Welsh League Division 1: Haverfordwest County 2-1 Afan Lido

THIS was a hectic but exciting game, with mistakes on both sides, but the Bluebirds were deserved winners because they always set out to play quality passing football and won the game’s big moments, writes Robert Nisbet.

Elliot Scotcher fluffed a first-minute chance, the first of those big moments came in the 5th minute with a stunning save by Steve Hall from Noah Daley.

In the 14th minute when Leon Luby jinked through on the right and cut a fine ball back across the box for Ben Fawcett to smash it high into the net.  Alaric Jones who was able to get back, outpace the winger and tackle the ball clear. Alaric had a very fine game at the heart of defence, as did Sean Pemberton who plays solidly and well so regularly that we often forget to mention it.

Later in the first half both Jones and Tim Hicks hooked Lido shots off the line while at the other end a Danny Williams cross sizzled across the face of the goal just out of Fawcett’s reach.

The Blues continued to pass the ball around, with Elliot Scotcher as a deep-lying link man and Ricky Watts in all-action mode.

They looked the more likely of the sides to get the second goal, as Lido looked more to a smash-and grab approach.

But the game’s third big moment came in the 72nd minute when Steve Hall conceded a penalty but then pulled off a fine point-blank save to deny Craig Jones.

The Blues were getting behind the Lido defence quite often now and both Williams and sub Jack Wilson were able to whip passes across the face of the goal just inches away from the attacking foot which might have got the touch.

But the fourth and conclusive big moment came in the 83rd minute when Scotcher’s precisely placed corner was headed on by Pemberton and Williams got the final touch on the goal-line.

With a satisfactory 2-o win seemingly grafted out the Blues experienced just a few anxious moments in injury time when they couldn’t keep a ball by the corner flag and Lido were able to race away, win a penalty for a poor tackle and for Sacha Walters to put the spot kick away.

But it was never enough for Lido and the Bluebirds are still unbeaten and going in very much the right direction.

Next Saturday, the Blues are away to Cambrian & Clydach, before returning to the Meadow on Tuesday, September 25th to play Goytre United in the 2nd round of the Nathaniel MG Cup, kick off 7.45pm.

Haverfordwest: Steve Hall; Leon Luby (Jack Wilson, 53); Antonio Facciuto; Sean Pemberton; Tim Hicks; Alaric Jones; Elliot Thomas; Elliot Scotcher; Ben Fawcett (Tom Dyson 74); Danny Williams; Ricky Watts. Subs not used: Martyn Carroll; Fraser Finlay.