Eddie Merry Memorial Cup semi final: Fishguard Sports 2-4 Monkton Swifts

It was a case of champions v champions as the Eddie Merry Cup kicked off at Fishguard last night, and it was a competitive 90 minutes as Monkton held off a second half fightback from the hosts before running out 4-2 winners.

Last season's Division 1 winners got off to a fast start when striker James Russell found space on the right, and his square ball teed up Chris Richards to fire a low left foot shot across Dean Hopson and into the corner.

Richards scored again shortly after and then it was Russell himself who put Joe Lewis' team in total control before the break my making it 3-0.

But then the Sports, back in the top flight this season after being promoted from Division 2 as champions, forced their way back into it early in the second half.

After referee Bernie Armstrong spotted a handball in the box it was Niall Kinsella who scored from the spot, and soon afterwards Steve Lewis made it 3-2.

Centre back Anthony Couzens then hit the bar as the Sports continued to push, and Kinsella forced a great save out of new Monkton keeper Stuart James.

Ryan Griffiths came on to provide the killer blow though, firing past Hopson from 20 yards as the Swifts sealed a place in Friday's final.

They will play the winners of tonight's semi final between Merlins Bridge and St Dogmaels, also at Tregroes with a 6.15pm kick off.

Fishguard Sports: Dean Hopson, Billy Moore, Anthony Couzens, Thomas Merry, Patrick Hughes, Ryan Howells, Niall Kinsella, Danny Hopkin, Jordan Raymond, Matthew Harries, Steve Lewis. Subs: Lewis Banks, Matthew Lewis, Jake Booth, Tom Lawrence, Ieuan Llewellyn.

Monkton Swifts: Stuart James, Jamie Wilkes, Shaun Jones, Ben Nicholas, Rhodri Davies, Martyn Carroll, Thomas Powell, Blake James, Chris Richards, Dylan Davies, James Russell. Subs: Luke Hendry, Adam Brown, Ryan Griffiths, Connor Rees.

Referee: Bernie Armstrong.