Welsh Premier League

Haverfordwest County 1

Port Talbot Town 1

THE Bluebirds saw their chances of making the league’s top 10 receding badly after a game in which once again they had played quite briskly and well but hadn’t found the edge for that extra goal.

The Bluebirds went into the game with Sean Pemberton alongside Jason Bertorelli up front, and the ploy paid off very well with Pemberton, who was heading down and to feet very well, maybe the Blues’ best player.

The early exchanges were scrappy although Luke Borrelli did blaze one chance over after a fine through ball from Greg Walters. But the Blues were hit by a Port Talbot goal after12 minutes and the goal itself was an untidy one, suggesting maybe a lack of understanding between a new goalkeeper and his defenders. But whatever the cause for the moment’s hesitation, the ball was in the net, prodded in by Joe Clarke.

The rest of the first half moved quickly from end to end with both mistakes and excitement. A big up field ball from Connell was nodded on by Pemberton and Bertorelli shot wide. A free kick from Borrelli drew a fine save from Port Talbot’s best player, keeper Steve Cann, but Connell, who had a good game, did equally well at the other end with a free kick from Luke Bowen.

In the 58th minute a fine move by Ricky Watts and Borrelli put Bertorelli in, but his first shot was blocked and his second took a deflection into Cann’s arms. From that moment the Blues seemed to step up their game and they had a fine last half-hour.

Many of the attacks came down the right, some powerful forward bursts by Watts and some trademark step-over runs by Borrelli. A real disappointment came when Cann was yellow-carded for fouling an attacker but was able to dive well to save Borrelli’s penalty. Borrelli did manage some sort of solace when he latched on to a through ball in the 80th minute to shoot low into the corner, but Port Talbot were able to slow the tempo and close the game down.

The Blues are now level with Rhyl on 20 points, but Port Talbot’s 28 points, in that 10th place, looks rather distant.

Match Ball Sponsor was Mr Des Shanklin and the Programme Sponsors were the HCAFC Supporters’ Association.

On Saturday, March 19, Haverfordwest County entertain Carmarthen Town at the Conygar Bridge Meadow, kick off is at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Alex Connell; Ricky Watts; Sean Pemberton; Dale Griffiths (Captain); Sam Rodon; Luke Borrelli; Greg Walters; Kieran Howard; Nicky Palmer; Spencer Williams; Jason Bertorelli. Subs: Declan Carroll; Kristian Speake; Craig Morris; Tomas Wellington.