Manderwood Pembrokeshire Football League previews for Saturday, January 27th:
Division One (2.30pm):
Clarbeston Road v Angle
Assessing form is beginning to get futile - recent weeks have been so disrupted by weather that the vast majority, including these two, will prepare for tomorrow without game momentum.
Clarbie have not played since losing 4-3 to Lamphey on December 9th, and Angle last played a week later when a Ben Adams hat trick saw them beat The Stags 4-1.
Those results won’t have any bearing on this though, and with a Senior Cup semi final looming, Clarbie will want the likes of Jason Griffiths and Tom Reubens to show the form they did pre-Christmas.
The home side are fifth while Angle lie ninth, but 9 of their 17 points came in their first three games.
Clarbie have been prone to conceding goals, and I suspect the visitors will need Adams to exploit that to come away with a result.
Otherwise, the forward power of the home side makes them favourites.
Score prediction: Clarbeston Road 2-1 Angle
Goodwick United v Monkton Swifts
Credit to the Swifts, they notched a great away win at Narberth last Saturday and now lie third - and would be second were it not for their three point deduction during the first half of the season.
Again James Russell was their hero with a hat trick, and the striker is now surely in the frame for a county call up before the season is out.
The Phoenix Boys again had their game at Herbie washed out - but knowing Wayne O'Sullivan and brother Chris, one thing they wouldn't have allowed is a drop in training intensity during Goodwick's recent inactivity.
So I don't expect ring-rust tomorrow, and although they will have to watch Russell closely, I think the home side will come through a tricky test.
That of course, will be music to the ears of Monkton - who I predicted to lose at Jesse Road last week.
Score prediction: Goodwick United 2-0 Monkton Swifts
Lamphey v Pennar Robins
These two met on December 30th, and it was Lamphey who battled to a vital 2-1 win.
Neither have played since, and you'd expect another tight encounter tomorrow with just one point separating them in the table.
The Stags have recovered well after a rocky patch which saw them lose manager Alan Kitts, and go into this looking for a third league win in four.
Midfielder and caretaker boss Dano Kitts stood out the last time these sides met, and his work rate and physicality could again be important tomorrow in what will be inevitably tough conditions.
Pennar suffered back to back league defeats in December after a great run of 16 points from 18, with Phil John netting five times in as many games.
It's a tough one to call, but home advantage, and the return of some key players over Christmas, edged me towards Lamphey. Just.....
Score prediction: Lamphey 2-1 Pennar Robins
Merlins Bridge v Hakin United
It's a huge game at The Racecourse as these two old rivals look to keep the pressure on leaders Goodwick in the title race.
Last season's Senior Cup semi final, where The Wizards beat The Vikings 6-2, was the best Bridge display I've seen in recent times. Despite Hakin levelling matters with 10 men in the second half, Nathan Thomas' men kept their heads, and their fitness came to the fore as they scored four times without reply in the final 20 minutes.
Will Haworth ran riot that night, and The Vikings will have to shackle the threat of the young winger tomorrow. The work rate of Adam Hawkins and Nathan Greene up front also means Daniel Armstrong and Sion Price will have to be at their best at the back.
But Hakin carry threat aplenty themselves, and like Haworth, Adam John will revel if given space. His potential battle out wide with Bridge full back Matthew D'Ivry should be an exciting one.
Of course, The Vikings will have one major boost with the return of Nicky Woodrow following a suspension and lengthy injury lay off. He may have lacked game time in recent weeks, but I doubt that will affect him much if given a clear sight of goal.
Games between these two rarely disappoint, but The Racecourse has taken a lot of rain this month and the heavy conditions sway me away from predicting another open, high scoring affair.
Both sides need to win or the gap between them and Goodwick becomes that more difficult to breach. But having said that, a draw would not surprise me.
Score prediction: Merlins Bridge 1-1 Hakin United
Milford United v Carew
Another two sides basically starting afresh in 2018 after so long without football.
Milford's task from now in looks daunting, needing to somehow breach an 11 point gap between themselves and safety.
The major positive is that they have had a number of youngsters come through this season, with Lewis Tee amongst those to impress, which bodes well for next season even if relegated.
They have competed in a lot of games well - but lack the firepower and ruthless edge they need to have a chance of survival.
The Rooks meanwhile, slipped back somewhat after a super start, but still boast a strong squad that lies one game away from a Senior Cup final.
Top scorer Sam Christopher and brother Jack both stood out pre-Christmas, and The Robins will need to find a way to shackle the forward threat of the visitors to take something from this.
I suspect Carew will have too much for the hosts, who as always, will battle hard.
Score prediction: Milford United 1-3 Carew
Neyland v Narberth
Having come back 2-0 down, Narberth would have been disappointed to eventually lose 3-2 to Monkton at Jesse Road last week.
It cost The Bluebirds a chance to go second in the table, and Morgan Preece and co will be desperate not to drop further points and let a great first half of the season go to waste.
The Nomads meanwhile, showed signs of improvement in late December after a difficult period, boosted the return of talented youngster Geraint Rees. They will also want influential midfielder Wayne Parry, who continues to be critical to his side, back available after work commitments kept him out of some games in late 2017.
Much of this will depend on the strength of the squads available to both - but the fact Narberth got 90 minutes under their belts last week, and Neyland have been inactive for six weeks, may tilt the balance towards the visitors.
Score prediction: Neyland 2-3 Narberth
West Dragons v Herbrandston
One of only two Division One games to go ahead this month was when these two met at Herbie - and the home side won 5-4 with striker Scott Reid striking four times.
Oliver West's men should be further boosted up front by the return of Ali Ouzman, and given their defensive record, attack may be the best form of defence again tomorrow.
But they will have to marshall Liam Sheehan, who had a hat trick in the afore-mentioned game on debut for Chris Edwards' team, while the pace of Scott Crawford is always a threat.
Like last time, this game may defy the treacherous underfoot conditions and produce goals - and it is one Herbie simply have to win to have a chance of a great escape from relegation.
That factor may work in their favour, but given the unpredictability of the home side, anything could happen in this one.
Score prediction: West Dragons 3-4 Herbrandston
Division Two (2.30pm):
Fishguard Sports v Johnston
Hakin United II v Merlins Bridge II
Kilgetty v Solva
Lawrenny v St Clears
Letterston v Hundleton
Saundersfoot Sports v Llangwm
St Ishmaels v Prendergast Villa
Division Three (2.30pm):
Camrose v Pendine
Carew II v West Dragons II
Manorbier United v Goodwick United II
Milford Athletic v Broad Haven
Narberth II v Pembroke Boro
Pennar Robins II v Milford United II
St Florence v Clarbeston Road II
Division Four (2.30pm):
Angle II v Herbrandston II
Broad Haven II v St Ishmaels II
Solva II v Lamphey II
Fourth Division Cup Round Two (2pm):
Llangwm II v Fishguard Sports II
Monkton Swifts II v Neyland II
Pennar Robins III v Kilgetty II
Division Five (2.30pm):
Carew III v Letterston II
Hundleton II v Saundersfoot Sports II
Johnston II v Milford Athletic II
Milford United III v Cosheston
Pembroke Boro II v Lawrenny II
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