PEMBROKESHIRE County Primary Schools Under 11’s squad were one of eight county school sides from the whole of Wales playing in the Tom Yeoman Welsh Schools Football Finals at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday, April 23.

The Pembs squad, made up from players across Pembrokeshire Primary Schools, had been playing a series of festivals throughout the season against Afan Nedd, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen. The side qualified as runners up in the South League 1 behind a strong Afan Nedd side.

In the finals they were grouped with Swansea, Newport and Wrexham Schools. The other group consisted of Flint, Afan Nedd, Cardiff and Vale and Caerphilly.

Their first match, playing on a superb 3G surface, was against Swansea. The A side drew 0-0 while the B side also drew 1-1 with Leo Glascoe scoring for Pembrokeshire.

The next match was against boys from Wrexham Schools. The A side won 2-1 with goals by Liam Topp and Macs Page. The B side drew 0-0 again making it an aggregated score of 2-1 to Pembrokeshire.

In the last group game Pembrokeshire met Newport. The A side won 5-0 with Macs Page scoring a hat-trick and Liam Topp and Oscar Miles adding another each. The B side played a hard fought game and again drew 0-0. Aggregated score was 5-0 to Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire went through to the semi-finals as group winners and met Caerphilly Schools. This was a very exciting affair, with the lead changing hands several times throughout. Final scores were 3-0 to the A side with Macs Page scoring the third and vital goal seconds before the final whistle, adding to his opening goal. Henry Thomas scored the second with a fantastic header from a corner. Despite fantastic defending by Jacob Owen and Toby Davies Caerphilly B won 2-0 but Pembrokeshire went through to the final 3-2 on aggregate.

Pembrokeshire met Swansea in the Final. In a hard fought game the A side drew 0-0 whilst the B side came up against a very strong Swansea side that showed clinical finishing. Swansea went 2-0 ahead at half time and despite all efforts by the Pembrokeshire boys Swansea were better on the day winning 4-0. Congratulations to them.

The whole squad played some superb football throughout the day against the best opposition in Wales at this level. They thoroughly deserved their final place and were a great credit to their county and schools.

Thanks to all the parents and supporters who cheered the boys on throughout the day. Please spare a thought for the boys who played in all the previous rounds to get the squad in the final, but were unavailable for selection due to a club tour.

Thanks to the Welsh Schools FA for arranging such a superb finals event and to the excellent match officials added to brilliant atmosphere of the day.