Bluebirds weather late pressure to record a welcome win (From Western Telegraph)

Bluebirds weather late pressure to record a welcome win

GARW 1 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 3

The Bluebirds weathered a nasty injury to goalkeeper Mark Poole and some late pressure to come away from Garw's mountain stronghold with a deserved passage into the next round of the Welsh Cup.

The Blues were playing a rather weakened side, with Gary Haman and Richie Adams suspended, and both Deryn Brace and Colin Loss out through injury.

However, the back three of sweeper Dylan Blain, Eston Chiverton and Adie Harris looked very solid, and the reorganised midfield, into which Deryn had drafted Chris O'Sullivan, Wayne Price and Samir Misbay, also looked fluent.

Indeed Price followed a fine display against Port Talobot the week before with another good game here, and O'Sullivan, looking extremely sharp, was significantly involved in the build-up to two ofthe goals.

The first half was typical Cup-tie stuff, tight, end-to-end and with few chances. By far the most noteworthy incident was a screaming 30-yard shot by Wayne Price, which the Garw keeper turned against the post. The second half, by contrast, was packed with incident. First of all came the opening goal, a fine one by anyone's standards.

The quicksilver O'Sullivan jinked into space on the right before playing a fine, deep crossfield ball to Wayne Jones on the left. Jones crossed in turn and the ball was met on the six-yard line by Rhys Griffiths who thumped home a powerful header.

Shortly afterwards came a remarkable piece of composure from stand-in keeper Mark Poole.

Garw were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area and their player whacked it home as Poole stood by motionless. After the miniature pitch invasion which greeted what Garw fans saw as an equaliser, the referee ruled it was no goal because it had been an indirect free kick.

This really did credit to Poole, of course. Had he in fact got a fingertip to the ball the goal would have counted. So it was a case of, 'Well done, Pooley', and on we went.

Gratifyingly, the next big incident was a second goal for the James Williams-sponsored Blues.

This time it was Samir Misbay, striker-turned-midfielder, who was the arch provider, chipping a free kick into the box for Tony Wallis to belt his half-volley into the roof of the net.

Then, with 25 minutes to go, came the most unfortunate collision which saw Mark Poole suffering a badly swollen eye and having to leave the field.

Wayne Jones, who normally fills in as keeper, had already left the field to be replaced by Rob Jones, so it was Wayne Price who went between the sticks. Garw now saw this as their big chance and started to pepper Price's goal from every and any distance.

They did in fact pull one goal back, but it was the Blues who had the final say, in the very last minute.

Again O'Sullivan was provider, playing the ball into the path of Wallis, for the striker to lay it off to Simon Heall, whose cracking shot left the Blues with a final healthy scoreline.

Heall and Wallis now end their loan spell and are returning to Cardiff City, certainly with the warmest good wishes of the club to which they have made a considerable contribution this season.

Meanwhile the Blues will travel to Oswestry in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup, with a last-eight place at stake.

On Saturday next, League leaders TNS are the visitors to the Bridge Meadow (a stinger of a game if ever there was one). Kick off 2.30 pm.