Manderwood Pembrokeshire League Division One:

Clarbeston Road 2–2 Goodwick United

A STUNNING second half strike from Ieuan Cooke earned Clarbeston Road a point in an intense clash with Goodwick United – who failed to fully capitalise on title rivals Merlins Bridge and Hakin United having their game postponed for a waterlogged pitch earlier in the day.

The result signified a committed display from the home side, who were missing key forward players Jason Griffiths and Tom Reubens – but despite being under pressure for long periods they matched the West Wales Cup finalists for work rate and physicality, and took the lead 30 minutes in through a Matthew Davies penalty.

The Phoenix Boys turned things around with goals either side of half time from Kieran O’Brien and Jonny Horgan, but it Clarbie’s Senior Cup semi-final hero Cooke who then levelled the tie with a wicked 20 yard shot that flew in via the crossbar.

It was the visitors who did most of the early pressing as striker Jordan Griffiths twice went close, first firing into the side netting from Lee Hudgell’s lay off, before dragging a right footed shot narrowly wide from 15 yards out.

In-between those chances O’Brien headed over from a Horgan cross, and Chris O Sullivan, whose battle alongside Adam Raymond against Matthew Ellis and Mike Turpin in midfield was one of the features of the night, forced Clarbie keeper Lee Scott into a sprawling save with his dipping 25 yard effort.

It was from an O’Sullivan corner from which Scott Delaney also went close, but then at the other end, it was the centre back’s mistimed tackle that led to Clarbie going ahead 30 minutes in.

Striker Davies worked tirelessly throughout, and it was typical of his night that he won a loose ball and drove forward, before being tripped by Delaney just inside the area.

His effort from 12 yards was emphatic, firing high to James Gwilt’s left and into the top corner.

The home side went threatened moments later when player-manager Ellis whipped in a free kick that Greg Jackson narrowly failed to connect with.

Challenges began to fly in from both sides as the intensity went up a notch towards the end of the half, with referee Alan Boswell choosing to keep his cards in his pocket – and although Goodwick continued to press but Clarbie were resolute, as a Delaney flick on found Griffiths, but his goalbound header was brilliantly pushed behind by Scott.

O’Sullivan again tested the keeper from long range and had a close range shot bravely blocked by the impressive Josh Wood, but just as Clarbie seemed set for an interval lead, Goodwick levelled.

It was from another O’Sullivan free kick that the goal came, with the home defence only clearing as far as Delaney, whose header back into six yard area was nodded home by O’Brien.

And then after the break, Wayne O’Sullivan’s men seem to come out with real intent as Horgan headed over – and although Turpin tested Gwilt from long range, it was the Goodwick winger who completed the turnaround four minutes into the second half.

It was Lee Hudgell, dangerous throughout, who skipped past two tacklers on his way to the byline, and although his low cross was palmed away by Scott, the ball fell to Horgan who kept his cool to slot home through a crowd of bodies.

But rather than deflate the home side, they responded in kind as nine minutes later, Ellis set Steffan Thomas free down the left, and his ball inside teed up Cooke who duly curled an effort over Gwilt and into the net via the bar.

The Phoenix Boys threw on Matty Delaney and the returning Rhys Dalling as they pressed to re-take the lead, but Clarbie continued to threaten themselves and after Hudgell received the game’s only booking for taking down Wood – Turpin put the subsequent free kick too close to Gwilt.

But the keeper then very nearly endured an embarrassing moment as he took an air shot trying to clear a long ball over the top, but Llyr Tobin was alert to the danger and got back to clear with Davies lurking.

The final stages however, saw Clarbie having to dig deep as centre back Dan Rees, only able to arrive after kick off due to work commitments, came off the bench to help shore things up.

And he was needed as Dalling didn’t look like a man recently out with long term injury, heading just off target from a Raymond cross, before unleashing a stinging angled drive that Scott could only gather at the second attempt.

Raymond himself saw his cross-shot cleared off the line by Rickie Thomas, before Dalling again threatened, skipping past Rees in the area but only firing wide of the near post.

Clarbie did fashion another chance of their own from a set piece but Ellis whipped his 20 yard effort over, and then deep into injury time, it was captain Raymond who surged to the edge of area only to pull his shot tamely wide of Scott’s goal.

It was the final act of an enthralling game, meaning Goodwick’s crucial clash at home to Merlins Bridge on Thursday takes on even greater importance, with the league leaders now six points clear of The Wizards but having played three game more.

And The Phoenix Boys will be sweating on the fitness of Chris O’Sullivan, who was forced off late on with what appeared a concerning shoulder injury.

Fifth placed Clarbie meanwhile, go to Lamphey next on Saturday as they continue the build up to their Senior Cup final with Hakin United on April 21st.

Clarbeston Road: Lee Scott, Josh Wood, Rickie Thomas, Matthew Ellis, Matthew Griffiths (Dan Rees 68), Tom Glover, Greg Jackson, Mike Turpin, Matthew Davies, Steffan Thomas, Ieuan Cooke.

Subs not used: Steve Morris, Martyn Tweedie.

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Anthony Couzens Matty Delaney (68), Wayne O’Sullivan, Scott Delaney, Llyr Tobin, Jonny Horgan (Steve Dockerty 56), Chris O’Sullivan (Rhys Dalling 74), Adam Raymond, Kieran O’Brien, Lee Hudgell, Jordan Griffiths.

Referee: Alan Boswell.