Scott follows in father’s two-goal cup final joy

2:29pm Friday 2nd May 2008

Haverfordwest cricket club 3.

Lamphey 0.

Teenage striker Scott Crawford followed in his father's footsteps by scoring two goals in a third division cup final.

The 18-year-old cup hero grabbed a goal in each half to help Haverfordwest Cricket Club gain a deserved victory over gritty Lamphey at Monkton Lane last week.

Ironically, Scott's father Neil scored twice for the Cricketers when they last won the cup with victory over Pendine 11 years ago.

Proud dad Neil said: "I'm delighted for Scott and the boys, they really deserved to win."

He added: "It's a good job Scott didn't get a hat-trick because I wouldn't have heard the last of it."

The Cricketers took full advantage of the Monkton Lane slope to build-up a two-goal cushion at the interval.

Crawford neatly dinked the ball past advancing Lamphey goalkeeper Jason Oatley to claim the first goal on 26 minutes.

A controversial call was made by the Lamphey camp who felt that Crawford's shot hadn't crossed the line, as defender Jewson Parsley desperately cleared the goal bound effort, but referee Adrian Wilson conferred with linesman Kevin Milich and much to the Cricketers delight and Lamphey's dismay the goal stood.

Four minutes before the break and Nathan Kirkhouse gained a fortunate rebound off keeper Oatley, leaving the young midfielder with an easy tap-in for the delighted Cricketers' second goal.

This was a bitter pill for Lamphey to swallow, because minutes earlier they came close to equalising.

Antony Webb's venomous right-footed 25-yard free kick was miraculously cleared off the line by the head of Cricketers veteran defender Mike Smith.

Oatley made a terrific fingertip save onto the bar to deny striker Michael Barnett a goal as the 46-year-old claims he is now retiring.

Lamphey lost influential striker Gordon Skyrme with a foot injury in the 55th minute, and by that stage the writing was on the wall.

Shortly before the hour mark and the Cricketers settled this cup final with their third.

Barnett's 12-yard effort rebounded off Oatley's left-hand post, but Crawford made no mistake with the second bite of the cherry.

Obviously, Scott Crawford will take the plaudits, but skipper Jamie Cato and midfielder Dai Davies, were outstanding and both easily could have been handed the man of the match accolade.

Haverfordwest Cricket Club: Adam James, Dai Upward, Christopher Davies, Nathan Kirkhouse, Jamie Cato, Mike Smith, Mike Barnett, Dai Davies, Scott Crawford, Rory Blake, Rhys Blain. Subs: Simon Ellis, Tudor Walters, Giac Malvisi.

Lamphey: Jason Oatley, Stuart Harrison, Leyton Doyle, Jewson Parsley, Ross Fortune, Andrew Sweet, Byron Woodward, Mark Parsens, Gordon Skyrme, Antony Webb, Mike Davies. Subs: James White, Mike Cole, Richard Williams.

Referee: Adrian Wilson. Assistants: Kevin Milich, Jeff Hurton.

Fourth official: Tony Davey.

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