Newtown 1
Haverfordwest County 1

Haverfordwest Cou-nty halted their recent run of defeats on Saturday when they came back from Newtown with a point following a 1-1 draw at Latham Park.

Both sides were in the bottom half of the table at the start of the day, and with six points separating the bottom seven clubs this was always going to be a cagey affair.

The first half was goalless as both sides seemed more concerned with not conceding a goal than with scoring one.

The second-half started with Newtown taking the game to County, and they were rewarded in the 50th minute when Craig Davies headed the opener.

Derek Brazil’s side often raise their game in adversity, and they upped the pace and took the game to the hosts. It was a change that should and could have brought them all three points, with chances falling to several players.

The closest that they came was through Tom Ramasut, who hit the bar from 25 yards. Jack Christopher and Chris O’Sullivan were also denied by the woodwork, as County increased the pressure on Newtown.

Derek Brazil took off Terry Evans on 70 minutes, and brought on Steffan Williams in an attempt to rescue the game.

It was a move that paid dividends almost immediately, as it was from a Williams cross that the Bluebirds equalised.

On 76 minutes, Williams’ cross fell to Jack Christopher, who dummied a shot, but let the ball run through to Neil Thomas, who fired the ball into the bottom corner.

The goal stimulated County to attack even more, and the pressure began to wear on Newtown. In the 85th minute Dave Swannick was red carded for a cynical foul on Neil Thomas, and Newtown were forced into desperate defence for the remainder.

Speaking after the game, County boss Derek Brazil said: “A point’s a point after four defeats, and we’ll take that and move on. It’s a very tight league, so it was important we came away with something.”

County will hope to take some impetus from this result into their home game with Prestatyn this Saturday in the Welsh Premier League, as they bid to climb up the table.

Haverfordwest County: Idzi, Evans (T) (Williams 71), Evans (R), Graves, Dodds, Thomas (N), O’Sullivan, Ramasut, Thomas (D), Christopher, Hudgell.

Subs not used: Elliott, Jarman, Bradford.