PHOTOS:
Steffan Williams scored with a volley from inside the box for the opener
Charlie Davies worked hard for Bluebirds

 

Haverfordwest County 2 – Undy Athletic 1

Goals by Steffan Williams and Joe Leahy earned Haverfordwest County a slender hard fought victory against Undy Athletic at the Conygar Bridge Meadow.

This victory kept the Bluebirds’ unbeaten record intact, but the three points was slightly tarnished when Ricky Watts was sent-off right at the end, for a poor tackle that earned the makeshift centre half his second booking of the game.

Steffan strikes

Sean Cresser and Tim Hicks’ team scored the opener on the 20 minute mark, Watts fed Alaric Jones down the left, and the teenager’s precision cross in the box was swept home by Steffan Williams' eight yard volley.

The home outfit were good value for their one-goal cushion at the break but shortly after the interval  the visitors conjured a chance that Nicholas Jones saved to deny Marcus Power.

Undy’s centre back Chris Parry pressed forward and his powerful header, and minute’s later another strike missed the target.

Home right back Leon Luby tried a shot from distance but keeper James Smallcombe gathered comfortably, Leahy powerfully headed on target from a Luby cross, and a Steff Williams glancing header produced a stunning save by Smallcombe.

Leahy adds second

The hosts doubled the lead in the 82^nd minute, Smallcombe made a hash of a goal clearance and Leahy reacted to strike a low 12 yard shot into the bottom corner.

That goal gave the homesters a little bit of breathing space but in injury time the visitors pulled a goal back through Harry Waterhouse, after some poor defending the midfielder struck from inside the box, setting up a tense finale where Watts saw red, but the Bluebirds managed to hold on for three precious points.

Future is bright

Manager Cresser will be pleased with the final result, when you take into consideration, 11 of the Haverfordwest County 14-man squad are Pembrokeshire bread and based players, with an average age of 22, which certainly bodes well for the future.

Haverfordwest County: Nicholas Jones; Leon Luby; Alaric Jones; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Ricky Watts; Kristian Speake; Steffan Williams; Greg Walters; Joe Leahy; Dan Williams; Charlie Davies. Substitutes: Alfie Stotter; Luke Raymond; Paul Miller.

Undy Athletic: James Smallcombe; Ben Lawrence; Gyles Thompson; Chris Parry; Paul Clayton; Harry Waterhouse; Olllie Beckett; James Barnes; Marcus Power; Gareth Cullimore; Dan Jarman. Substitutes: Cai Smith; Rhys Aherne; Luke White; Josh Bishop.

Referee: T. Cook.
Assistants: M. Oliver & L. Brown



PHOTO:
Joe Leahy drilled in his side’s second