason Griffiths, only for the forward to somehow tap wide with the goal at his mercy.

It proved crucial as on the half hour mark, it was 3-0 to The Dragons as Crawford made no mistake with a close range header.

But then came a potential turning point as the visitors went down ten men.

Referee Huw George had already issued yellow cards to home players Dan Rees and Matthew Ellis for dissent, and he put his hand in his pocket again when Dragons midfielder Davies put in a late body check on Griffiths – and was duly sent off with the official deeming him to have raised his arm dangerously in the challenge.

It gave the home side a lifeline that they seemingly grabbed nine minutes before the break, when a goalmouth scramble saw Barnett fire against the bar, before player manager Ellis volleyed in the rebound.

But seven minutes later and The Dragons restored the three goal lead in style, as Evans blasted a 20 yard free kick into Richards’ top corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

Still the drama continued and Reubens thought he had pulled one back for Clarbie in first half injury time, but after consulting his linesman, referee George awarded a corner with the ball appearing to have gone out of play in the build-up.

The second half began in the same vein as the first, and within three minutes of the re-start The Dragons had a fifth via the two Jordan’s, as Williams played a one-two with Richards before placing a low shot into the bottom corner.

The scorer then nearly turned provider as Williams teed up Evans on the edge of the area, but his powerful shot was pushed over the bar by keeper Richards.

Unsurprisingly given the frantic first hour, the game slowed down somewhat in the final quarter, and the home side failed to make their extra man count although Ellis tested Henton with a 25 yard shot that the latter was forced to tip over.

At the other end Evans blasted another free kick over late on, and Jordan Richards had a close range shot blocked by namesake Dan in the Clarbie goal, but it mattered little as The Dragons comfortably secured their first win of the league campaign.

The result leaves Clarbie still seeking their first point since returning to Division One, but they can take heart from a first half performance at least where the scoreline didn’t reflect the openings they had.

Clarbeston Road: Dan Richards, Tom Glover, Dan Rees, Matthew Griffiths (Rheinallt George 90), Josh Wood, Matthew Davies, Matthew Ellis, Llewellyn George, Tom Reubens, Ben Barnett (Ieuan Cooke 56), Jason Griffiths (Steve Morris 75).

West Dragons: Ben Henton, Dorian Davies, Jerome Mansbridge, Nick Squire, Jordan Thomas, Gethin Roberts (Steve Allen 79), Jordan Williams, Jordan Richards, Daryl Mansbridge, Tony Evans, Scott Crawford (Danny Peters 68).

Sub not used: Lee Palmer.

Referee: Huw George.