HAKIN United and Penlan are set to battle it out for the West Wales Cup on Thursday, May 11, and it promises to be an excellent game.
The teams are widely regarded as two of the best in West Wales and a good crowd is expected at the Swansea.Com stadium with kick off at 7:15pm.
Penlan last won the competition in 2013-14 when they beat Seaside in the final but they were beaten finalists in 2017-18 when they lost 1-0 to Pembrokeshire side Goodwick United.
Hakin United will be hoping it is their turn to cause their opponents some West Wales Cup heartbreak though and win in the final for them would be their first since the 2003-04 season.
Route to the final
Hakin United began their route to the final with a bye in the first round before a second round win over Carmarthenshire side Trostre. Jack Britton and Justin Harding grabbed the goals as they earned a 2-0 win.
In the third round Hakin earned a comfortable 11-0 win over Cilfrew Rovers with Harding, Ashley Bevan, Shane Walsh and Ryan Wilson all getting their names on the scoresheet.
Hakin earned a 5-0 win in the next round against West End. Woodrow scored a hat trick alongside two goals from Walsh.
The Vikings beat Pontlliw in the quarter final. Jack Britton pulled Hakin level after going behind early on but after the game finished 1-1 penalties were needed to separate the sides. Hakin held their nerves to seal the shootout win.
Hakin United beat fellow Pembrokeshire side Carew 2-1 in the semi final at the Ogi Bridge Meadow. Carew had taken the lead in that game but second half goals from Ben Aldred and a late winner from Nicky Woodrow sent them to the final.
Penlan also had a bye into the second round where they came up against Bryncoch. The West Wales Premier League side earned a 4-0 win with Darren Rowe scoring a hat trick.
In the third round they played fellow West Wales Premier side Morriston Town. Morriston took the lead in that one but Darren Rowe scored to level the game. They had to be separated by a penalty shoot out which Penlan edged 5-3.
Penlan had to come from behind to earn victory in their fourth round game against Ynystawe. A Luke Edwards penalty levelled the game and he scored twice more to send his side to the quarter finals.
They came up against Neath Town and it was another Rowe hat trick which sent them into the semis.
In the semi-final, goals from Dylan Rich and Luke Edwards gave them a 2-0 lead over St Josephs. They pulled one back but Penlan held on to seal their place in the final.
League form
Hakin United finished the Pembrokeshire season in second place, just a point behind Champions Goodwick United.
They finished with 20 wins from their 22 games, the only two defeats coming against Goodwick. Hakin were last in action on April 27 but they finished the season with five straight wins.
Their only other losses this season have come in the latter stages of other cup competitions and they will be keen to finish their season with some silverware.
Penlan were crowned champions of the West Wales Premier League with sixteen wins from their 20 games, finishing a point ahead of nearest rivals South Gower.
Their last league defeat came in October with their only other losses since coming in cup competitions.
They have been unbeaten since losing to South Gower in the West Wales League Cup in February, a run of 12 games in all competitions.
They too will be looking to end their season with another trophy.
Head to head
Hakin United and Penlan have met once already this season. The two were drawn against each other in the qualifying rounds for the FAW Welsh Cup.
On that occasion it was Hakin who came out on top with a 5-0 win with Britton, Walsh and Woodrow amongst the scorers.
They also met in West Wales Cup action last season and it was Hakin again who got the win, winning 4-0 on that occasion with two goals from Ashley Bevan.
