JD CYMRU Premier League:

 
 

Haverfordwest County 1 – Newtown 0

 
Haverfordwest County claimed three precious league points at the Bridge Meadow Stadium as a stunning strike by Touray Sisay 24 minutes put them ahead in an absorbing and entertaining clash.
 
It was a game that might have gone 6-5 either way if all the chances had been taken but it was The Bluebirds who came away with the victory that was all the more satisfying became manager Wayne Jones’ could only muster 11 senior players, with a squad completed by four teenagers who are part of the academy team, with Lucas Davies just 16 alongside Josh Le-Grice, Kieran King and Iori Humphreys.
 

Good start for The Bluebirds – but Newtown fight back

 
Several of the starting side were also carrying niggling injuries after three games in seven days but they made a bright start as they had three half-chances in the opening five minutes as Sisay’s reflex toe-poke from a goalmouth melee was blocked and he was just unable to latch on to a clever pass from Fawcett – and defender Kyle Patten also had a shot blocked as he went up for a set-piece.
 
But Newton showed why they started in third place as James Davies put a shot just wide of the far post and from a superb cross by Nick Rushton it was Davies who headed just over the bar – and Gajda pulled off a superb save as Craig Williams’s drive looked to be goal-bound.
 

Sisay’s stunning strike gives Haverfordwest the lead

 
But after 24 minutes it was The Bluebirds who took the lead as Alaric Jones won possession on the left and his sublime chip forward put Sisay into just enough space that his first touch took him past his marker and his second put the ball past Dave Jones and into the Newtown net.
 
Newton used long throws by Aaron Williams to unsettle the home defence and from one of them a goalmouth scramble saw Davies stub the ball against the far post – and just afterwards a corner by the same player saw central defender Kieran Mills-Evans power a header just wide of the top corner as the Bluebirds’ defence failed to pick him up.
 
Haverfordwest could still have gone in 2-0 ahead as Fawcett’s persistence again paid off and he squared the ball across the box – only for Elliott Scotcher to fire way over the bar with the net at his mercy.
 

Action aplenty after the break

 
The second half was soon filled with goalmouth action as Davies put a header over the bar and Nick Rushton’s curled shot for Newton was well saved by Gajda – but at the other end Fawcett was again the provider as Sisay was unable to control the ball six yards out.
 
Newton missed a golden opportunity when Davies again popped up in the six year box but somehow managed to head over from three yards out – and as the action continued unabated a cleverly-weighted ball from Wilson released Sisay on a run but home appeals for a penalty were turned down by referee Lee Evans.
 
Another throw-in by Williams for Newtown caused problems for The Bluebirds but Gajda continued a good display as he fell bravely on the loose ball – and play was swept up field for Kieran Williams to fire a cracking shot which saw Jones pull off a fantastic save.
 
It was clear that some Haverfordwest players were feeling the pinch but Manager Jones’ faith in them paid off as they held on to the final whistle as skipper Dylan Rees was outstanding in defence and closely followed by Ricky Watts, Alaric Jones and Kyle Patten, whilst Gajda had one of his best games in goal. Kurtis Rees, Kieran Lewis and Scotcher never stopped running in midfield and the front three gave their all.




 

Manager Jones said afterwards:

 
“That was the way we need to play, with total commitment and everyone focussed on their roles – I know we could have conceded goals, but we showed what we can create against a very good team.
 
“There were some tired legs out there and I didn’t feel it was fair to thrust inexperienced young players into the battle – but their times will come too!”
 
Haverfordwest County: W. Gajda, E. Scotcher, A. Jones, R. Watts, B. Fawcett, J. Wilson, D. Rees, K. Rees, A. Touray Sisay, K. Lewis, K. Patten.
Substitutes not used: J. Le-Grice, I. Humphreys, K. King, L. Davies.
 
Newtown: D. Jones, C. Roberts, K. Mills-Evans, S. Sutton, N. Rushton, J. Evans (59, L. Mwandwe), J. Davies, A. Williams, R. Williams, G. Hughes (77, J. Rowland), J. Walker.
Substitutes not used: B. Taylor, R. Edwards, T. Williams, W. Thomas, N. Arsan.
 
Referee: Simon Evans.
Assistants: Ross Edwards & Cilan Thomas.
Fourth Official: John Dean.