Welsh Premier: Hwest County 1 - Caersws 0.

Saturday's win was a game of few clear-curt chances but the Bluebirds shaded it with a fine Lee Hudgell strike early in the second half.

The first half-hour was an affair of quiet probing rather than of real attack.

Caersws' Neil Mitchell was constantly nagging at the Blues' defence, roaming to each wing in turn, but Simon Heal kept pushing forward and linking well with Chris O'Sullivan. There was little real danger though, at either end.

Wayne Jones did send in one very powerful free kick in the 38th minute, but keeper Andy Mulliner saved well, while the visitors set up the first real chance of the half just two minutes before half-time.

Mitchell was through in a one-on-one with Lee Kendall, but Kends' first blocked the striker's shot with his feet then leapt to parry the rebound around the post.

The second half showed how much the Bluebirds have come to depend on Kendall's weekly contribution.

He had very few dramatic saves to make, very few head-on shots, but had to field at least half a dozen awkward daisy-cutters slithering through on a greasy surface, and endless high and very well-judged crosses from the Caersws attackers.

One slip would have meant two points gone but his goalkeeping was immaculate.

To this we have to add very good displays by Simon Gilderdale and Gareth Elliot in front of him, and the visitors were locked out.

The goal which clinched matters came eight minutes into the second half when Tim Hicks made a good break from his own half and squared to Hudgell, who squeezed he ball deftly past Mulliner in a one-on-one.

The mid-Wales Bluebirds, in many ways a better side than their league position suggests, did mount the predictable fight-back as the second had wore on, but their clearest chance came on the hour mark, when Martin Plant picked up a sliced clearance and drove his shot against the post.

There was plenty of danger at Mulliner's end though, as Jack Christopher weighed in with another of his super-sub specials.

At one point he hammered in a fine diving header, only to see the offside flag, but then he won a very fine ball out on the right, left two Caersws defenders trailing and sent in a good deep cross which Jodie Jenkins headed against the post.

It could have ended 2-0, it could have ended 1-1, but a Blues win was the right result.

Haverfordwest County: Kendall; Heal, Jones, Gilderdale, Elliott, Durham, O'Sullivan, Hicks (Christopher, 67), Jenkins (Catlin, 85), Coates, Hudgell. Subs not used: Briers, Raymond, McNabney.