Manderwood Pembrokeshire League Division One:

Herbrandston 0-8 Hakin United

There was no great escape from Herbrandston as Senior Cup winners Hakin United continued their push for the league title tonight with a resounding win at The Village.

Needing a point to seal safety in Division One, Herbie’s hopes of a result were long gone by half time as they trailed 5-0, and The Vikings compounded matters with three more goals after the break.

It means a second top flight relegation in three seasons for the club - although they will feel aggrieved after seemingly moving to the brink of safety on April 3rd when they beat Angle 5-3. However, later that week it emerged that West Dragons had folded, costing Oliver West’s men six points in the league table, and ultimately, their place in Division One.

Barring any re-structure of the divisions, Milford United will now stay up.

Hakin meanwhile, now have the upper hand in the title race having cut the gap on Goodwick United to three points, still with three games in hand, but tonight’s win was marred by a serious looking shoulder injury to centre back Daniel Armstrong, while Jake Merry also limped off early.

The contest itself was effectively over within 11 minutes of kick off as Kristan Bennett’s side took a 3-0 lead.

And the first two goals came in almost identical fashion as twice Jack Wilson hurled long throw-ins into the six yard box – and on both occasions Nicky Woodrow evaded a static Herbie defence to head home.

And it was Wilson who played a big hand in the third when his 30 yard free kick was pushed away by young Herbie keeper Jack Ackermann, but it was Jonty Bennett who picked up the loose ball and struck from eight yards out.

The home side’s failure to deal with balls into the box continued as Armstrong, shortly before being forced off, headed a Justin Harding corner onto the bar, and Woodrow nodded towards goal from Bradley Barrett’s free kick – only for his effort to be tipped over by Ackermann.

Both Harding and Adam John also fired wastefully off target from inside the area, but the fourth goal came on the half hour mark as another Barrett free kick fell to Leigh Marchant, and he fired high into the net from close range.

And two minutes before half time it was 5-0 as Harding broke free down the left and picked out Ben Fawcett with a low cross – and the midfielder tapped in from point blank range.

Herbie did fashion a chance after the break as Mark Jones broke forward and curled a left foot shot narrowly wide, but at the other end Adrian Rees was penalized for handball in the area – and although Ackermann saved Harding’s penalty, the strike buried the rebound.

Again Herbie threatened a consolation goal when Scott Reid was denied by a great recovery tackle by Marchant, but got back to his feet before dinking an angled shot inches past the far post.

The final quarter slowed down somewhat but The Vikings still added two more to their tally as Shane Walsh came off the bench to become the third former Herbie player to strike with a goal from close range – and Harding rounded off the matters with a simple finish of his own.

It completed a depressing night for the home side as their fate was sealed, while The Vikings now move on to Saturday and a game away at Neyland.

Herbrandston: Jack Ackermann, Archie McCallum, Adrian Rees, Mark Jones, Marc Boswell, Scott Findlay, Ryan Davies, Marc Gelona, Dylan Hawkridge, Ali Ouzman, Scott Reid.

Subs: Sean Thomas, Jake Barrett, Celyn Owens.

Hakin United: Adrian Devonald, Jake Merry, Sion Price, Daniel Armstrong, Leigh Marchant, Jonty Bennett, Ben Fawcett, Jack Wilson, Ryan Wilson, Justin Harding, Nicky Woodrow.

Subs: Adam John, Bradley Barrett, Shane Walsh.

Referee: Bernie Armstrong.