The under 19’s beat Pontardawe 4-1, Jack Hurley opened the scoring on 18 minutes, Evan Daley added a second just before the interval. Jack Todd added a third on 47 minutes, Pontardawe pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. Sean Hanbury sealed the three points with the fourth a couple of minutes from time.

The first half was tight with few chances at either end. However, on 35 minutes the referee awarded Penybont a penalty, he was possibly the only one in the ground who thought it and once it was scored it changed the game. In the second half we pushed forward looking for an equaliser and we were forced to take chances at the back. That said the second goal came from a corner with 12 minutes to go with Josh Webber pulling a goal back in the 90th minute. We had a few chances to level but failed to hit the target.

We had a penalty shout of our own on 8 minutes when Sean Hanbury went down in the box but the referee waved play on for what seemed a valid penalty. Both Sean Hanbury and Jack Todd had chances but failed to get in a shot. Carlos Indjai headed the ball clear and set Shane Williams off on a run down the left, he found Sean Hanbury who set up a chance for Elliot Thomas but his shot from just outside the area was saved by the keeper. Josh Webber had a great cross headed clear with Jack Todd just beaten to it. Early in the second half Shane Williams was fouled but no free kick was given allowing Penybont to attack but Josh Webber got back to tackle the forward and Carlos Indjai brought the ball out running about 50 yards with it. Jack Fleming replaced Jack Todd and his cross appeared to be handled in the area but again no penalty was the decision. Some poor defending by us allowed Penybont to get in a shot which Steve Cann turned behind for a corner from which they had a free header to score. We pushed forward looking to get back into the game and following a free kick Liam McCreesh shot wide. Elliot Thomas and Carlos Indjai combined to set up a shooting chance for Elliot but once again the keeper saved the shot. We pulled a goal back in the 90th minute when Josh Doyle played the ball through for Josh Webber who scored with a right footed shot. We still had time for another attack but from a decent position Liam McCreesh shot over the bar.

A disappointing final home game, a typical end of season game but our cause wasn’t helped by some inconsistent refereeing.

We recovered from being a goal down at the interval to score two goals in five minutes and complete the double over the home side. Elliot Thomas and Carlos Indjai returned to the side having been unavailable last week.

Celtic had an early corner which was headed wide. Liam McCreesh then found Jack Todd wide right, his cross took a deflection and was claimed by the keeper just ahead of Sean Hanbury. Steve Cann came 10 yards out of his area to clear the ball but passed it straight to a Celtic player 40 yards out. His first time effort at the empty goal sailed high and wide. We responded with Sean Hanbury firing a right footed shot against the keeper. On 19 minutes the Celtic keeper did well to dive to his right to turn a Jack Todd header behind for a corner. Somehow, we failed to take the lead from the corner, from a mass of bodies in the 6 yard box the ball was cleared off the line and eventually out to Josh Doyle just outside the area, his first time shot went over the bar to give Celtic a big let off. An Elliot Thomas clearance hit Sean Hanbury and rebounded towards the corner flag, the ball was played into the area and Celtic were unlucky when a bicycle kick effort went inches wide. Celtic took the lead on the half hour when the referee awarded a penalty for a high foot Just before the interval Sean Hanbury was just wide with a right footed shot.

We won an early corner in the second half before Andre Griffiths almost presented Celtic with a second, his pass back to Steve Cann was underhit and a Celtic player latched on to it but Steve was out quickly and cleared the ball. We drew level on 70 minutes with a penalty of our own, we had been awarded a free kick on half way and when the ball was played into the area Carlos Indjai was fouled. Sean Hanbury stepped up to score and 5 minutes later a header at the far post was blocked, the ball was played across for Liam McCreesh to score from a couple of yards. Celtic now were forced into attacking and having wasted as much time as they could during the game suddenly we had a multi ball system and the keeper showed he had another speed rather than snail. However despite one attack down the left that produced a great cross which no-one could turn in we defended comfortably and saw out the game without too much difficulty

An early chance for Lido as the Ferry keeper travels a long way out to collect a cross. He misses and it falls to Liam McCreesh in space but he can’t keep his shot down and it flies over the bar.

Sacha Walters is brought down, Lido appeal for a penalty but the referee gives a free kick on the edge of the box. Walters takes and it clips the bar.

