SIRIOL BAGS A VITAL WINNER
CARMARTHEN Hockey Club’s ladies’ second team are through to the Hockey Wales Challenge Cup final.
They reached the final – the second they will play in this season – after beating Gwent Fourths at the National Sport Centre in Cardiff.
Carmarthen kept control of the ball early on with midfielders Lucy Davies and Kate Howell creating opportunities, but Gwent’s strong defence and goalkeeper kept the West Walians out.
Carmarthen maintained their high intensity and won a number of short corners as they looked for an opener, but Gwent remained strong at the back.
Quick breaks from Gwent put the Carmarthen defence of Leia Thomas, Delyth Rees, Ellie Routley and Ffion Evans, plus goalkeeper Lydia Pearson, under pressure, but they kept their opponents at bay.
And it was Carmarthen who grabbed the opener when wing-back Mari Davies found Siriol Richards and she slotted the ball home.
Carmarthen looked to use more width at the start of the second half as they tried to unlock the Gwent defence again.
Wing-backs Tirion Evans and player of the match Davies worked hard to transfer the ball to forwards Richards, Ella Bailey, Poppy MackenzieJones and Charlotte Harries.
In the last few minutes Carmarthen defended attacks by Gwent well, constantly putting the press on and fighting for 50-50 balls to claim their place in the final.
The only previous time Carmarthen reached this final, it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
This final will be played on May 7 or May 8 in Swansea.
The ladies’ first team drew 0-0 with Penarth at home.
Meanwhile, there was a dramatic climax to Carmarthen men’s penultimate league game of the season at leaders Neath.
Having drawn the reverse fixture earlier in the season and buoyant from the previous week’s win over Whitchurch, Carmarthen arrived full of confidence.
Neath started like promotion candidates and pinned Carmarthen in their own D for much of the first half. Centre-backs Doug Shaw and Russell Horsey made numerous tackles to limit Neath to just three shots on goal and the opening period ended goalless.
Carmarthen began the second half much more aggressively, with Will Heath and Josh Richardson especially potent going forward.
Debutant Luke Dunning linked up well with his new team-mates but Neath hit back and took the lead after 55 minutes.
Carmarthen battled well but could not find a deserved equaliser until Neath had a player sin-binned with five minutes to go.
The visitors changed formation, pushing Lee Jones forward as a third striker, and with the very last play of the match Will Heath fed the ball to Josh Gwynne, who slotted the ball home in the bottom corner.
It was his third goal in two games and earned a hard-fought point for Carmarthen.
Man of the match was Russell Horsey.
The final league match of the season sees Carmarthen host Swansea on Saturday.