PHOTOS:
Chris O'Sullivan tries to take control
Ritchie Lewis makes ground down the left
Pictures kindly supplied by Kevin Bryce

 

Welsh League Division One:

Haverfordwest County 1 - Taffs Well 4

 
Haverfordwest County’s hopes of promotion to the Welsh Premier League suffered a body blow as they went down to a deserved defeat at the Conygar Bridge Meadow at the hands of a Taffs Well side that cannot gain promotion but has its eyes on the silverware as they now look to be vying with Monmouth Town to be Welsh League champions.
 
It was a devastatingly disappointing result for Wayne Jones and Sean Cresser but the Bluebirds’ management team will know that although they were second best on the day they still had chances to swing the verdict in their favour.

 
Best save of the season – and the worst refereeing decision

 
This was never more evident than in the second half when they trailed 3-1 and a superb left foot cross by sub Ben Steele saw Taffs Well keeper  Rob Bloor make the save of the season as he flung himself to his left to keep out Sean Pemberton’s diving header.
 
Then referee Teifion Cook gave the worst decision of the season at the ground as Declan Carroll dribbled his way into the box and was upended for what looked a certain penalty – but the official from Clydach not only turned down appeals but booked Carroll for diving!
 
To add insult to injury, Taffs Well than broke clear and good work by Ricky Hodge and Joe Evans gave Tyron Tappar to score his second goal.
 

Better organised from the outset

 
But Taffs Well were the better-organised outfit from the start as the Bluebirds seemed unable to retain possession under pressure from the visiting midfield in which Joe Evans, Marcus Jones and Darren Bennett were outstanding. Taffs Well deservedly took the lead after 13 minutes when Rico Zulkarnain was allowed to run at the home defence and his stunning left foot shot fizzed past Craig Morris and into the net, via the upright.
 
Even worse was to follow as careless losing of the ball in midfield by the Bluebirds allowed Marcus Jones to dribble his way into the box and rifle a great right-foot drive into the far corner after 32 minutes.
 

Bluebirds’ half chances missed

 
Haverfordwest’s main source of attack was from corners as Sam Rodon headed two crosses over the bar, although Chris O’Sullivan was off target after a good chase by Tim Hicks caught Bloor scrambling back into his goal – and Hicks also failed to put his team back in the game when well placed.
 
Taffs Well started the second half with a bang as Tappar found space on the right, cut inside a retreating defence and squeezed home a left foot shot just inside Morris’s near post.
 

Bluebirds try to battle back but still lose

 
It was a body blow for the Bluebirds but they struck back on the hour when Ricky Watts strode from the back and fired in a low left-foot shot which came back off the post for Steph Williams to scramble the ball home.
 
Liam Williams drilled a free kick from 30 yards wide of the woodwork and at the other end O’Sullivan had a similar effort safely pouched by Bloor.
 
Then came that fourth goal for Taffs Well to seal a deserved success and at the other end a rare right-foot volley fired high, wide and handsome by Ritchie Lewis somehow seemed to sum up Haverfordwest County’s disappointing day!
 
Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris: Ricky Watts; Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths (Capt); Antonio Facciuto: Dylan Blain; Chris O’Sullivan; Sean Pemberton; Ritchie Lewis: Tim Hicks; Luke Borelli. Subs (Used): Steff Williams; Declan Carroll; Ben Steele. (Not used): Greg Walters; Laurie Haworth.

Taffs Well: Rob Bloor: Robbie Thomas; Liam Williams (Capt); Lloyd Jenkins; Abdul Mahsin: Darren Bennett; Joe Evans; Rico Zulkarnain; Tyron Tappar: Ricky Hodge; Marcus Jones. Subs (all used): Sean McCarthy; Chris Hughes; Tom Barry.