PHOTOS:
Tim Hicks goes close to scoring with a header, but the striker made amends with his late strike!
Chris O'Sullivan presses forward against Caerau Ely
Pictures by Kevin Bryce

MacWhirter Welsh League Division One

Haverfordwest County 1 - Caerau Ely 1

A dramatic late equaliser by Tim Hicks earned Haverfordwest County a draw when all looked lost against battling Caerau Ely at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

A first league defeat of the season for the Bluebirds was starring them in the face before Hicks’ late intervention snatched a point, against a well organised Caerau Ely, who was rather unlucky not to snatch all the points.

The visitors scored from the penalty spot by Gianluca Palladino in the 34^th minute, and what made matters worse, Bluebirds’ skipper Dale Griffiths was issued a red card for destroying a-goal scoring opportunity. The centre back handed the ball inside the box and gave referee Becket no option.

Horrendous conditions

Conditions were horrendous in the second half, with heavy rain and even a thunder and lightning storm thrown in for good measure.

Haverfordwest County trailed by one goal at the break and with the strong elements in the favour of Wayne Jones’ team they were trying hard to get back in the match despite being down to ten men.

The weather caused havoc and both teams deserved a medal for just being out on the pitch. The referee took the teams off in the 55^th minutes as it became impossible. However, within five minutes the players returned to bravely try and finish the match.

The Bluebirds were unlucky not to open the scoring when striker Hicks’ powerful header was tipped over the crossbar by keeper Craig Attab. Minutes later and Hicks had a glorious chance to break the deadlock, but the striker miscued his header.

The late show

The Bluebirds brought on Joe Leahy and Steffan Williams for Ritchie Lewis and Declan Carroll as they went in search for an equaliser. Also late in the game Liam Fawcett made his home debut, the teenage striker coming on for the industrious Luke Borrelli – but Hicks had a late header well saved, but the sharp striker made amends by latching onto a drilled Chris O’Sullivan low cross in the box and directing his shot in the far corner to save the Bluebirds’ blushes and kept their impressive unbeaten league record intact for Christmas!

Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Matthew Fisher; Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths (Captain); Dylan Blain; Chris O’Sullivan; Declan Carroll; Luke Borrelli; Tim Hicks; Ritchie Lewis. Substitutes: Steffan Williams; Joe Leahy; Liam Fawcett; Dan Evans.

Caerau Ely: Craig Attabb; Jereome Maynard; Amanj Hassan (Captain); David Vincent; Luke Cooper; Kieran Joseph; Jamal Roberts; Curtis Matthews; Andrew Smith; Gianluca Palladino; Tyrell Webbe. Substitutes: Alexander Davies; Huw Corne; Joseph Musa; Nana Baah; Alex Blake.

Referee: D. Becket.
Assistants: P. Davies & P. Johns.