PHOTOS:
Cortez Belle and Sean Pemberton compete strongly in the air

Joe Leahy is denied by a superb Rory McCreash save
 

Haverfordwest County 2 - Port Talbot Town 2

A late Cortez Belle penalty earned Port Talbot Town a draw with league leaders Haverfordwest County at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Sean Pemberton gave the Bluebirds an early lead, but it was short-lived when Jack Hurley equalised. Joe Leahy pounced to give the Bluebirds the lead again after Steff Williams had headed the ball back across the goal for Leahy to find the bottom corner of the net, but 12 minutes from full time Belle struck from the spot to earn his side a share of the spoils.

The homesters will see this result as two precious league points dropped, as some wasteful finishing by The Bluebirds cost them dearly.

Early goals

Haverfordwest County got off to a flier when Pemberton scored in the 8^th minute with a sweetly struck volley assisted by a Dan Williams corner.

But within three minutes the visitors equalised, a cross from the right was swept home by Hurley from inside the six yard box.

Bluebirds’ Conah McFenton was replaced by Nick Jones; the goalkeeper leaving the pitch as he felt unwell.

After the break the visitors were awarded a penalty when Pemberton took down Luke Bowen inside the box but Bowen fired the resulting spot kick way over the crossbar.

The Bluebirds took the lead with an excellent goal; Dan Williams’ cross from the left was met by an intelligent cut back header by Steffan Williams, teeing up Leahy who drilled home from 12 yards.

Stunning save

The visitors had a goal disallowed for offside, and Talbot keeper Rory McCreash pulled of a stunning save to deny Leahy with a powerful diving header.

Then in the 78^th minute, Bluebirds’ defender Tim Hicks was adjudged to have  handled the ball inside the box, and Belle struck the top corner from the resultant penalty to secure a point.
 
 
Haverfordwest County: Conah McFenton; Matthew Broome; Kristian Speake; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Nicky Palmer; Tim Hicks; Ricky Watts; Greg Walters; Joe Leahy; Dan Williams; Steffan Williams. Substitutes: Alaric Jones; Leon Luby; Declan Carroll; Charlie Davies; Nick Jones; Fraser Finlay.

Port Talbot Town: Rory McCreash; Lewis Holmes; Kieran Miller; Cortez Belle; Rees Owen; Neil Thomas; Jonathan Hood; Jack Hurley; Anthony Rawlings; Luke Bowen; Owen Williams. Substitutes: Dylan Llewellyn; Pat Finneral; Jordan Pike; Morgan Thomas; James Harris.

Referee: T. Cook.
Assistants: C. Thomas and W. Neal.

PHOTO:
Joe Leahy celebrates scoring The Bluebirds’ second goal