Pembrokeshire Football League fixtures for Saturday, January 11th:

Division 1 (2pm):

Carew 2-1 Pennar Robins

This looks tighter than it would have done a few weeks back.

Carew came back to beat Saundersfoot on Saturday and Sam Christopher will return from suspension this weekend. But countering that, his brother Jack went off injured in his second game back and Jordan Richards has joined Monkton. The likes of Iwan Izzard and Zak Rowell are also still unavailable so it is a testing period for The Rooks.

Pennar are currently doing a Pennar - surging up the table after a poor start.

Criag Asparassa's brilliant goal helped them beat Neyland on Saturday to make it three wins and four games and suddenly they look more than safe. They have also added Josh Hicks to their squad after he came over from rugby at Llangwm.

Carew do still have a lot of firepower and will want a win ahead of their Senior Cup quarter final. They start favourites to get one on paper but like last weekend, may need to dig deep.

Clarbeston Road 2-3 Merlins Bridge

That game in Goodwick could turn out to be pivotal for Bridge come end of the season. At 2-0 down their hopes of staying in the title race were fading - instead they remain firmly in the mix.

They face another test here though. Clarby went down 3-0 at Hakin on Saturday but competed well and Richard Bevan missed a penalty which would have made it 2-1 in the second half. They are now fielding a regular keeper in David Pepper and invariably raise their game against the likes of Bridge.

The Wizards are still missing Chris Ormond but at the other end, Joe Leahy continues to score at will and his presence gives them an edge here. 

For Simon Thomas and Gareth Williams, any win will do here.

Goodwick United 5-1 Narberth

On the contrary Goodwick would have been spitting blood after Saturday. Instead of sitting joint top right now they are three points off the pace.

Wayne O'Sullivan will want a quick response and you'd expect one here. Narberth lie sixth but in their two toughest league games so far, against Bridge and Monkton, they've lost 8-0 and 7-0 respectively.

Defensively they need to shore up with Goodwick's forward trio of Jonny Horgan, Jordan Griffiths and Rhys Dalling all in the goals of late. Otherwise, Narberth keeper Adam Frearson could have another busy day.

Monkton Swifts 3-1 Fishguard Sports

From a 6-1 defeat to a 7-0 win, it has been quite a fortnight for Monkton.

But they remain top with 24 points from 27 ahead of another tricky test here. As mentioned they have added Jordan Richards to their forward ranks and look back to full strength after a few injuries, but I don't think they will run away with this as comfortably as they did against Narberth.

Worth noting that Fishguard actually join Monkton and Hakin in having one every game except one in the league, even if they have played just six times. They hammered St Clears 10-1 on Saturday with Steve Lewis continuing his great season with a hat trick and won't lie down here.

I'll go for Monkton but again, it won't be easy for the champions.

Neyland 3-1 Saundersfoot Sports

A big game for both.

Neyland have not won since October 5 in the league and it was another frustrating day for them Saturday. There was another goal for Jason Griffiths at Pennar but they have now slipped to successive one goal defeats and sit one point above the bottom two.

Their tally of three is three more than Saundersfoot, but while Saturday wasn't the result they needed, it now has to be the performance to kick start them.

They led Carew at half time and Paul Hodge proved he can be a real threat with free kicks within range, and have to perform at the same levels of intensity at the Athletic Club.

Both teams can ill afford to lose here but home advantage leans me Neyland's way.

St Clears 0-5 Hakin United

Hakin have responded emphatically to their defeat at Goodwick mid November. Since that, they have 12 points from 12 and have scored 23 times.

Defensively they have been solid too having conceded twice in five league and cup games, and are boosted further with Adam John and Jayden Chapman available after suspension. Nicky Woodrow also made a scoring return on Saturday.

On the contrary, it was a dismal day for St Clears on Saturday with that 10-1 defeat at Fishguard. In players like Sean Seymour-Davies and Will Hughes they have players to threaten teams but simply cant keep conceding at the rate they are.

I expect the Saints to respond here by battling hard but can't see beyond a Hakin win.

Second Division Cup Round 1 (1:45pm):
Hakin United II v Lawrenny
Herbrandston v Milford United
Kilgetty v Solva
St Ishmaels v Johnston

Division 2 (2pm):

Hundleton v Pennar Robins II
Merlins Bridge II v Broad Haven

Division 3 (2pm):       
Camrose v Monkton Swifts II
Cosheston AFC v Carew II
Fishguard Sports II v Letterston
Haverfordwest CC v Goodwick United II
Pembroke Boro v Clarbeston Road II
Pendine v Milford Athletic

Division 4 (2pm):     
Broad Haven II v Tenby
Milford United II v Haverfordwest CC II
Narberth II v St Clears II
Pennar Robins III v Camrose II
Solva II v Neyland II
St Florence v St Ishmaels II

Division 5 (2pm):

Angle v Pembroke Boro II
Johnston II v Newport Tigers
Lawrenny II v Herbrandston II
Milford Athletic II v Hundleton II
Saundersfoot Sports II v Carew III