Bluebirds fail to capitalise on early dominance (From Western Telegraph)

Bluebirds fail to capitalise on early dominance

NEWTOWN 2 Haverfordwest County 1

After a fast and furious first twenty minutes during which they twice hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line, the Bluebirds went behind to a soft goal in the 22nd minute and were never quite able to recapture their early dominance.

Manager John Lewis said after the game that he felt the Meadow side had played their best football of the season, but that they must now aim to turn this pressure into points. Nevertheless, he paid to tribute to his teams classy performance.

The James Williams-sponsored Bluebirds could well have been a goal or two up within the opening quarter of an hour. Matthew Price twice hit the post and Gary Twynham had a shot cleared off the line. But, after Peter Blain had pulled off one very fine save, it was a mix-up between Blain and his cousin Dylan which allowed the Reds winger Justin Wickham to sneak in and squeeze the ball in off a post.

The Bluebirds did pull a goal back in the 39th minute and it was a well-worked effort.

Matthew Price turned the Newtown defence completely with a surging run down the left and his cross was met by Twynham who blasted home from 15 yards.

Exchanges in the second half were even, but it was the Latham Park side who got the all-important goal in the 60th minute when experienced striker Steve McCormick met Wickhams cross to head home.

To the Bluebirds credit they came battling back once again and put the Newtown goal under heavy pressure for the last ten minutes, being denied only by some fine goalkeeping from on-loan Wrexham player Paul Whitfield and (again) by some ill luck, as Marcus Taylors shot hit a post and Twynhams shot was cleared off the line.

Outstanding for the visitors were Matthew Price, whose front running was singled out by the Newtown press officer in his Wales on Sunday report, and, at the heart of the Blues defence, Eston Chiverton, elected man-of-the-match by the Newtown management.

Haverfordwest County: Peter Blain, Mark Greedy, Lee Hudgell, Eston Chiverton, Gareth Elliott, Dylan Blain, Andrew Smith, Grant Thomas, Richie Adams, Matthew Price, Gary Twynham. Subs: Marcus Taylor (for Thomas, 8), Norman Parselle (for Price, 70), Dean Busby (forHudgell, 82).