FAW Trophy - Round Three:
Goodwick United 3
Penlan Club 2

CHRIS O’Sullivan’s stunning late free-kick secured Goodwick United a thrilling fightback victory over Penlan Club at Phoenix Park.

This was a stirring cup clash, with goals galore and incident packed, where five were sent off by referee Geoff Moore.

Goodwick United came into this highly anticipated game sitting top of the Pembrokeshire Football League Division One, while Penlan Club are second in the Swansea League Division One table, so the scene was set for a high-octane tie.

The visitors opened the scoring with barely five minutes on the clock, a long ball into the box caused mayhem in Goodwick’s defence and Penlan’s Luke Edwards took advantage as the centre back ghosted in with a far post header to stun the home outfit.

On the 25 minute mark the Phoenix Lads were unlucky not to equalise, as Scott Delaney’s powerful header was nodded against the crossbar by Jordan Griffiths. Only minutes earlier, Jonny Horgan had struck a wicked left footed effort that Penlan keeper Marcus Collins palmed for a corner.

The visitors led 1-0 at half time, and shortly after the break they doubled the lead, when striker Darren Rowe’s powerful header struck the crossbar and rebounded off James Gwilt’s back and into the net.

However, the Phoenix Lads showed true character to pull a goal back straight away, as midfielder Adam Raymond’s glancing header deflected off a Penlan defender and into the net.

Shortly after the goal the visitors were reduced to ten-men when Luke Chappel elbowed Goodwick player manager Wayne O’Sullivan in the jaw.

Ten minutes later and the Phoenix Lads also lost a player, when right back Stef Hayes picked up a second yellow card for a lunging tackle.

But Jordan Griffiths equalised with a spot-kick after Wayne O’Sullivan was taken out by keeper Collins, the striker coolly wrong-footing the Penlan No 1.

Matters got worse for the visitors when they were reduced to nine men as Dale Otten picked up a second yellow and an early shower, and Moore also sent off a Penlan substitute as he restored calm from the visitors’ dugout.

Six minutes from full time, Goodwick took the lead with a brilliant goal, Chris O’Sullivan striking a stunning 30-yard direct free kick which flew in the top corner. 

Right at the death Penlan defender Liam Otten was red carded for a leading an arm in the back of substitute’s Kieran O’Brien’s head, as the visitors finished with eight players.

In Round Four, Goodwick will be away to Fairfield United or Ynysddu Welfare, and Caerphilly Athletic will host the winners of this Saturday's re-arranged third round tie between Cwmcarn Athletic and Hakin United.

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan, Scott Delaney, Iestyn Selaney, Karl Hedley, Chris O’Sullivan, Adam Raymond, Steven Dockerty, Jordan Griffiths, Jonny Horgan. Subs: Steve Blackford, Anthony Couzens, Kieran O’Brian, Lee Hudgell.
Penlan Club: Marcus Collins, Dale Rowe, Liam Otten, Luke Edwards, Rhys Coffee, Cory Charles, Dale Otten, Jordan Doyle, Darren Rowe, Luke Chappel, Luke Dallin. Subs: Jamie James, Mathew Thomas, Kyle Barrett, James Williams, Paul Lewis.
 

Referee: Geoff Moore.