Welsh League, Division One

Haverfordwest County 6

Port Talbot Town 2

THIS was a really crisp and invigorating performance from a Bluebirds side which dominated much of the game and produced six really sharp and well-worked finishes.

But oddly, Port Talbot had dominated the first 20 minutes. As the pitch dried out it looked as if the ball and the surface were proving greasy, since there was a string of errors on both sides. The Blues were tending to be get boxed in within their own passing moves, and Port Talbot, who were getting the better of the game, were still tending to over-hit the ball. Port Talbot’s experienced striker Jonathan Hood, their best player throughout, had two very good chances in the first 10 minutes, the second a real sitter, but failed to hit the target.

Then, in the 18th minute, the Steelmen went ahead when a left-wing corner was curled into a crowded six-yard box, and the lanky Ben Burns was able to head home. Fortunately the Blues were able to hit back within four minutes when a cross from the right was beaten out to Matthew Broome, who sent in an unusual second cross, with the outside of the foot and on a low trajectory, for Rhys Dalling to reach it in a goalmouth scramble and drive in.

Immediately the Bluebirds seemed to be energised. Within a further 5 minutes, a lovely chip through by Dalling saw Steffan Williams race in and plant a smart finish in the bottom corner. Williams produced an even better finish in the 42nd minute when Ashley Bevan won a ball from two defenders who seemed to have him bottled up, and was able to chip across for Williams once again to snap into action and leave keeper McCreesh without a chance.

Throughout this period of play and for most of the second half, the Blues were right on
top. The defence was solid, with skipper Sean Pemberton outstanding. The three-man midfield, in which Greg Walters covered a huge amount of ground, was able to keep nipping the ball away from the Steelmen and to slide passes over and behind the visitors’ defence. And up front, the selection which saw the persistent and excellent Ashley Bevan flanked by the quicksilver wingers, Dalling and Williams, really paid off.

After Pemberton had come up to head in from a Williams corner in the 48th minute, the front three produced two more high-quality finishes to wrap the game up. Bevan nipped a ball over and across to Dalling who tore through and hammered in low. Finally, in the 67th minute, Walters played the ball through to Bevan who raced on, had time to switch the ball to his favoured left boot, and hammered in the goal which his performance deserved.

In the concluding minutes, with all three subs on, the pace slackened slightly and in the 77th minute an unnecessary trip gave away a penalty which Hood was able to drive in low, and off the post.

Last (Tuesday) night, the Bluebirds were due to travel to Penybont to play Bridgend Street in the semi-final of the League Cup, and on Saturday they travel to Cambrian & Clydach.

Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt, Matthew Broome, Antonio Facciuto, Sean Pemberton, Jamie Evans (Spencer Williams, 75), Kieran O’Brien, Steffan Williams, Greg Walters, Ashley Bevan (Alfie Stottor, 75), Rhys Dalling, Lee Hudgell (Kristian Speake, 65).
Subs not used: Nick Jones (g/k).