PHOTO:
Ashley Bevan plays a diagonal ball for the Bluebirds
Ricky Watts was sent off
Tom Dyson surges forward

 

Welsh League Division One:

 

Haverfordwest County 2 - Cwmamman United 3

Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium

Referee: Mr A McInch

Assistants: Mr D Barclay & Mr G Elliott
 

Haverfordwest County lost their second Welsh League division match on the trot as they conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against a determined Cwmamman United side which kept battling away against a Bluebirds’ side which had the lions’ share of possession but failed to take lots of chances.

Indeed, The Bluebirds twice took the lead in the first half as they played some good football but on each occasion a careless surrender in midfield of the ball saw the visitors level matters – and after a second half where they lost Ricky Watts to a second yellow card but had the greater share of possession and more chances they conceded a last-gasp winner as another loss of possession cost them even the single point they seemed having to settle for.

To be fair to Cwmamman they could rightly claim that their determination was just reward after losing three players through injury in the first period, but at least they had four subs, whilst Haverfordwest could only muster Steff Williams and Tim Hicks on their bench.
 

Good home start but costly errors made

But Wayne Jones’ side started well as Ashley Bevan and Ben Fawcett had half chances and Jack Wilson rounded the keeper but watched his goal-bound shot cleared off the line by McNeil. before Fawcett put them ahead with the softest of goals when his shot seemed to lack any pace but rolled under former Bluebirds’ keeper Chris Curtis’s body.

But Cwmamman’s man of the match, diminutive left winger Ryan Hurlow, served notice of his pace as he cut through but was caught by Alaric Jones, who could consider himself unlucky because even if it was a foul the tackle seemed to have been made outside the box.

Ryan Thomas sent home keeper Steve Hall the wrong way with the spot kick and for a while this boost seemed to inspire his side to a series of attacks which Leon Luby, Jones, skipper Sean Pemberton and Watts did well to quell.
 

Pemberton powers home a header – but another costly mistake

And Pemberton showed his aerial skills in attack when he went up for a Elliot Scotcher corner and soared above Nathan McNeil to ram his header into the roof of the net.

The lead was short-lived however, as another midfield mistake allowed Hurlow to race through and in a one-on-one challenge with Hall slipped his shot between the advancing keeper’s legs.

In the short time left before half time Scotcher drove a low shot straight at Curtis and Bevan pushed his left-foot shot just wide of the far post.
 

Chances galore – but vital goal gifted at the finish

The second half followed a similar pattern as The Bluebirds had chances for Bevan, Fawcett and Steff Williams when he joined the fray – with Pemberton having a header blocked and his overhead kick just off target.

But then Watts departed and Pemberton was considered lucky to stay on for a clumsy tackle as he received a yellow card – and in the dramatic final moments some good work by the visitors saw Ryan Thomas and Hurlow combine before Thomas had a simple tap-in to snatch all three points for the delighted visitors.

Quote from Wayne Jones, the Haverfordwest County manager:
"This was a very disappointing performance as we gave away some soft goals after losing possession too easily in midfield. It certainly gives us something to work on in training but we were without four key players and fielded a very young side which knows they didn't produce the goods after a bright start - and only had two subs because of unavailability.
"I am pleased that we tried to play good football but I have to praise Cwmamman for the way they kept coming back on us whenever we looked to be getting on top."

Haverfordwest County:  Steve Hall: Ricky Watts; Sean Pemberton (Capt); Alaric Jones; Leon Luby: Tom Dyson; Elliott Scotcher; Elliott Thomas; Jack Wilson: Ashley Bevan; Ben Fawcett. Subs: Steffan Williams; Tim Hicks.

Cwmamman United: Chris Curtis: Declan John; Nathan McNeil; Gareth Howarth; Aaron Richards; Luke Allen: Colin Harries; Ross Morgan; Ryan Hurlow; Ashley Curtis; Ryan Thomas. Subs: Chris Allen; Breig Matthews; James Bryan; Calem Rees.