Bluebirds' convincing display (From Western Telegraph)

Bluebirds' convincing display

Vauxhall Masterfit Welsh Premier HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 3 WELSHPOOL TOWN 0 The Bluebirds started their final run-in to the end of a very successful season with a convincing display, which saw them put three past Welshpool when they might well have scored six.

Two features of this game stood out for many fans.

One was the confidence with which Lee Hudgell took his goal. A player who six months ago, put through on goal, might have veered off to the left or looked to square the ball when put clear, he now had the inbuilt conviction that he could go on and score, and he did indeed go forward on a surging run, to crash his left foot shot past keeper Hewitt.

The second feature was found in the display, on the left of midfield, of debutant Adam Raymond, who went looking for the ball, harried the Welshpool midfield, distributed well and generally looked an extremely good prospect.

Keeper Lee Kendall barely had a shot to save throughout the 90 minutes and, as March's Player of the Month Steve Rogers was shepherded out of meaningful action by Rob Jones and Wyn Thomas (both of whom played superbly), it was all Bluebirds from start to finish.

Whenever Welshpool did get forward, the immaculate Deryn Brace was there to intercept, and the Eddie's Snooker Bar-sponsored Blues were always pushing forward.

Without the injured Hicks and Brown, Brace played Richie Adams and Nick Palmer up front, and in the first minute, 'Palms' rapped a snap shot inches over Hewitt's bar.

Adams will be annoyed with the fact that, in the first half, he couldn't convert any of a few chances, although one dipping 20-yarder, as he bore in from the left, cannoned up off the bar.

The first goal came in the 33rd minute, when Adams and Raymond combined beautifully in midfield to send Dean Rossiter through and for 'Deano' to bury the chance from ten yards.

It was still just 1-0 though with 20 minutes to go until finally Hudgell's goal gave the Blues a little clear water.

The third goal was no more than they deserved and came when sub Jack Christopher got up to play a lovely head-flick into the path of Adams, who took on the keeper, rounded him and fired in from out on the right for a fine and deserved goal.

On Tuesday night, the Blues were due to play TNS at home and they round off their league programme with a home game against Caernarfon next Saturday.

BLUEBIRDS TOTE: Mrs Murial Fox c/o Dragon, Haverfordwest was last week's winner with fixed numbers of 39-40-42. Next week's prize money is £500.