West Wales Cup Round Two: Goodwick United 7-3 Seaside

The weather was horrendous, the entertainment levels very good considering.

And after 90 minutes that yielded 10 goals, a hat trick and a red card, holders Goodwick United comfortably booked their place in the third round of the West Wales Cup after overcoming a poor start against Seaside.

As rain teemed down at Phoenix Park, it was the Carmarthenshire Premier League side who struck two minutes in as striker David Hughes benefitted from some static defending to slot a left footed shot past James Gwilt.

Lee Stone’s free kick also drifted dangerously across the Goodwick goal but just when it looked as if the hosts would be in for a difficult afternoon, they exploded into life with three goals in as many minutes

Firstly a long throw from Stefan Hayes was flicked on by Scott Delaney into the path of Jordan Griffiths, who almost inevitably, did the rest with a powerful right foot finish.

And with their next attack Goodwick struck again and this time Jonny Horgan was the instigator, beating Luke Lewis on the left before seeing his low cross turned in by a sliding Kieran O’Brien.

Moments later 2-1 became 3-1 and again Horgan was the provider, this time teeing up Lee Hudgell and suddenly, the Phoenix Boys looked in total control.

But back came Seaside as Jack Watkins’ long range shot came back off the bar, and although Gwilt did brilliantly to keep out Ben Honeybun’s follow up, Hughes was again on hand to tap in the second rebound.

At that point we were only 17 minutes in but having got themselves back into the game, Seaside then contrived to get themselves out of it.

Firstly Watkins escaped with a yellow for a lunge on the returning Luke Raymond, Griffiths testing away keeper Ben Hussey with the resultant free kick, before Jordan Finnigen went in dangerously on Hayes and after sorting out the melee that followed referee Garwin Davies issued a red card.

Goodwick made them pay on the half hour mark as Delaney was taken down by Hussey as he went round the keeper, and Griffiths blasted in the subsequent penalty.

And just before the break came goal number five for the hosts, Hudgell’s cross finding Matty Delaney, who took a touch before finishing clinically.

Stone did test Gwilt with a 30 yard free kick early in the second half but Goodwick sensed blood, and it seemed the visitors were hanging on as Horgan, Raymond, and Griffiths all went close.

But suddenly Seaside were given a glimmer when the Goodwick defence failed to deal with a cross into the area, and the ball appeared to deflect off O’Brien with Gwilt unable to stop it going over the line.

However, the shift in momentum proved temporary, and just a minute later it was O’Brien who rose highest at the other end to head in Raymond’s corner and restore the three goal lead.

At that stage there was still 30 minutes to play but understandably as the relentless rain continued, the closing stages became stagnated as it became harder for both sides to gage the surface.

Hussey was at full stretch to keep out a Horgan shot but just as matters were petering out, Griffiths sealed his fourth hat trick of the season by hammering a right foot shot high into the net from 10 yards.

Chris O’Sullivan:

 “We could have done better for their three goals and our decision making wasn’t the best at times.

“But we got the job done. On a day like this you have to grind things out and find a way to get through – that’s what the West Wales Cup is all about.

Man of the match: Jonny Horgan:

In the early stages Goodwick were a goal down and looking ragged, and then came those three goals in three minutes.

Horgan was instrumental in two of them, and his running down the left in the first half constantly stretched the visitors. He tired in the second half after switching to the right, but he was involved in most of his side’s work going forward.

Matty Delaney also impressed and obviously, Griffiths could also have taken the honour after yet another hat trick. That’s 19 goals for him in a Goodwick shirt this season, and there are currently few more clinical strikers around.

But Horgan gets the nod.

Goodwick weather the storm

This wasn’t a complete Goodwick display, but in the end, it didn’t need to be.

Being hyper critical the goals they conceded looked soft but when they did go forward, they attacked with pace and precision. In Griffiths they clearly have a proven goal scorer but there is also threat aplenty around him.

In terms of the weather, Luke Raymond couldn’t have had a more harrowing return from spring time in Australia, but he slotted back in comfortably today and will boost Goodwick’s strength in depth for the remainder of this season.

The Phoenix Boys know as much anyone that in the West Wales Cup, it’s all about the result. And given the adverse weather, and the absence of player manager Wayne O’Sullivan, they’ll be satisfied enough.

Goodwick United: James Gwilt, Stefan Hayes, Ben Van Gucci (Rowan Nicholson 66), Scott Delaney, Llyr Tobin, Kieran O’Brien, Matty Delaney, Luke Raymond, Lee Hudgell (Rob Morgans 59), Jonny Horgan (Steven Dockerty 75), Jordan Griffiths.

Seaside: Ben Hussey, Luke Lewis (Jordan Oakley 70), Jordan Finnigen, Lee Stone, Mark Standen, Callum Thomas, Jack Watkins, Ben Honeybun, Jamie Bowen (Lewis Smith 65), David Hughes, Jacob Mills (Jay Evans 65).

Referee: Garwin Davies (Swansea).