Bluebirds blow Robins away at Latham Park
JD Cymru Premier:
Newtown 0 – Haverfordwest County 3
Haverfordwest County deservedly overcame Newtown to secure another welcome three points at Latham Park in Mid Wales, and kept a clean sheet in the process.
Goals in each half by Kieran Lewis and Cameron Keetch, plus a late goal by substitute Marcus Griffiths, gave the visitors a confidence-boost victory following last week’s disappointing result against champions Connah’s Quay.
Bluebirds skipper Ricky Watts and teammate Elliot Scotcher picked up early yellow cards, but once the visitors got into their groove there was only one team going to win this clash and that was Wayne Jones’ side.
The Robins nearly took the lead when Lifumpa Mwandwe’s cross was tipped onto the crossbar by Matthew Turner, and luckily the follow up was steered wide.
Lewis opens scoring
The visitors opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Midfielder Corey Shephard played a neat ball to Keetch, and his clever cut back fell to Kieran Lewis who drilled the ball under Dave Jones; a minute earlier Lewis flashed a volley just wide.
Shephard’s audacious lob from halfway nearly caught keeper Jones napping as the ball fell onto the roof of the net and at the other end defender Scott Tancock put in a timely block to deny Nick Rushton’s shot at goal.
Shephard drilled one from 40 yards but this time it went well wide, and just before the break Turner pulled off a decent save to deny Mwandwe and keep the Bluebirds ahead at half time.
Shortly after the break Ben Fawcett replaced Trystan Jones, and the visitors didn’t have to wait long before they grabbed their second goal of the game - and what a screamer it was too!
Keetch scores screamer
Goal scorer Lewis played the ball to Lewis, before the latter’s invitingly weighted pass fell to the onrushing Keetch, who struck a first-time left footed rocket into the top corner.
That second goal gave the visitors some breathing space as Bluebirds’ manager Jones brought on Kurtis Rees for Scotcher, then he made a double substitution as Marcus Griffiths and Sean Pemberton came on for Kieran Lewis and Jazz Richards, respectively.
Cool Griffiths adds third
The hosts still pressed as Rushton fired a low drive wide, whilst Shane Sutton volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Fawcett broke clear under pressure from McAllister - but the substitute struck a wicked shot over Jones’ bar.
In the 89th minute the visitors grabbed their third, when the influential Shephard assisted Griffiths, who coolly rounded Jones and applied the finishing touch to complete a good day at the office for the Bluebirds.
Straight after the match a delighted Bluebirds manager Wayne Jones told us:
"We made a slightly sloppy start but after a few tweaks to our shape we began to play really well - and we took our chances to win 3-0, with Matthew Turner celebrating his 19th birthday by keeping a clean sheet.
"We were strong at the back and few teams have won by that margin this season at Latham Park, with our subs also playing key roles.
"We now have to travel to Penybont on Good Friday knowing that only a win can ensure a top six place before the leagus splits into two for the rest of the season - and we still have to rely on New Saints beating Caernarvon Town, so it's all up in the air at the moment.
Corey Sheppard was our man of the match as he made two great assists but to be honest there were a lot of other nominations as we played so well as a squad!"
Newtown: Dave Jones, Jake Phillips, Jack Kelly, Kieran Mills-Evans (capt), Nick Rushton (James Davies 72), Jordan Evans, George Hughes, Jonathan Letford (Jamie Breese 58), Shane Sutton, Alexander Fletcher (Ryan Edwards 85), Lifumpa Yande Mwandwe.
Substitutes not used: Kham Stevenson (GK), Sean McAllister, James O’Neill, Alfie Edwards, Chris Hughes, Callum McKenzie, David Lewis, David Rose.
Haverfordwest County: Matthew Turner, Trystan Jones (Ben Fawcett 52), Alaric Jones, Scott Tancock, Ricky Watts (capt), Corey Shephard, Cameron Keetch, Elliot Scotcher (Kurtis Rees 67), Kieran Lewis (Marcus Griffiths 77), Daniel Williams, Jazz Richards (Sean Pemberton 77).
Substitute not used: Wojciech Gajda.
Referee: Aaron Jones.
Assistants: Connor Fowler & Jordan Christopher.
Fourth official: David Morgan.