Merlins Bridge are in pole position leading into the Christmas break, with Hakin United hot on their heels just one point behind them and two games in hand.

While the race for the first division championship appears to be a two-horse race, there are other interesting sub plots developing throughout the Manderwood Timber Pembrokeshire Football League.

Narberth currently occupy a mid-table position in the first division, but with just four wins form their 14 games and having accrued just 13 points they’ll want a good start to the new year in order to guarantee safety.

A win at home against Goodwick United would have helped over the weekend, but that didn’t materialise as they went down 7-1, with Tony Evans scoring their only goal.

Carew sit two places above the Bluebirds as the Rooks’ good form continued with their sixth win of the season after winning 5-1 at home against Milford United.

Jordan Richards was on fine form, scoring twice, as did Scott Ferney, with Shaun Whitfield adding the other goal in the convincing win.

Angle suffered a bit of a blip in what has been an otherwise successful end to 2016 as they were hammered 9-0 at Hakin United.

Lamphey sit in fourth place after winning their eighth game of the season at home to Johnston.

The Stags hammered the Tigers 5-0 thanks to a goal from Josh Sture and a brace apiece from Michael Davis and Billy Davis in the Bush Inn, Pembroke Dock sponsored clash.

Congratulations to Pennar Robins, too, as the beleaguered Bush Camp first team managed to pick up their first win of the season.

It was a good one, too, winning 2-1 at home against Neyland after goals by Connor Rees and Connor Roberts.

Tenby entertained Merlins Bridge, but the Wizards won 5-2, despite goals from Nathan Patterson and Daryl Mansbridge.

Meanwhile, Monkton Swifts went down by the same margin at West Dragons, with the Swifts’ goals coming via an own goal and one by James Russell.

St. Clears could do with a good start to 2017 also, given they are second from bottom with just eight points to their name in division two.

They, too, lost on Saturday, suffering an 11-1 thrashing at home against Clarbeston Road.

Hundleton’s Dylan Davies, meanwhile, is in fine form and appears to be scoring every week for his team and Saturday was no exception.

He bagged a brace at home against Saundersfoot Sports to help his team to a 6-2 win.

Other goals came from Lloyd Wilson, Craig Manning, Geraint Lewis and Marc Edwards.

In division three, Pendine drew 3-3 at Milford United seconds, while Carew seconds destroyed their counterparts from Clarbeston Road winning 7-4.

Mark Davies and Jon Harries both struck twice, with the others coming via an own goal and scores from Jacob Knox and James Worrall.

In division four, Angle seconds went down 8-0 at St. Ishmaels’ seconds, while Pembroke Boro won 4-2 at Fishguard Sports and St. Florence lost 3-0 at home to West Dragon reserves.

In the second round of the division five cup, Hundleton seconds beat Camrose seconds 3-0 thanks to a couple of goals from Shaun Newberry and one from Jack Blunsden, while in league action, Kilgetty seconds beat Letterston seconds 5-2, with Duanne Rossiter netting three and Ollie Gamble and Carl Gwyther the others.

The win moved them up to fourth in the table, 20 points behind leaders Monkton Swifts’ seconds, who have so far won 14 out of 14 and look a shoe-in for promotion.

They hammered Carew thirds 13-0 in a display of such dominance that one could accuse them of not entering into the Christmas spirit, considering they are giving nothing away!

Wayne Boswell led the way with four goals and Jordan Kilby hit three, while Paul Lacey, Luke Hendry and Liam Butland all struck twice.

Finally, Pembroke Boro seconds were involved in a humdinger at home to Llangwm seconds, with the game finishing all-square on 4-4.

Steffan Sandford scored twice, with the others coming from Rhys Allison and Matthew Smith.