Dafabet Welsh Premier

Rhyl 1-1 Haverfordwest County

The Blues put in a very good performance against fellow-strugglers Rhyl but, despite some good attacking in the second half, weren’t able to get the goal which would have taken them off the foot of the table.

The pre-match news that fellow strugglers Port Talbot had beaten Bangor sent the Bluebirds out in the Corbett Stadium knowing that their game would be a tight six-pointer. We might have expected a cramped defensive start but in fact we had an exchange of goals in the first 15 minutes. The Bluebirds’ opener was a trademark one with Sam Rodon turning the ball in from a corner, but within two minutes a goalkeeping fumble by Craig Morris had allowed Rhyl’s Connor Bell to walk in the equalizer.

At this point manager Wayne Jones re-shuffled quite boldly, playing three at the back, with Spencer Williams man-marking Bell and Ricky Watts moving to central midfield where he turned in a man-of-the-match performance, with Rodon and Dale Griffiths likewise superb over their wider stretch of territory.

Midfielder (and former striker) Greg Walters has scored two good goals lately and seems to believe in himself now as a goal-scoring midfielder. In the 20th minute he sent in a long-range effort which wasn’t too far wide. A run by Rhyl’s Rob Hughes came to nothing and then the Blues began to press. Luke Borrelli was through in a one-on-one and McCormack did well to save. The move forced a corner from which Sean Pemberton’s effort hit the bar. A Jason Bertorelli bicycle kick also threatened and it had been an encouraging first half for the Blues.

The Lilywhites began the second half with a burst of activity, forcing three corners but having just the one half-chance. The Bluebirds then began to apply some pressure, in the course of a fairly physical half, in which yellow cards for Hughes and Wright were followed by a red for Ben Maher in the dying minutes.

Another of Borrelli’s rasping free kicks, from fully 35 yards, drew a fine save from McCormack, before Bertorelli broke into the box and his stinging left-footer went inches wide. Kieran Howard had a good chance before Nicky Palmer, played in by Watts, shot from an acute angle but without quite the power to prevent the keeper tipping it over the bar.

During this half, the Blues had cleared two chances out of the six-yard box, and Morris had pulled off two excellent saves. The Blues had ended strongly but they weren’t quite able to clinch the extra two points.

The game at Carmarthen next Saturday has been postponed so the Blues’ next match will be against Port Talbot at the Conygar Bridge Meadow on Saturday, March 12. The kick off is at 2pm.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Spencer Williams, Sean Pemberton, Dale Griffiths, Sam Rodon, Luke Borrelli, Greg Walters, Kieran Howard, Nicky Palmer, Jason Bertorelli (Jordan Follows 77'). Subs not used: Tomas Wellington, Kristian Speake.