Sunday's Welsh Premier: Haverfordwest County 1 Airbus UK 1 HAVERFORDWEST County fought out a frustrating draw against Airbus UK at the Bridge Meadow on Sunday afternoon, writes Gordon Thomas.

The Bluebirds beat Connah's Quay 2-0 on the opening day of the season, but they travelled to Cwmbran in midweek and lost 3-2, and this draw hasn't given Deryn Brace's troops the best of starts to the campaign.

In a very poor first-half there weren't too many goal scoring opportunities to talk about. However, it was the visitors who could have and should have taken the lead.

Bluebirds' keeper Lee Kendall pulled off two brilliant saves, firstly to deny James McIntosh in the 28th minute, and just a couple of minutes later he incredibly prevented Kevin Leech scoring from close range. Real let offs!

Virtually on the stroke of half-time and against the run of play the Bluebirds grabbed an important goal to break the deadlock.

A well delivered Colin Loss corner from the right, was met by a firm Tim Hicks header which somehow the visitor's keeper Paul Whitfield parried, but it allowed man-of-the-match central defender Wyn Thomas to nod-in at the far post.

In the second period the home crowd were anticipating a Bluebirds onslaught because they hammered the visitors 6-1 the last time they met at the Meadow.

Shortly after the break Chris Miller went very close to extending the home side's lead, volleying an intelligent Loss cross into the box just inches over the crossbar.

The visitors tried the physical approach and they picked up no less than six bookings in total, while the Bluebirds did well not to retaliate, and to their immense credit kept their discipline and picked up no yellow cards.

In the 67th minute the visitors got the crucial equaliser.

Defender Phil Catlin was adjudged to have fouled McIntosh on the edge of his own area while heading back to his keeper Kendall.

Up stepped skipper Steve Hopkins to delightfully curl the ball around the Bluebirds' defensive wall and find the left hand corner of Kendall's net, much to the home crowd's horror.

The Bluebirds went very close to regaining the lead around the 72nd minute. A half-cleared corner fell invitingly for Rob Jones to strike a wicked volley which keeper Whitfield could only half block and a frustrating goal-mouth melee ensued without reward.

Dean Rossiter replaced Miller and Chris O'Sullivan came on for Lee John. Both made impressions, but on the day, it sadly wasn't enough to get what should have been a comfortable three points.

On Friday night the Bluebirds travel to Aberystwyth, which will prove another stiff test.

Haverfordwest County: Lee Kendall, Phil Catlin, Lee Hudgell, Nicky Palmer, Wyn Thomas, Rob Jones, Richie Adams, Chris Miller, Tim Hicks, Colin Loss, Lee John. Subs used: Dean Rossiter (68mins for C Miller); Chris O'Sullivan (75mins for L John). Sub not used:Adam Raymond.