Manderwood Pembrokeshire League Division 1: Merlins Bridge 3-1 Carew

Merlins Bridge earned a crucial 3-1 victory over a determined Carew despite finishing with 10 men at The Racecourse on Saturday.

This was the Wizards’ sixth win of the season and it takes them level on points with The Rooks, but the Bridge have two games in hand over their opponents. They are five back from leaders Goodwick but have played three less games.

Bridge drew first blood with a great strike by Joe Leahy, the striker curling an effort past Tom Davies from the edge of the box.

However it was short-lived, as The Rooks hit back immediately when Max Brindley looped a header over Gary Thomas from inside the area.

And the visitors could have taken the lead before the break, as Scott Ferney’s wicked shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Thomas.

Minutes later Ferney went through one-on-one with Thomas, but the young striker fired agonisingly wide.

In the 62nd minute The Wizards were reduced to ten-men when Adam Hawkins received a straight red card from referee Sean O’Connor for dissent.

But despite this the hosts regained the lead in the 64th minute when Leahy drilled a shot through the legs of Davies.

In the 81st minute the home outfit added a third goal to seal victory, as Nathan Greene beat a defender and unselfishly teed-up Leahy - who drilled in from close range to secure a match winning hat-trick.

Merlins Bridge: Gary Thomas, Matthew D’Ivry, Richard Hughes, Jordan Thomas, Andrew John, Adam Hawkins, Peter Thomas, Ashley Beck, Will Haworth, Joe Leahy, Nathan Greene. Subs: Simon Thomas, Gethin Roberts, Chris Ormond.

Carew: Tom Davies, Shaun Whitfield, Zac Rowell, Tom Grover, Max Brindley, Lloyd Hughes, James Hinchliffe, Ian Darbyshire, Alex Bayley, Spencer Williams, Scott Ferney. Subs: Sam Christopher, Sonny Phillips.

Referee: Sean O’Connor.