Kilgetty AFC

Kilgetty U8s were fired up for this match.  Last season’s derby encounters had seen Kilgetty hold on to a draw away at Tenby, but were then soundly beaten at home.  So, with many of the players in both teams knowing each other well, the  playground bragging rights were up for grabs.

The tactic to frustrate Tenby in the first half, playing four across the middle,  with Zac up front on his own, worked out as the target of 0-0 at half time was achieved. Then, the little fellas, Tom Mansbridge & Robson Evans, made way for our experienced wingers, Oliver Griffin and Oliver Wheeler, to come on and raise the tempo of the game.

In the second half, Kilgetty dominated. as the two Ollie wingers made surging runs down the flanks - coming inside, shooting, and setting up the strikers.  Goals rained down on the Tenby goal, whilst Dazy Lloyd, between the sticks for Kilgetty became merely a spectator.

The deadlock was finally broken when the captain for the day, Oliver Gamble, slid a perfect past that split the Tenby defence, for Zac Rowell to run on to.  Zac took one touch with the outside of his boot, then drilled it confidently past the Tenby keeper.

Tenby are not a team to lie down though, and there was always the danger of a counter attack, especially with their star player, Elliot Wherret,  continually striving to break down the Kilgetty attack in the centre of midfield.  Were it not for the resolute and calm defending of Ryan Scourfield and Jack Rees at the back, Tenby might easily have gotten back into the game.  However, with a minute left to go, John Mansbridge forced a goal, his first for the club, that put the game beyond reach for Tenby.

This was a match that the players wanted to win more than any other, and for now, the playground bragging rights are theirs.