Fawcett's timely extra time double sinks Bridgend Street in Welsh League Cup
PHOTOS:
Ben Fawcett was the Bluebirds cup hero – scoring twice in extra time
Wayne Jones was back in charge at Haverfordwest County
Jack Wilson was on target for the Bluebirds with the third goal
Welsh League Cup
Haverforwest County 5 – Bridgend Street 4
(After extra time)
Super sub Ben Fawcett struck twice in extra time to secure Haverfordwest County victory in a nine-goal thriller with Bridgend Street at the Conygar Bridge Meadow.
This has been a difficult week for the Bluebirds with manager Sean Cresser parting company – and Wayne Jones being installed as the new boss on Friday.
However, with a mixture of youth and experience the Bluebirds went into this cup-tie knowing that their opponents currently fourth in Welsh League Division Two wouldn’t make life easy for the homesters.
Two seasons ago Bridgend Street knocked Haverfordwest County out of this same competition at the semi-final stage, on that occasion it finished 5-5 after extra time, and then they lost in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Early penalty
The visitors were awarded a penalty after Elliot Scotcher committed a foul inside the box and skipper Paul Fowler scored emphatically, but the Bluebirds soon levelled matters when Bluebirds’ captain Sean Pemberton glanced in Scotcher’s free-kick.
Lee Trundle added the second from the spot after the striker was clipped inside the area and this gave his side a slender 2-1 cushion at the break.
Midway through the second period and Callum Wilson struck to square matters, but again the home outfit pressed and Jack Wilson added his side’s third with a terrific finish from a tight angle.
Stunning strike by Fowler
Bluebirds’ keeper Stuart Hall pulled off a stunning save to deny the visitors, but with the final kick of the 90 minutes, Fowler pulled the trigger from distance and the ball flew into the top corner forcing the tie into extra time.
Fawcett grabbed his side’s fourth, latching onto Wilson’s long ball the teenager showed maturity beyond he years to curl his shot into the top corner.
But in the second period of extra time the visitors again equalised, the home side failed to clear from a corner and substitute Michael Nessbert rifled his shot into the roof of the net.
Last throw of dice
However, the Bluebirds had one final throw of the dice when Wilson’s cross in the box was met by Fawcett who finished clinically with a close range header.
The visitors lost their discipline before the final whistle and referee Tom Bevan sent off David Brooks and substitute Nessbert and finished with nine-men as the Bluebirds held on for a titanic victory in a pulsating cup tie which was definitely not for a faint hearted.
“It’s been a tough week with everything that has happened,” said manager Wayne Jones. “It was nice to get the win and it gave me a chance to look at a lot of the younger players in the squad.
“Offensively we were good today, but defensively we made too many mistakes and were not so good.”
Haverfordwest County: Steve Hall; Ricky Watts; Leon Luby; Alaric Jones;
(80, Curtis Hicks); Sean Pemberton; Tom Dyson; Jack Wilson; Elliot Scotcher; Fraser Finlay; Lee Trundle
(75, Ben Fawcett); Elliot Thomas
(64, Martyn Carroll).
Substitute not used: Kyle Stuart (goalkeeper).
Bridgend Street: Damien Lack; Paul Carroll; Nathan Jones; Nick Berry; Jason Martin; Owen Bancroft; David Brooks; Paul Fowler (Captain); Jeff White: Callum Smith; Harry Burge.
Substitutes: Michael Nessbert; Connor Finn; Ross Dingle; Lee Lewis.
Referee: Tom Bevan.
Assistants: Gareth Elliott and David Badger.
PHOTO:
Lee Trundle was in the thick of the action and scored from the spot