Fat lady may soon be singing for struggling Bluebirds (From Western Telegraph)

Fat lady may soon be singing for struggling Bluebirds

Haverfordwest County 0 Afan Lido 1

The Bluebirds did not play altogether badly in this game, but it was essentially a nervy performance during which the side seemed to be straining so hard for vital points that the necessary confidence just wasnt there.

The Blues back line, in which Eston Chiverton was absolutely outstanding and Dylan Blain extremely polished, looked good, while both Norman Parselle at right wing back and Deryn Brace on the left looked extremely good going forward.

The game though seemed to be lost in midfield. Grant James, in the centre, is a very good player, but may not be back to full fitness after a long injury lay-off. On the right was the volatile David Watts, who can intersperse passages of real creative threat with patches when he barely seems in the game at all. On the left was the enigmatic Craig Evans, lately signed from Carmarthen Town, but making little or no impact on the Meadow.

The whole midfield built attacks certainly, but deliberately and slowly, so that the Blues finished by attacking a crowded penalty area, whereas the breaking Lido, who had less of the game territorially, were able to attack two-on-two.

As a result, strikers Richie Adams and Chris Summers had little quality service, although Adams was responsible for the Blues two real cracks on goal.

Particularly depressing was the amount of bickering on the pitch among players blaming one another for their collective misfortune. The Meadow faithful, looking at some of the fare on offer, were bound to wonder why players as good as Peter Blain, Marcus Taylor and Nathan Thomas, who have all played with both commitment and ability, should all be sitting in the stand.

The James Williams-sponsored Bluebirds started brightly enough but there were few real attempts on goal until, in the 20th minute, a fine Adams header was blocked on the line.

Lidos livewire striker Andrew Pearson came close to chipping Carl Woodhouse in the 30th minute, but then got the games only goal nine minutes later when Woodhouse dropped the ball during a goalmouth tussle and Pearson was able to blast in from close range.

Adams 43rd minute shot was a weak affair and the Blues trailed at half-time.

They did strain desperately hard in the second half to get on terms, with Brace in particular playing with enormous heart.

But, as so often happens, a sense of desperation was creeping in and it often seemed as if the quickly-breaking Lido might pinch a second. First of all ex-Bluebird Chris Pridham went just wide from 25 yards and then Andy Pitman powered a shot against the post.

Exchanges grew ever more frenetic as ball after ball was pumped into the Lido box, and in the 80th minute Adams cracked in a shot which looked a goal all the way but was superbly saved at the foot of the post by keeper Thomas.

The Blues now have only four away games left, against Llanelli, Bangor City, Rhyl and Carmarthen, and, if Oswestry pick up a win somewhere, the relegation tussle will go right down to the wire. The fat lady will be singing pretty soon.

Match sponsors on Friday night were Manderwood Timber of Neyland, who chose Eston Chiverton as their man-of-the-match.

Programme sponsors were Vogue of Haverfordwest, and the match ball sponsors Consort Equipment of Milford.

Haverfordwest County: Carl Woodhouse, Norman Parselle, Deryn Brace, Dylan Blain, Eston Chiverton, Jason Price, Chris Summers, Grant James, Richie Adams, David Watts, Craig Evans. Subs: Matthew Price, Craig Thomas, Andrew Smith (all played).