Welsh League, Division One

Haverfordwest County 5  

Tata Steel 1 

THE Blues blasted in five goals in a blistering first half-hour but couldn't turn their continuing domination into further goals.

The form book suggested a clear Blues win against a Tata side languishing near the foot of the table, but dominance in the form book still has to be translated into goals. What set them on that road on Saturday was a 6-minute hat-trick from the effervescent Steffan Williams. In the 9th, 13th and 15th minutes he pounced quickly and unerringly on loose chances, after two crosses and a corner had been swept into the area by Richie Lewis.

Just eight minutes later provider and scorer changed places when Steffan went past two defenders out on the right and his ball in reached Lewis who hooked in the fourth goal. The fifth goal, just three minutes later again, was perhaps the most spectacular as Sam Roden met a Chris O'Sullivan corner with a thundering header. 

The Bluebirds were running the show completely. The total dominance at the back of centre halves Roden and Dale Griffiths left midfielders and wide players like Dylan Blain, Ricky Watts, O'Sullivan and Lewis with room to set up waves of attacks. Yet the sixth goal never came. The games two halves were not that dissimilar, since in each period the Blues had complete control, but after half-time the chances wouldnt quite go in.

Sub Joey Leahy came closest to the elusive sixth, first when his stinging 20-yarder drew a superb save from keeper Rogers, and then when he reacted to a chip over the top from Jack Christopher, only to see his shot tipped over. Antonio Facciuto also had one fine effort turned away after he met a Watts cross, but 5-0 it remained until the 88th minute, when Tata pinched the consolation goal which their constant effort deserved, skipper Lee MacLachlan turning in a corner from their most inventive player, Connor Harris.

This win takes the Blues to second place in the table, but with two games in hand over leaders Goytre. This Saturday they travel to play AFC Porth.

Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Antonio Facciuto; Sam Roden; Dale Griffiths; Sean Pemberton (Jack Britton, 53); Chris O'Sullivan; Dylan Blain (Rob Morgans). 45); Steffan Williams; Jack Christopher; Richie Lewis (Joey Leahy, 66).

Sub not used: Greg Walters.