PHOTO:
Jordan Follows goes around Penybont keeper Chris Curtis to give his side the lead

Welsh League Division One

Haverfordwest County 3 - Penybont 3

Haverfordwest County stay top of the table on goal-difference after an incredible match that finished all square with second placed Penybont at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

The visitors raced into a two goal lead with barely 20 minutes gone. A mistake by Bluebirds’ goalkeeper Craig Morris as the ball fell to striker Cullen Kinsella who stabbed home the opener, ten minutes later and Penybont skipper Sean Williams drilled home the second.

Red card

If things could not get worse for the Bluebirds, well it certainly did, as central midfielder Chris O’Sullivan was issued a straight red card by referee Eddie King for an ugly two-footed tackle.

Down to ten-men Wayne Jones’ side showed plenty of character to pull back the two-goal deficit as it stood 2-2 at half time. Jordan Follows’ defelected shot looped over former Haverfordwest County goalkeeper Chris Curtis. Then on the stroke of the interval Antonio Facciuto equalised with one the finest left-footed strikes ever witnessed on the Bridge Meadow. The left back latched onto an inviting lay-back from the edge of the area by Declan Carroll, and struck a first-time screamer that flew in the top corner from at least 35 yards out.

After the break and the Bluebirds consolidated, kept a tight formation and were content to hit the visitors on the counter attack.

Bluebirds ahead

Kieran Howard made his debut from Afan Lido, coming on in midfield in the second half also Greg Walters was introduced late on for fresh legs. The home outfit took the lead in the 70^th minute, a long searching ball by Carroll found Follows, the striker with plenty of work to do controlled, rounded keeper Curtis and planted the ball into the empty net for a superb goal that put them ahead for the first time in the game. Minutes later and Carroll missed a good scoring opportunity to put the Bluebirds further ahead, scuffing a left-footed shot from six yards out after beating two defenders.

In the 78^th minute the visitors equalised with a peach of a header by striker Richard French that secured a point for the visitors. The Bluebirds must have felt gutted at not winning the game at the final whistle, but after 20 minutes, two goals down and a player sent off, they must be happy with a draw after a dreadful start.

Next Saturday, Haverfordwest County are away at Aberdare Town and the following Saturday are home against Caerau (Ely).

Haverfordwest County:  Craig Morris; Ricky Watts; Antonio Facciuto; Sam Rodon; Sean Pemberton;  Nicky Palmer; Chris O’Sullivan; Luke Borelli; Declan Carroll; Jordan Follows, Steffan Davies. Substitutes: Greg Walters, Kieran Howard, Spencer Williams.

Penybont: Chris Curtis; Dan Lever; Rhys Whitelock; Paul Evans; Sean Williams (Captain); John Paul Budd; Josef Hopkins; Cullen Kinsella; Richard French; Anthony Rawlings; Richard Hodge. Substitutes: Jake Roberts; Robbie Thomas; Nathan Jones.

Referee: Eddie King.
Assistants: Gareth Elliott and B. Jones.

PHOTO:
Bluebirds’ Declan Carroll bursts into Penybont’s box