MacWhirter Welsh League Division 1

 

Haverfordwest County 1 – West End 1

Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones was not happy that his side could only draw with bottom of the table West End.

“These are the games we must win if we’re going to win the title,” said Jones. “I’m annoyed with the final result, we were in the lead at home, but we surrendered it in the second half. We gave away the ball needlessly in midfield and we didn’t take our goal scoring chances.”

Two weeks ago the Bluebirds narrowly beat last season’s champions 3-2 in the Welsh Cup, but in the Bluebirds’ defence they have improved dramatically, and if they continue to play as they did against the league leaders, then they will easily climb up the league ladder in the coming months.

Sean scores with header

Sean Pemberton marked his return from injury by opening the scoring in the 12^th minute for the homesters. The midfielder clinically headed home at the far post from a Ritchie Lewis corner for a well taken goal.

But the home outfit failed to convert other chances and at 1-0 there’s always a danger that the visitors could nick an equaliser. Well that goal came midway through the second half when Robert Shannon got between centre backs Sam Rodon and skipper Dale Griffiths to header in from eight yards.

Brilliant saves

The visitors also had another header disallowed before the Bluebirds carved out some decent scoring chances in the last ten minutes. Former Wales under-18 goalkeeper Luke Flemming pulled off a string of superb saves to deny Steffan Williams, Jack Christopher, and his best stop of the game denied new Bluebirds signing Matthew Fisher, from Ammanford, from scoring what would have been the winner on his debut.

Next Saturday, 2^nd November Haverfordwest County entertain third from bottom Aberbargoed Buds at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Antonio Facciuto; Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths (Captain); Sean Pemberton; Chris O’Sullivan; Dylan Blain; Steffan Williams; Jack Christopher; Ritchie Lewis. Substitutes: Declan Carroll; Matthew Fisher; Joe Leahy; Ashley Curtis.

West End: Luke Flemming; Ashley Johns; Argiris Poutachidis; Lee Morgan; Steven Stokes; Elliott Gowan; Chris Holes (Captain); Luke Chapple; Colin Harris; Kieran Cullen; Robert Shannon. Substitutes: Luke Blackmore; Lee Manders; Liam Cory; Ricky Tomkins.

Referee: Ian Bird
Assistants: Alan Grey, Matthew Phillips
 

PHOTOS:
Sean Pemberton is captured scoring at the far post
Chris O’Sullivan receives a heavy tackle in the heart of midfield
Pictures by Kevin Bryce.