Welsh Premier: Carmarthen Town 1 - Hwest County 3.

HAVERFORDWEST County kicked off 2007 in the best possible style with three points at Carmarthen on New Year's Day.

It was also sweet revenge for the Boxing Day defeat to the same opponents who once again had former Bluebirds player-manager Deryn Brace amongst their ranks.

This was a superb battling performance by the Bluebirds who navigated even the loss of Lee Kendall with a back injury to keep their goal intact until the 88th minute and to crack three past Carmarthen.

Gareth Elliott scored from Ryan Durham's cross in only the second minute but for the rest of the first half Carmarthen came steaming forward, and it took six quite brilliant saves from Kendall to keep them at bay.

Kendall then had to pull out at half-time so Wayne Jones went in goal and Bobby Briers slotted in at left back.

They defended superbly though and between the 55th and 70th minutes cracked in two good goals.

First, Lee Hudgell was brought down in the box and Chris O'Sullivan cracked a fine penalty to Neil Thomas' right.

Then Tim Hicks picked up a good ball from Jack Christopher and drove in from the edge of the box.

Carmarthen's consolation goal in the dying minutes had little impact on a really fine Bluebirds win.

Haverfordwest County: Kendall (Briers, 45); Heal, Wayne Jones, Gilderdale, Elliott (Catlin, 68), Durham, O'Sullivan , Jenkins (Hicks, 66), Christopher, Coates, Hudgell.