Saturday saw South Pembrokeshire Hockey Club start a new season with a warm-up game against the Cardiff-based team Whitchurch.

South Pembs., who at the end of last season won promotion, were looking for a good performance to gauge how they may fair in South Wales Division One. Although there were a few absentees, South Pembs. had a strong line-up with plenty of familiar faces as well as a few new ones.

It was South Pembs. who took the early initiative when Jamie Smith capitalised on a bit of pre-season rustiness in the Whitchurch defence. Smith rounded the last man and finished off with one of his trademark reverse sweeps, which the 'keeper was powerless to stop. However, it was not long before Whitchurch found their feet and an equaliser came soon after. At one apiece in the early minutes the game looked as if it could be a goal feast and the two teams didn't disappoint.

Both teams looked capable of scoring, but neither team seemed to dominate play. It was good passing from the Pembs. midfield that created an opening. South Pembs. captain Bernie Wheeler played a penetrative ball into the opposition box, which found Brian Minnie. The home side's 'keeper finely saved a top of the 'D' shot, unfortunately for him though Steve Kendrick was there to follow up with the rebound. South Pembs. continued to work hard, notably Rob Woods putting 110 per cent effort in the centre-half position.

This tireless effort soon paid off when Wheeler split the defence with a direct ball between two defenders to find right-half, Kendrick. A decent first touch allowed him to foil the 'keeper and shoot home in an empty net and get his second of the match. With the game at 1-3 Whitchurch were still unwilling to concede defeat and a counter-attack move allowed them to poach a second.

It was then time for south Pembs. to reclaim their two-goal advantage when Smith latched on to pass from the middle of the park to lift it neatly over the 'keeper. This time it was left back Sean Irving supplying the ammunition for the irrepressible Smith. The two-goal lead didn't last long though when Whitchurch brought the score to 3-4 just before the half-time break.

Whitchurch must have had something strong spiked into their half-time oranges and they came out with a dogged determination to draw the score level as early as possible and this is exactly what they did.

Moving into the final half-an-hour the game was tied at 4-4 all. The South Pembs. defence consisting of Nigel Thomas, Dave Ferguson, Simon Moseley and Sean Irving played extremely well and were desperate not to let Whitchurch steal victory from under their noses.

New recruit Jason Kenniford in the South Pembs. goal continued to frustrate the Whitchurch team, producing a string of fine saves.

Five minutes from time the deadlock was broken though when a run down the right and a cross-field pass by Kendrick provided youth team captain Huw Hanniford to get the winner and his first senior team goal for the club.

Arthur Kendrick, Leigh Thomas, Ritchie Belson and Sean McCarthy all made substitute appearances and all performed well when on the field of play.

Team: Jason Kenniford, Sean Irving, Simon Moseley, Dave Ferguson, Nigel Thomas, Huw Hanniford, Bernie Wheeler, Robert Woods, Steve Kendrick, Brian Minnie, Jamie Smith, Arthur Kendrick, Leigh Thomas, Ritchie Belson, Sean McCarthy.