Haverfordwest County 1-1 Goytre United 1

The Bluebirds deserved the point in a hard-fought and often ugly game which saw them ship a fair amount of pressure but also come close to a winner several times late in the game.

The visitors started the game attacking at high speed, but not always with the necessary control. Certainly the Blues were being pushed back, but Goytre’s final pass was tending to go astray.

The Blues were able to keep in touch and attacks by Ashley Bevan, Steffan Williams and Rhys Dalling saw them all threaten briefly while at the other end Goytre had to wait until the 41st minute for their first real shot on goal, a long-range effort from Dean Hudson which James Gwilt pouched comfortably.

And meanwhile the Blues had taken the lead in the 33rd minute, when Lee Hudgell’s well-swung corner was thumped in by Steffan Davies’s solid header. The Blues looked a much more potent force for the rest of the first half and deserved their half-time lead.

Around the hour mark the game went through a really torrid patch. Certainly referee Williamson was finding it difficult to keep a grip on events but there were some strong tackles flying in and certainly there were some dramatic responses, so that in the end, with a few off-the-ball incidents thrown in, it was near to impossible to sort out the malice from the melodrama.

This passage of play culminated, after the Blues had withstood some heavy pressure, with a 77th minute goal from Adam Orme. With the goal the game seemed to settle and both sides reverted to playing some crisp, exciting football.

The Bluebirds who had been denied a penalty when Dalling appeared to be tripped going into the area, nearly clinched the game in the last five minutes when first Bevan and then Steffan Williams was clear on goal, only to delay to shot too long.

A bruising encounter then but the point does consolidate the Blues’ mid-table position. They will hope for a better result when they play Afan Lido at home next Friday, kick-off 7.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt, Matthew Broome, Spencer Williams, Sean Pemberton, Jamie Evans, Steffan Davies, Chris O’Sullivan, Steffan Williams, Ashley Bevan, Rhys Dalling (Antonio Facciuto, 78), Lee Hudgell (Tomas Wellington, 62). Subs not used: Nathan Banner, Alfie Stottor.