The Ferry responded and only a save from Steve Cann prevents them taking the lead.

Cann makes another great save as the Ferry capitalised on a defensive error to run clear but Steve Cann rushes off his line to block the chance.

Lido went behind on 33 minutes following a long throw from Ian Hillier, the ball is flicked on and turned into the back of the net by Luke Harris. We hit back almost immediately, Jack Todd holds up a long ball and waits for Josh Webber’s run and plays it through for the Lido winger who steers it past the keeper.

We went 2-1 down right on half time, when Gareth Jones headed in from a corner.

Having just come on Josh Cockings is booked for a challenge just outside the area on Jack Todd. Lido with a free kick in a dangerous position. Sean Hanbury replaces Owen Williams and takes the free kick but it sails over the bar. We drew level on 75 minutes when Sacha Walters delivers a cross into the box and the unmarked Jack Todd guides home with a great header. There was no more scoring but an incident packed local derby ends all square.

A goal in the third minute by Azeem Arshad set us on our way, he netted a second on 33 minutes. Sean Hanbury with the third on 49 minutes all but sealed the result, Charlie Hamer scored the fourth on 64 minutes with Port Talbot pulling one back 6 minutes from time. Other than the disappointment of not keeping a clean sheet the only criticism one could make is the low percentage of goals we scored to the number of chances created.

We took the lead on three minutes following a great run down the left by Charlie Hamer, he cut into the box before squaring the ball to Azeem Arshad who mad no mistake from 15 yards. A minute later Sean Hanbury was unlucky not to double the lead when the keeper managed to block his shot. Charlie Hamer tried his luck with a shot from outside the box but the keeper saved it. On 18 minutes a Sean Hanbury cross hit the top of the crossbar. Aaron Jones then touched a Port Talbot shot over for a corner which he came out to gather. Aaron then made a couple of good saves from powerful shots getting his body behind them. The defence also closed down quickly to deny Port Talbot any chances. We should have scored a second on 27 minutes, firstly Jack Hurley had a shot blocked, Sean Hanbury had one cleared off the line before the ball reached Azeem Arshad and as he went to shoot it bobbled and it went over the bar from a couple of yards. Azeem did get a second on 33 minutes, Sean Hanbury attacked down the left and crossed for Azeem to score with a right foot shot just inside the post.  Jack Hurley made an audacious attempt to make it 3-0 when he received the ball 40 yards out, he saw the keeper slightly off his line and hit a fierce dipping shot that just went over the bar.

Sean Hanbury made it 3-0 4 minutes into the second half when he latched on to a through ball from Jack Hurley, he easily beat the last defender before drilling a right footed shot into the net. We continued to have the upper hand without getting a fourth, Aaron Jones comfortably saved a header from a free kick before a great cross from Azeem Arshad was headed against the crossbar by Sean Hanbury. Charlie Hamer received the ball wide right, cut into the area and his right footed shot was too good for the Port Talbot keeper making it 4-0. Port Talbot pulled on back on 84 minutes when a low cross was the left was drilled in giving a wrong-footed Aaron Jones no chance.

The score doesn’t do justice to our performance. Youth team players Taylor Evans and Jack Todd made their first starts with three more youth players on the bench, Lewis Clement making his first team debut, Evan Daley and the returning Shaun Owen. All five players along with another youth player Sean Hanbury all played well. Andre Griffiths also slotted in at right back and gave a good account of himself while Owen Williams made his first appearance since he returned.

There was little between the sides in the first half, Sacha Walters should have given us the lead on 5 minutes but somehow sidefooted his shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Two minutes later in Haverfordwest’s first attack they scored, we conceded a couple of corners which we failed to clear, the ball bobbled around the area before Steffan Williams picked his spot to score. On 23 minutes a great diagonal ball from Taylor Evans found Sacha Walters wide right, he cut back in along the edge of the penalty area and tried a shot but it lacked power and was easily cleared. Jack Todd was doing well holding up the ball and making life difficult for the two Haverfordwest centre backs. We were seeing plenty of the ball but couldn’t create a clear opening, when Haverfordwest had possession the defence coped well with it and restricted them to long range efforts. Half time came with few chances to either side and we still had all to play for.

