Word Cup, first round
Penybont 0
Haverfordwest County 4


A three-goal burst early in the second half stamped the Bluebirds’ mark on this game and they went on to a win which might be a real morale-booster as they return to league action on Saturday.

After Sam Rodon had earlier headed wide from Dale Griffiths’ cross, the red-clad Blues took the lead in the 8th minute when Luke Borrelli converted after a fine run and cross down the left by John Roberts. 

Play thereafter moved rapidly from end to end with both sides aiming to play passing football and Penybont looking a good side. But the Blues midfield looked strong, with good displays from Kieran Howard, recovered from injury, and the newly-signed Liam Hutchinson. Borrelli, playing in the centre of the front three, was dangerous and sharp. Ryan Batley was having an excellent game at left back and the defence looked solid.

The Blues might have gone ahead just before half-time when a really fine ball from Ricky Watts sent Steffan Williams through on the right. Steffan rounded the full back but couldn’t control the cross, so it was 1-0 at the break.   

But the game was turned completely on its head when the Bluebirds scored three more in the first ten minutes of the second half. First of all, when a corner was half-cleared, Roberts drove in a shot which Griffiths was able to deflect in. Roberts was the scorer himself for the third, when he drove in left-footed, before Borrelli got his second in the 55th minute with a well-taken strike.

The Blues kept up the pressure and Borrelli could have completed his hat-trick in a one-on-on with the keeper before, in the 88th minute, Williams missed from a similar position.

But this was still a good, deserved and encouraging win.

County: Scott James, Ricky Watts, Ryan Batley (Spencer Williams, 62), Sam Rodon (Greg Walters, 65), Dale Griffiths, Liam Hutchinson, Kieran Howard, Nicky Palmer; Steffan Williams, John Roberts, Luke Borrelli (Declan Carroll, 70).
Sub not used: Sean Pemberton. 

 

The draw in full for 2nd round, with ties scheduled to be played on September 29, is:

Airbus UK v Penrhyncoch 

Caernarfon Town v Bala Town 

Carmarthen Town v Pontypridd Town

Haverfordwest County v Aberystwyth Town  

Holyhead Hotspur v Denbigh Town

Prestatyn Town v Gap Connah’s Quay 

The New Saints v Holywell Town

Ton Pentre v Port Talbot Town