Welsh League Division 1:
Undy Athletic 1
Haverfordwest County 2

THIS was just the kind of win which a side needs to be able to produce if it has top-table ambitions - grafted out away from home, against in-form and physical opposition on a difficult pitch, writes Robert Nisbet.

In fairness to Undy it has to be said that, after their pitch at the Causeway had taken a pasting from the weather during the week, their groundsman had done a fine job in producing a playable surface.

The Bluebirds went into the game without Matthew Broome, Dan Williams and the suspended Sam Rodon, so that one aspect of the afternoon was that they pulled off this fine win with a side which had seven of the club’s Academy products in the starting eleven with two more on the bench.

It would be interesting to know how many Welsh Premier or upper-reach Welsh League clubs could get near that figure.

On the wet pitch the early exchanges were dour, but Undy did go ahead in the 40th minute when a corner caused a scramble in the Blues’ box and the ball was stabbed in by Dan Jarman.

Since Jarman had scored a hat-trick in Undy’s 5-1 beating of Ton Pentre last weekend, the prospects for the Blues looked ominous, but the game turned when an Undy player picked up a red card shortly afterwards.

As the afternoon went on, Undy picked up six other yellow cards while for the Blues Joe Leahy and Greg Walters were booked.

The Blues clearly went into the second half feeling that the win was there for the taking and they equalised in the half’s first minute with the goal coming from Leahy, who nowadays is scoring in almost every game he plays in.

The pressure for the winner increased as the half went on with the Blues’ approach play right on their usual standard and numerous chances being created.

It looked for a split second as if the winner had come in the 75th minute when Steff Williams’ shot came crashing back off the post.

The goal came in the 80th minute when Sean Pemberton headed in from a Kristian Speake corner.

This was a splendid performance and it leaves the Blues just two points behind Llanelli Town in second place. Next Saturday they play at home to Cwmamman United, kicking off at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Conah McFenton, Leon Luby (Spencer Williams, 81) Alaric Jones, Tim Hicks, Sean Pemberton, Ricky Watts, Greg Walters, Charlie Davies (Nicky Palmer, 70), Joe Leahy, Steffan Williams, Kristian Speake.
Sub not used: Nicky Jones (g/k).