JD Cymru Premier:

 

The New Saints 3 – Haverfordwest County 2

Blaine Hudson grabbed a 91^st minute winner for The New Saints to cruelly deny courageous Haverfordwest County in a highly entertaining game at the artificial 3G pitch at Park Hall.

Jack Wilson gave the visitors the lead but Ben Clark equalised with a far post header. After the break Danny Williams restored the visitors’ lead from the spot before a mix-up in defence saw The New Saints eqalise again. Then in stoppage time a mistake by keeper Matthew Turner gifted Hudson the winner.

The visitors had a bright start to the game, deservedly opening the scoring in the 12^th minute, Cory Shephard dispossessed Leo Smith in the TNS half, the midfielder strongly pushed forward before rolling a deft pass into the path of Jack Wilson, the terrorising teenager raced clear, scoring clinically with a low slide-rule left foot finish in the far corner. This well-worked goal gave Wayne Jones’ Bluebirds the perfect start as their shape was compact and looking extremely dangerous on the counter attack.

Kieran Lewis drilled a vicious edge of the area shot just past Harrison’s right-hand post but minutes later the visitors failed to clear their lines, Leo Smith had a shot blocked but his second attempt flew over  Turner’s crossbar.

TNS continued to press strongly as skipper Chris Marriott found Louis Robles inside the box, but the striker struck his shot wide when he should have hit the target.

The pressure finally told in the 30^th minute when Ben Clarke made no mistake as he got on to the end of a delightful Ryan Harrington cross from the right, scoring with a powerful far-post header to square matters.

In the 36^th minute the visitors were unfortunate not to take the lead, Danny Williams shot was parried by Harrison, Watts quickly followed up to bury the rebound, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Just before the break, the dangerous Wilson flashed a shot across the face of the box.

After the break Harrison pulled off a top drawer save to deny Kieran Lewis curling into the top corner from the edge of the 18-yard box.

At the other end, Smith struck an edge of the box direct free kick way over Turner’s crossbar.

In the 52^nd minute the Bluebirds regained the lead, as Lewis was brought down inside the box by Ryan Astles.

Top notch Bluebirds' striker Danny Williams stepped up before confidently sending Harrison the wrong way.

Turner failed to punch clear a dangerous Smith cross, but luckily the keeper’s error was not punished. Great defending by Daniel Summerfield, the right back cleared a goal-bound shot off the line.

The hosts levelled matters in the 63^rd minute when captain Marriott’s free kick in the box scraped a head and went through Turner's head into the net. The Bluebirds’ skipper Pemberton clearly felt Turner should have claimed the ball inside the six-yard box.

Wilson was denied when his deflected edge of the area shot was tipped for a corner by Harrison.

Turner pulled off a strong stop to deny Adrian Cieslewicz’s well-struck drive as both sides went in search for a winner.

Astles pushes forward from his own half to the edge of the Bluebirds’ box, the centre back unleashed a low drive which Turner saved, diving down to his right.

Turner came bravely off his line to deny Ebbe with five minutes to go but in the 91^st minute he spilled a cross which Hudson gleefully smashed into the net to break the Bluebirds’ hearts.

Next Saturday, 31^st October, Haverfordwest County entertain Bala Town at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, which will be shown live on Sgorio, the match will kick off at 5.15pm

Quotes: Wayne Jones:
"It's not often I am lost for words but I will say I was proud of my team for the way that battled against quality oposition and we deserved a point. To lead twice and then concede that soft late goal was heart-breaking but we get up again next week for our match against Bala Town at home - and if we can produce this sort of form we will do well."

Sean Pemberton:
"We are all gutted because to put in such an effort and come away with nothing to show for it is sickening.
There were some outstanding performances for some of our new boys and we are growing in experience as a young team so we have to keep working hard and the results will come."

The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Chris Marriott (Captain), Dean Ebbe (Lewis Rees 85), Adrian Cieslewicz, Blaine Hudson, Ryan Harrington (Simon Spender 85) Ryan Astles, Louis Robles, Ben Clark, Leo Smith, Kwame Boateng (Greg Draper 59).
Substitutes not used: Robbie Williams, David Lyon, Joshua Bailey, Beau Cornish.

Haverfordwest County: Matthew Turner, Daniel Summerfield (Marcus Griffiths 91), Sean Pemberton (captain), Alaric Jones, Ricky Watts, Corey Shephard, Kieran Lewis (Jack Britton 78), Elliot Scotcher, Danny Williams, Jack Wilson (Ben Fawcett 89), Mark Jones.
Substitutes not used: Trystan Jones, Josh Le Grice.

Referee: Cheryl Foster.
Assistants: Andy Harms & Martin Roberts.
Fourth Official: Philip Thomas.