Injuries cost the Bluebirds dearly (From Western Telegraph)

Injuries cost the Bluebirds dearly

12:03pm Tuesday 16th September 2008 in

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Rhyl 2. Haverfordwest County 0.

Haverfordwest County may have returned from Belle Vue on Saturday with no points, but they returned with their heads held high.

Rhyl showed why they are top of the league with a stylish and skillful display that had the Bluebirds on the defensive for the first quarter.

From the start of the game Rhyl came at County, who defended resolutely until the 17th minute, when Jamie Reed got through the defence to fire home from ten-yards.

The goal galvanised the visitors, who started pressing forward and came back into the game. Rhyl were the better team in the first half, but the score could have been level at half time.

Ex-Bluebird keeper Lee Kendall pulled off a fine save to deny Tyrrell Webbe, after the young striker had got past the Rhyl defence. Webbe, who replaced the injured Pierce in the 27th minute, is starting to look more comfortable in the side and beginning to show why there were so many sides after his signature.

The second half began the same way the first ended, with County giving as good as they got, and matching Rhyl blow for blow.

Lee Idzi was showing signs of the dislocated finger that he suffered in the first half, but Rhyl were unable to take advantage of this due to the solid Bluebirds defence.

Both teams were playing open and attractive passing football; the second period was a great advert for the Welsh Premier.

Rhyl’s Gareth Owen hit the crossbar with a shot from 15-yards, and moments later Tom Ramasut sent a free kick just wide of the upright, with Kendall beaten.

In the 57th minute, Dylan Blain struck 30-yard volley, which had Kendall scurrying back to just tip over the bar. A goal then would have given County the edge, and the result might have been different.

However, two minutes later Jamie Reed volleyed home a Greg Stone’s cross and Rhyl had a two-goal cushion.

Instead of collapsing, like other teams have done against Rhyl this season, the Bluebirds were fired up by the goal and continued their attempts to get back in the game.

Even the loss of Idzi, who was replaced by Mr Versatility, Simon Gilderdale, did not change their attitude. With manager Derek Brazil bringing on Luke Bowen for Craig Hanford, and changing to a 3-4-3 formation, they signalled their belief that they could still get something from the game.

The last 15 minutes were a complete reversal of the first 15 minutes, with the visitors taking the game to Rhyl, and even when hosts did manage to get into the Bluebirds’ penalty area, stand-in goalkeeper Simon Gilderdale pulled off some stunning stops.

The visitors can count themselves rather unlucky not to score a late consolation effort after a Tom Ramasut corner was met by Tyrrell Webbe, with Kendall beaten. Unfortunately, Neil Roberts was covering on the line and headed the ball clear.