Deadly Hawkins' double sinks Bala Town in five-goal thriller

Haverfordwest County players celebrate scoring against Bala Town



 

JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference

 
 

Two-goal hero Dan Hawkins in action for the Bluebirds against Bala TownHaverfordwest County 3 – Bala Town 2

 

Haverfordwest County edged a five-goal thriller against 10-man Bala Town at the Ogi 3G Bridge Meadow Stadium.
 
This was a perfect start to the first game in Phase Two for Tony Pennock’s men as they secured three valuable points.
 
The hosts made three changes to the team that last played, in came Kyle McCarthy, skipper Corey Shephard and Ben Fawcett also centre back Lee Jenkins made his 100th appearance for the Bluebirds.
 
Early on Fawcett broke up field before he laid the ball off to Shephard, but the skipper’s deflected effort flew wide.
 
Then Fawcett put a looping header over the crossbar as the striker got on the end of a long Jacob Owen throw-in.
 
The visitors opened the scoring following a goal mouth melee after Osebi Abadaki got the vital scoring touch.
 
Greg Walters struck a goal-bound left footed effort which was blocked, minutes later the lively Fawcett saw his header gathered by keeper Joel Torrence.
 
Just before the interval another goal mouth scramble enabled Hawkins to find the back of Torrence’s net to square matters.
 
Owen fired an 18 yard effort over the bar, and minutes later Fawcett struck a powerful effort also over the crossbar.
 
Nathan Peate clears the danger, the Bala Town skipper was sent off late onThe Bluebirds continued to press as Owen’s cross was met by another powerful Fawcett header which Torrence comfortably saved.
 
Hawkins put the Bluebirds ahead in the 64th minute after Abbruzzese 'skinned' two defenders down the left flank and hs excellent cross into the box  was half-cleared to Hawkins, who took a touch before the striker buried his low shot into the far corner.
 
Five minutes later the Bluebirds added a third as Ahmun finished clinically from inside the box, which gave his side a healthy two-goal cushion lead.
 
In the 81st minute Aeron Edwards pulled a soft one back to set up a tense finale.
 
 Bala Town skipper Nathan Peate received a late red card from referee Bryn Markham-Jones as the Bluebirds stayed firm for the remainder to secure the all-important points.
 
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones, Rhys Abbruzzese, Lee Jenkins, Corey Shephard (Captain), Ben Fawcett, Dan Hawkins (81’ Ricky Watts), Kyle McCarthy, Greg Walters, Jacob Owen (81’ Iori Humphreys), Luke Tabone, Ben Ahmun (75’ Owain Jones).
 
Unused substitutes: Ifan Knott, Harri John, Alaric Jones, Daniel John.
 
Bala Town: Joel Torrence, Uniss Kargbo, Nathan Peate (Captain), Aeron Edwards, Lassanana Mendes (76’ Dan Malone), Nathan Burke, George Newell (76’ Joe Malkin), Osebi Abadaki (76’ Callum Edwards), Louis Robles, Ross White, Eddie Clarke (54’ Kieran Lloyd).
 
Unused substitute: Hussein Mehasseb.
 
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones.
 
Assistants: Daniel Beckett & Ian Bird.
 
Fourth Official: Ben Williams.
 
Referee Observer: Mark Whitby.


Ben Fawcett worked hard up front for Haverfordwest County