Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League fixtures for Saturday, October 20th:
Division 1 (2.30pm):
Clarbeston Road 2-4 Monkton Swifts
For all their goal fests so far, last week's 3-2 win over Goodwick was Monkton's most significant display of the season.
They had already proven their ability to be clinical and put teams away, but performing under pressure against one of the county's best sides is a different kettle of fish.
And this was without two of their key players, last season's top scorer James Russell and Patrick McDonagh.
Their form doesn't look like a flash in the pan - and I suspect now some sides will set out to contain and frustrate them, and that's where it may become tougher for Joe Lewis' side.
This won't be easy against a Clarbie team very much 'Jekyll and Hide' so far.
But they do have back to back wins over Milford (league) and Narberth (West Wales Cup), and Sean Seymour Davies and Jason Griffiths have gelled as a front pairing.
I envisage goals at both ends, but Monkton's form makes them favourites.
Herbrandston 1-2 St Clears
After their West Wales Cup win, it was unfortunate for Herbie their Senior Cup match with Llangwm/Haverfordwest was called off Saturday. The likelihood of back to back wins would have put momentum into their season.
But in the League they are now on 0 points, with their 1-1 draw with Neyland earlier in the season now awarded to The Nomads as Herbie played an ineligible player. This leaves them bottom of the table and they must respond quickly.
Two of their key men, Marc Gelona and skipper Scott Reid, were in the goals in the 5-2 win over Swansea Bay, but they must be defensively sound against a St Clears team who have proved tough to beat thus far.
Tristan Hancock has been one of their stand out players of late but Scott Page has harboured an organised, hard working team all round.
Herbie will see this as a winnable home game and I fancy them to throw everything at St Clears - but I still think the visitors will come through.
Lamphey 1-3 Pennar Robins
Pennar warmed up nicely for this with a 10-0 cup win over Lawrenny last week, with both Ben Adams and Sam Southcott back in the goals with hat tricks.
The Stags have shown improvements of late and despite defeats in their last two matches, 2-1 at Hakin and 4-3 in Pwll in the West Wales Cup, they have been far more competitive.
But they have just one point to their name and like Herbie, have to now start turning performances into results.
Pennar meanwhile, went from three straight league wins to three straight defeats before the 'cup break - but they are scoring goals and I think they will have too much firepower for the home side here.
Merlins Bridge 4-3 Hakin United
I'll be more surprised than anyone if this ends up 0-0.
Bridge have 28 goals in five league games, and while Hakin only have 14, Nicky Woodrow is now back partnered with Justin Harding up front, so I suspect there are plenty more to come.
Camron Thomas is also starting to come of age for The Vikings and he had a hat trick in their West Wales Cup win at Llandeilo and Adam John was in superb form for Pembrokeshire in midweek, but defensively the visitors will be tested here. And with James Manson now back available, Kristan Bennett faces an important decision as to whether he returns between the sticks or Gareth Fawcett continues in goal.
In Joe Leahy, Will Haworth, Adam Hawkins, and Nathan Greene, manager Matthew D'Ivry has options aplenty going forward. And if all four are available, it will be interesting to see if they all start.
The Wizards went to Goodwick earlier in the campaign, scored five times, and yet only came away with a point. They can ill afford to let another display like that go to waste against title rivals again.
The on-field rivalry between these two has been intense this past decade, and their games rarely fail to produce. Hakin's 4-3 win at The Racecourse was one of the highlights of last season, and while this could go either way, my hunch (or wild guess) is a reverse scoreline this time around.
Milford United 1-5 Goodwick United
It has been a frustrating two weeks for Goodwick, dropping two points late on in Carew before losing in the Senior Cup at Monkton.
But they will eye a chance to bounce back here while at the same time, will be hoping Bridge and Hakin take points off each other.
Wayne O'Sullivan will be weary of fatigue with five players, himself included, involved with the county in midweek and out of those, Scott Delaney and Llyr Tobin went off injured. But the Phoenix Boys do have the strength in depth to and the manager will want a response after that poor first half display cost them dear last Saturday.
Milford did notch a morale boosting West Wales Cup win over Pennar last time out with Liam Parr getting a late winner, and it was a result Adrian Hutchings' and his side needed.
But I can see their wait for a first league point continuing.
Narberth 1-3 Carew
Things have improved for Narberth since the re-signing of Tony Evans, and the striker has five of their last six goals, including a hat trick in their league win over Neyland.
But they still shipped five in their West Wales Cup defeat to Clarbie and Carew will represent another tough test here.
After losing to St Clears, The Rooks have come through two tough games to Saundersfoot and Goodwick with four points, and a win here will keep them in touch at the top if nothing else.
Their away form has actually been flawless with nine points from nine, 14 goals scored, and 1 conceded, and I can see them extending that run at Jesse Road.
Saundersfoot Sports 3-1 Neyland
As mentioned, Neyland have been boosted this week by their 1-1 draw at Herbie in September being upgraded to a 1-0 win - giving them 6 points thus far.
But having been given a West Wales Cup walkover, they have not played since losing 3-1 to Narberth on September 29th. Saundersfoot are in a similar position, with a 2-1 loss to Carew on the same day their last match.
It's an obvious thing to say, but how both sides react to their break is going to be crucial.
The Seasiders lie sixth and have been one of the surprise packages of the campaign, and similarly to St Clears, have continued a hard work ethic that served them well in Division 2 last season.
I'd back them for three points here.
Division 2 (2.30pm):
Letterston v Solva
Division 3 (2.30pm):
Carew II v Milford United II
Goodwick United II v Milford Athletic
Monkton Swifts II v Fishguard Sports II
Pennar Robins II v Narberth II
Solva II v Pembroke Boro
St Clears II v Pendine
St Florence v Clarbeston Road II
Division 4 (2.30pm):
Kilgetty II v Camrose II
Llangwm H'west CC II v Hundleton II
Neyland II v Cosheston
Pembroke Boro II v Herbrandston II
Pennar Robins III v St Ishmaels II
Division 5 (2.30pm):
Carew III v Letterston II
Johnston II v Newport Tigers
Milford Athletic II v Lawrenny II
Tenby v Saundersfoot Sports II
Second Division Cup Round 1 (2pm):
Broad Haven v Merlins Bridge II
Camrose v Llangwm H'west CC
Hakin United II v Fishguard Sports
Lawrenny v Hundleton
Prendergast Villa v Kilgetty
St Ishmaels v Johnston
West Wales Cup Round 1 (2pm):
Pembroke Boro v FC Clydach
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