Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League Division One:

Hakin United 2–3 Goodwick United

So it was Goodwick who had the last word, but Hakin who took the title.

The Pembrokeshire League season is now officially at an end after the top two sides in Division One rounded things off tonight at The Obs.

Unsurprisingly, the game lacked the quality and intensity of Thursday night’s epic encounter, but regardless, it was another see-saw 90 minutes which The Phoenix Boys won courtesy of Jonny Horgan’s 74th minute winner.

As usual there were chances aplenty at both ends, with Hakin’s Ben Fawcett denied early on by the outstanding James Gwilt, before Lee Hudgell latched onto Llyr Tobin’s lofted ball forward to rifle the visitors ahead with his left foot.

Fawcett went close again when Stef Hayes cleared his near post volley off this line, but soon The Vikings were level when Ryan Wilson skipped around Gwilt and although Matty Delaney got back to intercept – this time the ball had already gone over.

Kristan Bennett’s men should have been ahead before the break but twice Justin Harding failed to finish when clean through, with one effort blocked by Gwilt before he side-footed a second chance wide.

But early in the second half it was Goodwick who pressed, and Jonny Horgan was thwarted by Adrian Devonald’s save, before the winger did make it 2-1 as his in-swinging free kick evaded everyone and found the far corner.

He was denied a second when Devonald darted off his line to smother his shot – and then believe it or not, it was the keeper who squared matters, sending in a long free kick from half way that deflected past Gwilt off the head of Anthony Couzens.

But with 16 minutes left Horgan struck the winner, benefitting from Jordan Griffiths’ lay off to blast a left foot shot high into the net.

It meant no win to go with the silverware for Bennett and his players, but after the post-match presentations, where Brian Hawkins congratulated both sides on successful seasons, the Hakin manager said he was ‘over the moon’ at the way his side had come through a frantic fixture list to retain the title.

“It’s been a massive effort from the boys and I didn’t expect us to cope as well as we did with the backlog of games,” he told Telegraph Sport.

“But it shows the strong squad we have and when he had injuries youngsters stepped up to the mark. When me and Stuart (MacDonald) took over two years ago people were talking about one of the worst Hakin sides for a while and yet here we are with back to back titles.”

It was two late Shane Walsh goals, one in the 4-3 win at Merlins Bridge and another in the 4-4 draw at Goodwick last Thursday, that effectively sealed Hakin the title – and Bennett said that was testament to his team’s fitness and desire.

“It’s been tremendous that we have been able to play with tempo right to the end of games and we’ve always looked fit in the last 15-20 minutes.

“The character of the boys in matches like Bridge away has been brilliant.”

Bennett also had praise for Goodwick United, whose players respectfully stayed on the field after the final whistle to applaud the champions as they received the silverware.

The rivalry between The Vikings and The Phoenix Boys has intensified this past three seasons, and there have been on and off field flash points. But neither side denies the quality of the opponent.

“Just look at the other night,” said Bennett.

“They were 3-0 down with 10 men and you have to respect the way they came back.

“At 4-3 I was just hoping for the final whistle so they couldn’t do any more damage to our goal difference - as they looked like they were going to score with every attack. They are a very good side.”

It means two league titles and a Senior Cup now for Bennett and assistant boss MacDonald, and after stating his intention to carry on, the manager admitted the challenge was on for his side to also taste success outside of Pembrokeshire.

“I was still playing when we last played in a West Wales Cup final and that and the FAW Trophy are competitions we have to keep striving to win.”

But for now Bennett, MacDonald and the players will have to be content with the domestic double, while Goodwick themselves can still reflect on a season which saw them win a second West Wales Cup inside three years.

So it is perhaps fitting that the two sides have brought the curtain down on the Pembrokeshire Football League season, where a host of players and teams have done well to keep going through a frantic fixture period caused by a huge backlog of rain-affected games earlier in the season.

And it won’t be long, before it all comes round again.

Hakin United: Adrian Devonald, Jake Merry, Bradley Barrett, Sion Price, Leigh Marchant, Jonty Bennett, Ben Fawcett, Ryan Wilson, Jack Wilson, Justin Harding, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Jimmy Walker, Camron Thomas, Nicky Woodrow,

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Stefan Hayes, Wayne O’Sullivan, Llyr Tobin, Anthony Couzens, Adam Raymond, Steve Dockerty, Matty Delaney, Lee Hudgell, Jordan Griffiths, Jonny Horgan.

Subs: Rowan Nicholson, Steve Blackford, Patrick Hughes.

Referee: Alan Boswell.

Assistants: Charles Davies and James Olyott.