Improved Bluebirds go down to late goal against TNS (From Western Telegraph)

Improved Bluebirds go down to late goal against TNS

Total Network Solutions 2 Haverfordwest County 1

Although the Bluebirds were denied a point by a late Jodie Jenkins goal, in this away game against a side with seven full-time professionals, this was a much better performance than their display against Rhayader the week before.

The Bluebirds made one enforced change, with the absence through a bereavement of Mickey George.

Paul Walker moved to the heart of the defence and Pembroke Dock youngster Dean Busby came in as right wing back, where he played extremely well.

The re-organised defence played very well in fact with keeper Ben Miles and centre half Dai Burrows outstanding.

For the first half-hour they had to withstand a powerful TNS attack, but were able to mount some pressure of their own, with the problem perhaps that they relied a little too much on high balls through to Mardenborough and Miller, who lacked the height to out marshall the towering TNS centre backs Timmy Edwards and Tim Alexander.

Nevertheless, the two strikers, well supported by Carl Mainwaring pushing through from the right side of midfield, did enough to keep the TNS defence wary.

The home side took the lead on 25 minutes when Dave Bridgewater, picking up a cross from expensive recruit Steve Antrobus, hammered the ball home from six yards.

Within ten minutes, the Bluebirds were level. Dean Busby cracked in a 20-yard shot, which came back off the inside of the post and cannoned off the opposite post before spinning out.

In the resultant melee, Chris Miller was fouled by Steve Evans and a spot kick awarded. For the second week running, Lee Jones powered his shot high into the top corner.

The visitors continued to threaten in the second half, with Mardenborough, Miller and Mainwaring continuing to trouble the home defence and with Mardenborough and Busby often linking extremely fluently on the right.

They could so easily have taken the lead in the 48th minute when a blistering free kick from Lee Jones was only denied by a miraculous save from ex-Telford keeper Dean Williams. And, sadly, it was the home side who finally pinched the winner with a Jodie Jenkins goal in the 81st minute.

The Bluebirds next home game is against Newtown on Saturday, September 8th, kick-off 2.30 pm.

Haverfordwest County: Ben Miles, Dean Busby, Jamie Rickard, Dylan Blain, Dai Burrows, Paul Walker, Carl Mainwaring, Andrew Hughes, Chris Miller, Steve Mardenborough, and Lee Jones; Subs: Carl Thomas (for Mardenborough, 81), Paul Burrows (for Busby, 83), Lee Hudgell.