Dafabet Welsh Premier
Haverfordwest County 0-1 Airbus UK

ONCE again the Bluebirds were part of a skilful and exciting game of football with a class side near the top of the table and once again there was just the thickness of a sheet of paper to divide the two teams, on this occasion the dividing line was one rather untidy goal but whether, apart from that, the two sides were separated by quality or simply by luck is hard to say. 

For all of the splendid effort made to prepare the pitch after a week’s rain, conditions were extremely difficult. In that respect all credit must go to both sets of players and to the motivating powers of coaches Jones and Preece, whose sides gave us such an enterprising and entertaining game.

When the teams set off it was clear that Blues strikers Jordan Follows and Luke Borrelli were intent on that drought-busting goal. Both ran sharply at the big, well-organized Airbus defence, and were well supported by a midfield which was grafting hard.

 At the other end Craig Morris saved extremely well from the dangerous Tom Field, but the nearest the first half came to a goal was in the 44th minute when Follows picked up a fine ball through from Sam Rodon and curled in a 25-yard shot which shaved the crossbar with keeper Coates well beaten. The level scoreline at half-time was a fair reflection of a good first half.

Starting the second half with the wind behind them, Airbus, as they had in the Cup game a fortnight earlier, moved up a gear and threatened Morris’s goal. And here we saw another fine display from Rodon, Dale Griffiths and their defence. 

After all the recent disappointments, Blues fans can easily forget that in the run of the last 6 games (5 of them against top-table opposition) the defence has conceded just 9 goals.

Saturday’s one goal was conceded in the 67th minute from top scorer Tony Gray but was far from a classic as Morris and three attackers were piled on top of a ball on the goal-line, and referee Morgan, as with a rugby push-over  try, awarded the goal, a decision which nobody disputed. 

The Bluebirds did come battling back in search of an equalizer, even though Airbus made it hard for them and never gave up probing for a second. Sub Declan Carroll made a few sharp runs down the middle and once slipped through a ball which nearly sent Follows in. Borrelli rocked Coates back with a 25-yard humdinger and Sean Pemberton moved dangerously through. 

In the 2nd minute of added time, a deep ball in from Ryan Batley forced a scramble from which Airbus, with visible relief, were able to pump the ball away.

The Ball sponsors were John and Jill Donachie. 
The programme sponsor was Bisley H. Munt On Boxing Day, the Blues entertain Aberystwyth, kick-off 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris; Ricky Watts; Spencer Williams; (Ryan Batley,45);Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths;  Sean Pemberton; Nicky Palmer (Craig Moses, 72); Kieran Howard Greg Walters (Declan Carroll, 60) Jordan Follows; Luke Borrelli.