We started the second half with a corner but it was headed clear, on 52 minutes Steve Cann mishandled a low shot the ball just going the right side of the post for us giving Haverfordwest a corner.  We then had a period of possession without being able to create anything and when we lost possession Haverfordwest doubled their lead. Again Steve Cann failed to hold a low shot, this time he wasn’t so lucky as it hit the inside of the post and trickled back across the goal for Ryan Thomas to tap in from a yard or so. Carlos Indjai was injured in heading the ball out for a corner and was off the field when it was taken. Jack Todd did well to head the ball away for a second corner before we cleared the danger. The third goal was scored with 3 minutes to go and gave a somewhat false picture to the game, perhaps 2-0 would have been a fairer reflection and even then the goals could have been stopped.

Credit to the players who gave us good as they got except in the home penalty area. As I said earlier all the youth boys could be pleased with their performances which must give us hope for next season.

Lido side

Steve Cann – 2 Andre Griffiths – 3 Shane Williams – 4 Cai Owens – 5 Carlos Indjai – 6 Owen Williams –    7 Elliot Thomas – 8 Taylor Evans – 9 Sean Hanbury – 10 Jack Todd – 11 Sacha Walters

Subs – 12 Evan Daley for Carlos Indjai 78 – 14 Shaun Owen for Taylor Evans 59 – 15 Lewis Clement for Jack Todd 78

Penybont started in a positive fashion and could have taken the lead on 7 minutes when a low cross into the far post beat everyone the ball going out for a goal kick. Our first real attack saw the Penybont keeper quickly out if his area to just beat Sean Hanbury to the ball. We took the lead on 10 minutes when Jack Hurley picked up a through ball and from just inside the area fired a left footed shot that the keeper couldn’t keep out. Two minutes later only a great tackle in the area prevented Jake Simeone making it 2-0, Penybont were struggling to cut out the through ball and again only a good save by the keeper denied Sean Hanbury, the ball rebounded to Jack Hurley but his shot was blocked by a defender. On 16 minutes Sean Hanbury was unlucky with a volley that went just wide but from the goal kick the ball was played forward to him just inside the area and his left footed shot went across the keeper and into the net. We went three up on 21 minutes and again Sean Hanbury was the scorer. Taylor Evans beat a couple of players and squared the ball for Sean to score. Penybont pulled one back on 25 minutes, a right wing run into the box drew Aaron Jones out and the ball was squared for a simple tap in. Shaun Owen then cleared a free kick to Sean Hanbury, he found Jack Hurley but his shot went just wide. Jack Hurley forced the keeper into a save on 30 minutes and Jake Simeone shot wide when well placed. Matthew Andrews then cleared a Penybont free kick with the Lido winning a corner, Evan Daley headed the far post corner back in and Matthew Andrews scored with a left footed shot. Penybont pushed forward in the closing minutes of the half but Evan Daley cleared one attack while Aaron Jones turned another behind for a corner, this resulted in a shot which went wide.

Early second half pressure saw Sean Hanbury play a great ball in to Azeem Arshad he lay the ball off for Taylor Evans but his shot went just wide. We made it 5-1 on 57 minutes following a corner, a couple of chances were blocked by some resolute defending but eventually the ball fell to Sean Hanbury who completed his hat trick. Aaron Jones made a comfortable save from a header before making two superb saves in a matter of seconds. Firstly, he turned a close range header onto the crossbar and the ball fell to a Penybont player a couple of yards out with only Aaron to beat. Somehow Aaron managed to save the shot and clear the ball. Lido went down the other end and Matthew Andrews was denied a second goal, the Penybont defence blocking his shot. Penybont pushed forward looking to reduce the arrears but firstly they shot wide following a corner and secondly Aaron Jones again held a close range header. Sean Hanbury made it 6-1 on 82 minutes when he successfully converted a penalty and then following a run down the left he squared the ball for Connor Thomas but his shot was cleared off the line by some good defending. Connor wasn’t to be denied a second time however, the Penybont keeper raced out of the area to try a clear a through ball, Connor beat him to it and from outside the area found the net with a first time shot. A good performance by our players but credit to Penybont, despite the scoreline they didn’t give up and not only denied us a few extra goals but were themselves denied by some good keeping by Aaron Jones.