Bluebirds flying (From Western Telegraph)

Bluebirds flying

1:30pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Sport

Caerleon 0

Haverfordwest County 3

Taking full advantage of a Caerleon side which picked up two red cards, the Bluebirds produced a fine second-half display of attacking football.

Managers Mike Ellis and Wayne Jones had been able to field largely their best side, close to the one which played the first few games of the season.

There were just the two changes, with Andy Hill now established at centre forward, and ex-Swansea City player Jordan Smith deputising for the suspended Chris Holloway.

Ellis felt that much of the Blues’ success was due to the twice-weekly training sessions they had held lately. The results were that in a goalless first half, the Blues were always quicker to the ball and that in time Caerleon were starting to collect yellow cards. When, early in the second half, two of their players notched a second yellow, the road was open for the Blues to launch a big attacking surge.

The first goal came when Steffan Williams went on a characteristic burst down the middle, only to be brought down in the box, with Chris O’Sullivan converting the penalty at the second attempt. It was Williams himself who scored the second goal (and his sixth of the season) when a corner was headed back from the far post and he pounced on the chance.

Williams then gave way to Rob Morgans who within minutes had scored his third goal of the season with a stinging shot from the edge of the area.

A third substitution brought on another Academy product, ex-Monkton player Ben Steele, who looks an extremely promising player.

Last night (Tuesday) the Blues were due to play Llanelli in the second round of the Welsh Premier League Cup (formerly the Loosemores, now the WORD Cup). If they came through that tie they will be due to play either Newtown or Afan Lido in the quarter finals, the game to be played on the Bridge Meadow next Tuesday, October 9th.

On Saturday the Blues travel to play Brecon Corries in the Welsh Cup.

Haverfordwest County: Peter Blain, Ricky Watts, Antonio Facciuto, Lee Bevan; Gareth Elliott, Owen Thomas, Chris O’Sullivan, Steff Williams (Rob Morgans, 75), Jordan Smith (Jamie Evans, 71), Andy Hill (Ben Steele, 80), Richie Lewis.