Welsh League, Division One

Haverfordwest County 4

Aberdare Town 0

The Bluebirds made a poor start to this game but by the end they had played some convincing football and worked four good goals, writes Robert Nisbet.

Four days earlier, against Garden Village, the Blues had been quite dominant in a 6-0 win which saw Jordan Follows and Darren Griffiths scoring two each, with singles for Nicky Palmer and Jack Britton. But on Saturday, for the first 20 minutes they looked scrappy, and Aberdare had half-chances in the first two minutes when the home defence was caught dithering, before the lively Nathan Jones shot just wide after 10 minutes. An 18th-mnute knock which saw Ricky Watts having to leave the field did little to brighten spirits but his replacement Chris O’Sullivan went on to play a very good game in midfield.

Eventually the Blues began to assert themselves more. Jordan Follows missed a chance at one end and Dale Griffiths pulled off a good block at the other end, before, in the 28th minute we came the closest the game was to go towards an Aberdare goal, when their dangerous right-winger Robert Blackford went on a fine 40-yard run before shooting narrowly wide.

The first goal came in the 32nd minute when a fine cross from Jack Britton caused trouble in the Aberdare box and the ball broke for Nicky Palmer to drive in from 20 yards.

Sean Pemberton’s glancing header after an O’Sullivan corner went fairly close, before a second goal in the 41st minute, when Follows and Darren Griffiths exchanged lobs and headers in the box before Griffiths drove in.

Early in the second half Follows threatened with one free kick and with a later run which ended with Aberdare’s very good keeper Elis Nash saving bravely at the feet of Sam Wilson. By now the Blues were dominant and the two goals which rounded things off were fine ones. In the 72nd minute Follows latched on to a high ball out of defence and, when it could easily have bounced beyond his reach, was able to control it beautifully and beat Nash from close range. The icing was put on the afternoon’s cake when O’Sullivan curled a picture-book free kick around the defensive wall.

The programme sponsors were Bisley H. Munt (Jewellers), and the match ball sponsor was Mr. Ken Ellis.

This week the Blues have two league games away from home. Tonight (Wednesday) they are at Garden Village. On Saturday they play at Caerau (Ely).

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris; Ricky Watts (Chris O’Sullivan, 18); Antonio Facciuto; Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths; Jack Britton; Nicky Palmer; Sean Pemberton; Declan Carroll; Jordan Followes (Liam Fawcett, 78); Darren Griffiths (Sam Wilson, 62) Subs not used: Spencer Williams, Dan Evans (g/k).