Fishguard relegated as Clarby march on

Clarbeston Road: 3 Fishguard Sports: 0

Clarbeston Road needed to win to keep up their push to maintain 3rd place in the League.Fishguard needed to win to ensure that they kept alive their slim chance of staying in Division One and avoiding relegation.

However, after failing to take the better chances of the first half, Fishguard were left to rue those missed opportunities when a much improved second half performance from the hosts which led to three goals without reply.

With the wet weather recently, the game had to be played on the reserve pitch in Clarby which was in good condition for a good game of football. However the strong winds meant that the game never really settled early on. It was Fishguard that should have took the lead when Luke Thomas broke down the Fishguard left but his effort went agonisingly wide of Mansell’s right hand post.

Just before half time Clarby thought they had opened the scoring when Laurie Howarth broke beyond the Fishguard back line and rifled his effort past Pepper, but the game was called back for offside.

Goalless at the break

Just six minutes into the second half, it was Ben John, Clarby’s top scorer, who broke the deadlock. Seemingly going nowhere in the corner, he was able to sharp turn, outwit Patrick Hughes and from the tightest of angles his lashed effort somehow beat Pepper at the near post and into the roof of the net.

On 70 minutes the lead was doubled, this time from the spot. Jake Wesley broke into the box and he was tripped and down he went. Up stepped Laurie Howarth to slot the ball home to Peppers right.

On 83 mins, player manager Matt Ellis l, fresh off the bench scored the third. A Howarth corner was knocked back by John and when everyone thought he would lash his effort. He calmly side footed it into the top left stanchon to seal the win.

The defeat confirms Fishguard will play in Division Two next year, whilst Clarby enter a busy period of 3 games in 7 days as they travel to Kilgetty, Milford and Neyland