Pembrokeshire Football League fixtures for Saturday, January 19th:

Senior Cup quarter finals (1.45pm):

Merlins Bridge 3-2 Hakin United

Jonah's injury time winner, Will Haworth's semi final hat trick, the abandoned game at The Obs.......

Past meetings between Merlins Bridge and Hakin United in the Senior Cup have not been boring.

I doubt this one will be either. Bridge remain unbeaten in Pembrokeshire football this season although needed a late Nathan Greene goal to draw with Carew last week. Hakin meanwhile, were made to work hard by Milford United before prevailing 2-0. It did mean back to back clean sheets for The Vikings, and their defensive record has improved of late.

And they will need to be solid on Saturday. In the league meeting The Wizards essentially fielded four forwards in Adam Hawkins, Joe Leahy, Greene and and Hawowth - and it paid off (just). Of course The Vikings carry ample threat themselves, especially with Nicky Woodrow and Justin Harding in their current form. In fact, Hakin have played 18 league and regional cup games this season - in only two of them have both the front two not scored.

The absence of Adam 'titch' John however, is one less headache for Matthew D'Ivry.

The last two meetings between these sides at The Racecourse have finished 4-3 and I expect goals again on Saturday. Unlike Hakin, their record against the top sides around them in the league this season has cost them - with defeats to Bridge, Goodwick, and Monkton. While the pysche around a cup tie will be different, it's for that reason I think a narrow home win again here.

Monkton Swifts 4-1 St Clears

For various reasons, St Clears have only played once since December 8th - a 4-0 loss at Hakin. This is not the ideal fixture to blow away the cobwebs.

Monkton remain league leaders and while many thought their title challenge would fade, it simply hasn't. And they will be eyeing silverware in this competition too.

With 55 goals, The Swifts have struck more than anyone else in Division 1 this season and bagged six at Herbie on Saturday, with the signing of Nico Morrison from Lamphey looking a good one as he scored twice. They wouldn't have been totally satisfied though, conceding three themselves.

St Clears did miss a penalty via Jon Seeley in that Hakin defeat but on the whole didn't create enough. They need to pose more threat this Saturday to have a chance of an upset win.

But the momentum of Monkton is too great to see past them at the moment.

Pennar Robins 3-1 Saundersfoot Sports

It was a bad day for both these sides last Saturday - but both have the chance to put it behind them by taking a rare chance to reach a Senior Cup semi final.

Pennar were showing signs of improvement but after a home defeat to Clarbie, barely troubled Goodwick at Phoenix Park on the weekend in their 4-0 defeat. And that could have been more were it not for keeper Stuart James.

Saundersfoot meanwhile, were thumped 6-1 at home to derby rivals Narberth. They only named two subs which suggests they were depleted, but simply have to put up a bigger fight here.

I expect both teams to go up a notch on Saturday, but with Sam Southcott and Ben Adams up front I think the firepower of The Robins gives them the edge.

Solva 1-4 Carew

Carew will go to the only Division 2 side left in the competition.

On paper it looks a comfortable away win, but twice in recent seasons Solva have given Goodwick a scare in the Senior Cup and won at Neyland in Round 1 this time around. They are five league games unbeaten and can afford to throw everything into this with little expectation on them.

But I can't see The Rooks arriving complacent. They have developed into one of the county's strongest sides these past two seasons - but need to cement that with a trophy.

They more than matched Merlins Bridge in the 2-2 draw last Saturday and in Lloyd Hughes and Jordan Richards, have two of Division 1's most in-form players.

Maes Y Mor isn't the easiest place to go but for the home side to have any chance, I think they'll have to score first. 

Division 1 (2pm):

Goodwick United 3-1 Clarbeston Road

Against Pennar, Goodwick didn't look like a side who hadn't played for five weeks.

Their squad looks even stronger with the return to action of Rhys Dalling and with Monkton in cup action, a win here will take them back top of the table. 

But although they won 5-1 at Clarbie on the opening night of the season, this game doesn't look as straightforward as it would have done pre-Christmas.

Matthew Ellis' men gave Merlins Bridge a stern test before back to back wins over Pennar and then Neyland on Saturday. Again Sean Seymour-Davies and Jason Griffiths were in the goals and Raph Barnett is currently adding composure and experience to the midfield.

They won't get as much space this Saturday as they did in the 5-3 win over The Nomads though. And even with their recent improvement, The Phoenix Boys start favourites.

Herbrandston 1-1 Milford United

No league game on Saturday is as pivotal as this one.

It's advantage Milford in the battle to stay up after their win over Neyland a fortnight ago, and The Robins were also resolute despite losing to Hakin. Defensively they are in a much better place since the returns of Will Goodall and Scott Griffiths and Adrian Hutchings will know that a win here and suddenly, there will be clear daylight between the two.

Herbie's defensive woes continue but they do offer something going forward. They scored three times against leaders Monkton and while Ryan Davies' stunning strike stood out, invariably it is Scott Reid who The Robins need to keep quiet. His name his currently on the score sheet week in week out for Herbie and the visitors will be wary.

Sean Thomas will feel his side have to win here, while Hutchings will eye a huge step towards safety.

I suspect these two may cancel each other out.

Narberth 5-2 Neyland

The Bluebirds turned in one of their best displays of the season against Saundersfoot last week - and Dafydd Wright seems to have rediscovered his scoring form of last season.

His hat trick made it four goals in two games, and after a poor start, Narberth are now up to seventh and a top half finish should be a genuine target.

Neyland though, need to pick up as their season is in danger of meandering from now until April. They have been stuck on 10 points since October 27th, and have lost four league games in a row.

There was at least encouragement at Clarbie as The Nomads scored three times, including one for the returning Jake Booth. After their wasteful finishing against Milford - that stat at least would have pleased manager Andrew Kemp.

But Narberth are currently strong going forward and the visitors need to shore up at the back, plus field a regular keeper, or I can only see a home win.

Division 2 (2pm):

Broad Haven v Fishguard Sports

Hakin United II v Merlins Bridge II

Johnston v St Ishmaels

Kilgetty v Letterston

Llangwm Haverfordwest CC v Hundleton

Prendergast Villa v Camrose

Division 3 (2pm):

Carew IIv Narberth II

Clarbeston Road II v Pennar Robins II

Fishguard Sports II v St Florence

Milford Athletic v Goodwick United II1

Milford United II v Pendine

Pembroke Boro v Monkton Swifts II

St Clears II v Solva II1

Division 4 (2pm):

Camrose II v Herbrandston II

Hundleton II v Cosheston AFC

Neyland II v Kilgetty II

Pennar Robins III v Llangwm Haverfordwest CC II

St Ishmaels II v Pembroke Boro II

Division 5 (2pm):

Carew III v Tenby

Lawrenny II v Johnston II

Monkton Swifts III v Milford Athletic II

Fifth Division Cup Round 1:

Newport Tigers v Letterston II