Welsh League Division One

Penybont 1

Haverfordwest County 3

THIS victory looked likely from the very start, with the Bluebirds really dominating the first 20 minutes.

They were without four key players, Stefan Antoniazzi, Steffan Davies, Nicky Palmer and Antonio Facciuito, but Spencer Williams once again slotted in coolly at left back while Kristian Speake shone in a left-flank striker’s role. Ricky Watts and Lee Hudgell were in complete control in midfield and the attackers pressed forward.

The game was still goalless though at half-time, but the Bluebirds went ahead, in the 60th minute, with a cracking 25-yard shot from Ashley Bevan.

 Twenty minutes later Kristian Speake, who also had a fine game, finished from Steffan Williams’ pass. In the 88th minute Penybont did pull one goal back, but within a minute of that reply the Blues restored the two-goal advantage when a lovely move involving Hudgell and Speake released Bevan down the left and he cut the ball back in for Steff Williams, racing in from the right, to apply the finish.

This was a really convincing 90-minute performance, with the unusual feature that such was the dominance that no substitutes were used. It gives notice to the First Division that the Bluebirds, at home or away, are now a team to be concerned about. This Saturday, February, 11, the Bluebirds entertain Monmouth Town with a 2.30pm kick-off.

Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt, Matthew Broome, Sean Pemberton, Jamie Evans, Spencer Williams, Ricky Watts, Greg Walters, Lee Hudgell, Steffan Williams, Kristian Speake, Ashley Bevan. Substitutes: Kieran O’Brien, Rhys Dalling, Rhydian Davies, Chris O’Sullivan.