HAKIN United kept up their fight for a top four finish as they came from behind with ten men to beat Saundersfoot 2-1 on Wednesday (Apr 17).
It was a third game in five days for the Vikings but they started the game well as Craig Nicholson had two good chances to score in the opening ten minutes, hitting the bar with his second effort.
Adrian Devonald was in goal for Hakin and he came off his line on one occasion to deny Saundersfoot a chance.
Camron Thomas also came close after beating a player and cutting inside he let fly from 30 yards but his effort bounced off the bar.
Nicky Woodrow was also proving a handful but found it difficult to link with his team mates.
At half time, Hakin subbed Brad Barrett for Jay Power and Luke Hart came off for Shane Walsh with a reshuffle in the middle.
Saundersfoot continued to make things tricky for the Vikings who came close again as good play from Walsh and Ali Robertson set up Woodrow but his 25-yard effort hit the bar again.
The home side were unlucky not to go ahead as they had a number of good chances to score.
Hakin then tried to play the offisde trap to no avail and Jimmy Walker took down the Saundersfoot man leaving the referee no choice but to pull out the red card.
Richard Cope scored the penalty as he tucked the ball into the side of the net out of reach of Devonald.
Dan Evans then picked up an injury for Hakin and he was replaced by Stuart MacDonald who with ten minutes to go, played in Camron Thimas who found Woodrow and his cross was tapped in at the far post by Justin Harding.
The home side looked to see the game out but with three minutes to go Jay Power was fouled giving Hakin a free kick.
MacDonald took it quickly to Thomas who found Woodrow in the box, he had his back to goal but crossed to the far post for Thomas who had kept running and he nodded in.
Hakin were able to see the game out and manager Kristian Bennett said: “It was a good game where we didn’t have it all our own way, but we didn’t panic even at 1-nil down with 10 men with only 15 left to play. The boys just stuck at it and were rewarded for their efforts.”
