PHOTOS:
Haverfordwest County Youth
Penybont Youth
Match officials

Haverfordwest County Youth 3 - Penybont Youth 1
 
Referee: Dave Badger
Assistants: Gareth Elliott & Charles Davies
Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium
 
Haverfordwest County’s talented youth players got their McWhirter League season off to a promising start under the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium floodlights as they took on and beat a Penybont Youth team, which also likes to play good football, in an entertaining tussle.

 
Promising new formation . . .

 
Manager Steve Batty and new assistant Brett Hawkridge were particularly pleased with the way that less experienced players fitted in well to the set-up and the result was a willingness to keep the ball on the floor against bigger opponents, with new skipper Joe Brill a bundle of energy in midfield, ably assisted by Mark Davies, Gwion Howell and Laurie Haworth.
 
Keeper Dan Evans marshalled his back four of Dan Hawkins, Owen Coombs; Fraser James and Spencer Williams so well that he didn’t have a shot to save in the first half whilst the new strike pairing of Aiden Rainbow and Sean O’Neill posed a threat as the former created spaces by his unselfish running and the latter looks to have real pace that will trouble opposing players.
 

. . . and a promising start!

 
The young Bluebirds made a promising start as O’Neill and Howell had early chances which Penybont keeper Sam Richards did well to save before they settled to play some good football through Sam Phillips and Kristian Evans at the back, alongside Marco Jones, Dylan Llewellyn and Cian Johns.
 
Penybont’s only half chance of the half came when Llewellyn put Johns through but he blasted his left foot shot wide.
 
The Bluebirds almost responded as Haworth picked the ball up, beat his marker with ease but his shot flew a foot wide of the far post.  But Penybont’s inability to shackle the home front runners was finally punished when a Haworth shot was partially blocked but fell nicely to Gwion Howell, who fired his shot under the advancing Richards.
 

Worthy winners

 
The second period was equally absorbing as both teams had half chances but with the Bluebirds always looking that little sharper on the ball – and their efforts were rewarded in the 55^th and 89^th minutes with good goals by Sean O’Neill and Haworth.
 
Penybont did grab a consolation goal from sub Connor Goldsworthy in the last seconds but by then Haverfordwest County were home and dry.
 
Haverfordwest County Youth: Dan Evans: Dan Hawkins; Owen Coombs; Fraser James; Spencer Williams: Joe Brill (Capt); Mark Davies; Gwion Howell; Laurie Haworth: Aiden Rainbow; Sean O’Neill. Substitutes: Ben Aldred; Scott Jones; Dan Williams; Sam Davies; Louis Thompson.

Penybont Youth: Sam Richards: Billy Borge; Kristian Evans; Shay Jones; Sam Phillips: Oliver Holt-Larsen; Marco Jones; Jamie Miller; Cian Johns:  Dylan Llewellyn; Ben Cripps. Substitutes: Joseph Treharne; Connor Goldsworthy; Carter Munro.