Herbie 5 Haverfordwest County 0.

A hat-trick by young striker Josh Smart helped Herbie on their way to an impressive five-nil drubbing of the Bluebirds.

In horrendously wet and windy conditions it was the visitors who dominated the first ten minutes with Herbie forced to sit back and defend, but Martin Langdon controlled his box well and his defence were resilient to the attacking pressure from the Bluebirds.

Despite the promising start it was the homesters who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.

Herbie captain Matthew Price found himself in space and despite getting a touch from Bluebirds keeper Shane Earp his strike still found the back of the net.

The Bluebirds had an opportunity to strike back just moments later after earning themselves a corner.

Matthew Ellis took the corner directing it into a crowded penalty box, but the ball just missed the head of Mike Preddy who was waiting to pounce in front of goal.

The game evened out after the goal with weather conditions hampering play and it was the homesters who went into the break with the one-goal advantage.

In the second period, it didn’t take Herbie long before they doubled their lead, Bluebirds keeper Shane Earp came off his line to retrieve the ball but it fell to Herbie’s Josh Smart whose superb curling strike across the goal mouth found the top corner of the net in the 50th minute.

Frustration began to creep into the visitors’ game as Herbie took control.

The Bluebirds’ Dave Rees felt aggrieved by Herbie’s Alex Galdo’s tackle, pushed his opponent and earned himself a yellow card from referee Dai Badger.

Herbie’s Marc Gelona made some good solo attacking runs during the game and in the 65th minute look set to get on the scoresheet, but he couldn’t find a good finish to match his run and his shot rolled comfortable into the hands of keeper Earp.

However, pacey Gelona helped set up Herbie’s third goal only a minute later, his darting run and pass to Smart on the edge of the box set up Alex Ouzman in space in the box, he made no mistake and smashed the ball into the back of the net to put the game beyond doubt.

If not for some excellent goalkeeping it could have been four-nil just a minute later when Matthew Price’s 20-yarder was tipped over the crossbar by the hand of Earp, who was struggling with a hand injury.

Herbie’s attacking display continued and in the 75th minute Josh Smart clinched his second of the day with a superb bit of football after rounding keeper Earp he slotted in Herbie’s fourth.

Earp was replaced minutes later, in quite some discomfort with an injured hand he was replaced by outfield player Craig George The homesters completed an impressive display and an excellent performance from 17-year-old striker Josh Smart, a mistake by Bluebirds’ Nicky Squire handed the ball to Smart unmarked in the box, his brilliant strike saw him clinch his hat-trick and fifth goal in two games.

Herbrandston: Martin Langdon, Shaun Gelona, Nathan Banner, Leigh Marchant, Daniel Armstrong, Alex Ouzman, Matthew Price, Ben Phillips, Alex Galdo, Josh Smart, Marc Gelona Subs: Luke Haywood, Steve Batty, Simon Mathias.

Haverfordwest County: Shane Earp, Gethin Roberts, Nicky Squire, Adi Smith, Dave Rees, Lloyd Wilson, Matthew Ellis, Dai Davies, Mike Preddy Jamie Gilderdale, Craig George. Subs: Luke Robinson, Steve Elliot, Matthew Court.

Referee: Dai Badger.