West Wales Intermediate Cup Round 4: Merlins Bridge 2-1 Llandarcy

Merlins Bridge gained a narrow victory against a gritty Llandarcy outfit at The Racecourse.

The Wizards have never won the West Wales Intermediate Cup, and manager Matthew D’Ivry will be urging his team to go all the way this year after gaining this hard fought victory to reach the last eight.

The hosts took an early lead when Nathan Greene met Joe Leahy’s corner to head powerfully into the back of the net.

With a strong wind in the Wizards’ favour, the hosts continued to press in search of a second goal.

Leahy saw a curling corner hit the crossbar, but in the 33rd minute they did bag a second in fortuitous circumstances. Leahy’s curling corner was punched into his own net by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

The Wizards’ camp would have felt happy with a two-goal advantage at half time.

In the second period the visitors had more possession and tested the Wizards’ back four of Laurie Haworth, Chris Ormond, Jordan Thomas, and Andrew John.

The hosts’ midfield consisting of Leon Pemberthy, Gethan Roberts, David Davies, Will Haworth, all worked hard to get behind the ball and make life difficult for their Neath League Division One opponents, who are unbeaten in the league and sitting second in the table.

On 72 minutes Llandarcy pulled a goal back when Andrew Phillips got on the end of a free kick and finished with aplomb at the far post.
Luckily there were not too many scares until the final whistle, as The Wizards stayed resolute for the remainder and got the job done to march into the quarter finals.

Merlins Bridge: Gary Thomas, Laurie Haworth, Chris Ormond, Jordan Thomas, Andrew John, Leon Pemberthy, Gethin Roberts, David Davies, Will Haworth, Joe Leahy, Nathan Greene. Subs: Steve McNabney, Ben Davies, Simon Thomas, Matthew D’Ivry, Peter Thomas.