Haverfordwest County 3

Aberystwyth Town 2

A THOROUGHLY well-deserved win against last season’s fourth-placed side was exactly the boost the Bluebirds needed before the start of their Welsh Premier season.

For just the first quarter of an hour it looked as if Aber would dominate and the Blues would be outpaced. Aber in fact took the lead on 12 minutes when Chris Venables headed in from a corner. But as we reached the half-hour mark supporters began to notice that the Blues had had far more of the penetrating attacks and had gone closest to a goal. Nicky Palmer’s low shot had forced keeper Draper into a last-minute save and Ricky Watts had shot just wide. And in the 33rd minute came the equalizer when Dale Griffiths headed in a right-wing cross.

By this stage the Blues defence, in which Sam Rodon was outstanding and Watts having a fine game, had succeeded in making sure that Aber’s attacks rarely went beyond the 18-yard line. The midfield, where Greg Walters was playing superbly, was harrying Aber at every turn and plying the attacking unit. Up from Jack Christopher, the target man, up against a big experienced centre back in Stuart Jones, kept the defence stretched and played in Luke Borrelli, Steffan Williams and Declan Carroll who kept the pressure on with a series of dangerous runs.

At the start of the second half Wayne Jones introduced new signing John Roberts, who immediately warmed up the Aber defence with a couple of electrifying runs. Then, in the 53rd minute, he scored the second goal when Ryan Batley went over to the right to heave in a long throw, the ball was flicked on and Roberts finished off. Just 3 minutes later, Roberts had a part in the third goal, when Carroll played a fine ball through to him and he flicked it through to Borrelli who finished with complete certainty in a one-on-one.

Even though Geoff Kellaway cracked in a strong finish to make it 3-2, there was never a real way back for the visitors and the game ended with Scott James denying them with a diving save and a block but with the Blues still pressing at the other end.

Perhaps the final measure of a really successful evening was that, after the game had been won by a starting eleven containing five products of the Blues’ youth system, Wayne Jones felt confident enough in the closing stages to bring on two present Youth players, Jordan Thomas and Gwion Howell to replace an established centre half and centre forward. Both gave fine displays in a thoroughly encouraging all-round performance.

This Saturday, Haverfordwest County open their Welsh Premier season with a tough home game against TNS, kick-off is at 2.30pm

Haverfordwest County: Scott James, Ricky Watts, Ryan Batley, Sam Rodon (Jordan Thomas, 80), Dale Griffiths, Greg Walters, Steffan Williams (John Roberts, 45), Nicky Palmer (Sean Pemberton, 62), Jack Christopher (Gwion Howell, 72), Declan Carroll (Jordan Follows, 68), Luke Borrelli (Williams, 70).

Niamh gives it the high fives

Ammanford 2

Haverfordwest County 5

HAVERFORDWEST County Ladies came from behind to win a physical encounter at Ammanford.

The ladies found themselves two goals gown within 20 minutes and lost goalkeeper Ally Evans who took an accidental boot to the face and was forced to go off.

Just before half time and Niamh Mathias pulled a goal back, then after the break the 16 year old had too much class for Ammanford as the striker went on to score four further goals as the Bluebirds’ ladies romped to victory.