Young Bluebirds win in Spain

PHOTO:

Haverfordwest Academy and their Spanish opponents.

Ripolles (Villarreal, Spain) 0 - 2 Haverfordwest County Academy under 13s Development Squad

 

Haverfordwest’s daily training with the Villarreal Football Academy paid off in a match against local opposition on their recent tour  to Spain which was organised through Inspire Sports.

 

Play was even in the opening stages with both goalkeepers active and Haverfordwest had to work hard to establish some sort of passing pattern against opposition whose main weapon was the counter attack. Curtis Hicks and Garin Gardner looked secure in the middle of the Haverfordwest defence and Nick Jones came out well to punch clear when the home team sent more players forward.   Max Brindley was the focus for the visitors’ play, both when in and out of possession, as his winning the ball and passing was immaculate.

 

Confidence grew

 

As confidence grew, Haverfordwest gave more options to their attacking play than down the left where Charlie Davies and James Williams looked dangerous, when they played the ball across to Danny Llewellyn, having a fine game at right back, who then supplied Ethan Price so that he could attack the left side of the Ripolles defence. Rowan Nicolson was energetic as usual and contributed well to the attacking play.

 

It was becoming clear that running at the home defence with the ball caused them the most problems, and Garin Gardner went on a long run and scored with a low shot. A now more confident Haverfordwest team retained the slender lead until half-time and were beginning to look the better team.

 

Bluebirds double their lead

 

Haverfordwest came out with a more attacking attitude for the second half and Alex Varney and Charlie Davies looked dangerous through the middle having a good supply of passes from the energetic Max Brindley, Tobias Nash and Danny Hopkin. After some near misses, Haverfordwest went further ahead through Ethan Price, who scored from close range to beat the effective offside trap used throughout by the home team.

 

With a two-goal lead Haverfordwest began to show the type of play that made them National Cup Winners for last season’s Under 12 age group. Ripolles refused to give up and hit the post, but the visitors defended soundly, being well organised by goalkeeper Nick Jones, with Curtis Hicks and Garin Gardner outstanding in central defence.   

Haverfordwest Squad:  Nicholas Jones; Danny Llewellyn; Curtis Hicks; Garin Gardner; James Williams; Ethan Price; Tobias Nash; Max Brindley; Danny Hopkin; Rowan Nicolson; Charlie Davies; Alex Varney.