Senior Cup semi-final:

Goodwick United 1–2 Clarbeston Road

CLARBESTON Road reached the Senior Cup final for the first time in the club’s history as they came from behind to stun reigning champions Goodwick United at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium last night (Wednesday).

The Division Two side went into the tie as understandable underdogs, but were deservedly level at the break after Jason Griffiths cancelled out Adam Raymond’s early strike.

And then 21 minutes from time, youngster Josh Wood struck from close range for what proved to be a famous winner.

The Phoenix Boys had not been beaten in the competition since the 2013/2014 season, and seemed on track in their quest for a third consecutive cup final appearance as Jonny Horgan made ground down the left wing early on and squared for Karl Hedley, who sliced his shot wastefully wide.

Clarbie right winger Wood then had half-hearted appeals for a penalty turned down, before Goodwick took the lead 13 minutes in.

Steve Dockerty surged down the right and clipped a pass inside to striker Raymond, who took a touch before drilling a precise left foot shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards out.

The goal served to really open the tie up as Clarbie tried to respond, and influential midfielder Michael Turpin found Griffiths on the right edge of the area, who saw his low effort palmed away at the near post by Goodwick keeper Casey Walters.

Griffiths was then crowded out in the six yard area after great work by strike partner Richard Bevan down the left hand side – whilst at the other end, both Hedley and Horgan had chances to extend Goodwick’s lead, but were bravely denied by Clarbie keeper Matthew Davies.

Horgan then had another angled shot well blocked by the legs of Davies, before Scott Delaney glanced a header wide from a Steve Dockerty cross.

But it was the Division Two side who finished the half stronger, and they wasted a glorious chance to level matters when Turpin’s free kick found its way through to Griffiths – who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

However, he made amends in the final minute of normal time, tapping home at the back post after Clarbie player-manager Matthew Ellis had latched onto a Turpin pass in the area and clipped his effort over Walters and across goal.

Clearly stung by the equaliser, Nigel Delaney’s side pressed in the early stages of the second half, and Raymond’s looping header was comfortably held by Davies, before Delaney did find the net from a Dockerty cross – but the goal was ruled out by referee Angus Scourfield as the centre back appeared to head the ball out of the Clarbie keeper’s hands.

The Division Two side continued to be resolute, with Tom Glover and Dan Rees in particular making some telling challenges, and it wasn’t long before they were creating chances again themselves.

Bevan was denied by a great tackle from Delaney following a great surge up-field from Clarbie left back Llewellyn George, and on 69 minutes, came the defining moment.

Bevan skipped past Delaney on the right edge of the area and clipped a deep cross onto the head of Griffiths, and after his effort was brilliantly saved by Walters, it was Wood who pounced on the rebound to score from six yards.

And to Clarbie’s credit, they refused to sit on their lead and within minutes should have been further ahead when Bevan played in Griffiths, whose angled effort was saved by the onrushing Walters.

From the resultant corner, Rees crashed a header against the bar, and the rebound fell to Griffiths whose volley bounced into the ground and agonisingly over.

It then took a great recovery tackle from Hedley to prevent Raph Barnett going clean through on goal, before Griffiths did find the net with a driven shot, but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

The striker continued to threaten and a better touch would have seen him go clean through from Wood’s pass – before the latter himself wasted a great chance as he was off target with a free header from substitute Gregory Brown’s whipped cross.

But having missed the chances to seal the tie, Clarbie then endured a nervy final few minutes as The Phoenix Boys finally regained some momentum, and substitute Ben John cut into the area but was unable to get his effort away under pressure from George.

Turpin then brought down Horgan 20 yards from goal – and Raymond’s low free kick beat the wall but was well held by Davies.

And in the dying seconds, it was John who three times hurled a long throw-in into the area, but each time the Clarbie defence scrambled clear, before Scourfield’s whistle sealed the club a place in the final.

“I don’t think anyone saw that coming in the second half – it was all us and we were nearly left to rue the chances we missed,” said Clarbie player-manager Ellis, who played in the Haverfordwest County side that lost in the final to Hakin in the 2010/211 season.

“We went in as underdogs which always helps. But we knew that Goodwick would have a young side and we have a lot of experience in our squad, so we believed we could do it.”

Ellis added the squad would now be “looking forward” to a first ever final appearance in the competition.

To his credit, Goodwick boss Nigel Delaney was dignified in defeat.

“I think we should have been two or three up in the first 30 minutes, but my team talk for half time definitely changed after their goal. Our heads went down and they had a lift.

“But overall their win was no fluke. They deserved what they got and I wish them good luck in the cup final.”

Clarbie will now play the winner of the Hakin United v Merlins Bridge semi-final next Wednesday, February 22 on The Meadow, 7pm kick off.

The final takes place at the same ground on Saturday, April 23.

Goodwick United: Casey Walters, Anthony Couzens, Scott Delaney, Wayne O’Sullivan, Charlie Davies (Ben John 73), Steven Dockerty (Rowan Nicholson 82), Matty Delaney, Karl Hedley, Llyr Tobin, Jonny Horgan, Adam Raymond.

Subs not used: Nigel Delaney.

Clarbeston Road: Matthew Davies, Rheinallt George, Llewellyn George, Dan Rees, Matthew Ellis, Tom Glover, Michael Turpin, Raph Barnett, Josh Wood (Jacque Montague 90), Jason Griffiths (Matthew Griffiths 87), Richard Bevan (Gregory Brown 72).

Referee: Angus Scourfield.

Assistant referees: Steve Williams and Gavin Southcott.

Fourth official: Keith Amos.