PHOTOS:
Haverfordwest County Youth's goal scorers - Joe Brill, Jack Britton & Spencer Williams
Laurie Haworth shows neat close control
Glen Fiteni shields the ball strongly

 

McWhirter Cup Quarter Final:

 

Haverfordwest County Youth 5 Pontardawe Youth 2

 
Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium
Referee: James Sheils (Swansea)
Assistants: Phil Harries & Aled Fellows (Both Swansea)
 
An inspirational second-half  hat-trick by skipper Jack Britton helped Haverfordwest County Youth move into the semi-finals of the McWhirter Youth Cup as they clawed their way back against a physically strong and direct Pontardawe team which had already won at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium in a previous tussle.
 
The old cliché ‘a game of two halves’ was never more appropriate as the Young Bluebirds lacked penetration in the first half and could have few protests about going in at half time trailing by two goals.

Interval changes pay dividends

 
But all that changed straight after the interval as coaches Steve Batty and Colin Fawcett moved Britton into midfield and brought on Greg Walters, making a welcome return after a broken leg, up front alongside Liam Fawcett. The game was almost immediately transformed as this strike pair caused panic in the Pontardawe defence and Haverfordwest rattled in four cracking goals in 16 minutes before Britton later added a fifth to set the seal on a cracking win.
 
As Haverfordwest County’s commercial director David Hughes said afterwards,
“This outstanding fight-back shows that the future of the club is in good hands and we will be looking for a number of these players to claim regular first-team spots in the near future.”
 

Shaky start by Young Bluebirds

 
Yet he Young Bluebirds made a shaky start as Pontardawe bossed the midfield and took the lead as early as the fifth minute from a series of defensive errors which allowed Scott Williams to fire a shot past an exposed Dan Evans in the home goal.
 
Even worse was to follow because an even softer goal was conceded as a mix-up in the Haverfordwest box allowed Williams a soft second goal – and he might have added another but for an excellent save by Evans.
 
“We played some pretty football but lacked drive,” said manager Batty, “so we brought on Gwion Howells at the back and pushed Britton into midfield. It certainly worked and we scored some great goals.”

Notice of intent before goal glut

 
Laurie Haworth served notice of intent after the interval as he had a powerful drive saved before he combined with Glen Fiteni to create a little space for Richard Grill to rifle home a drive of such ferocity it left Cellan Thorpe rooted to the spot in the Pontardawe goal.
 
Haverfordwest were level within 65 seconds as Britton drove in a left foot rocket from the edge of the box – and within minutes the Young Bluebirds were in front as full back Spencer

Williams collected the ball in his own half, dribbled past five would-be tacklers and somehow squeezed home his low shot from inside the area for a goal which showed why he had played for Wales the previous day.
 

No respite for Pontardawe

Fawcett almost added a fourth goal after he had twisted his marker inside out on the right flank but the ball settled right on the goal line and was somehow scrambled clear by an overworked Pontardawe defence.
 
But there was to be no respite because the Young Bluebirds made it 4-2 when Britton crashed home his second goal after further good work by Brill and Mark Davies - and they completed a terrific come back when Britton completed a classy hat-trick with another superbly improvised shot.
 
It nicely rounded off a victory for Haverfordwest Youth that had Messrs Batty and Fawcett wearing big smiles and their reward is a home semifinal tie against Cambrian and Clydach Youth.
 
Haverfordwest County Youth:
Dan Evans: Martin Carroll; Jack Britton (Capt); Dan Jenkins; Spencer Williams: Liam Davies; Joe Brill; Glen Fiteni; Mark Davies: Laurie Haworth; Liam Fawcett. Subs: Owen Coombs; Josh Hicks; Gwion Howells; Aiden Rainbow; Greg Walters.
Pontardawe Youth:
Cellan Thorpe: Harry Davies; Joe Farthing; Liam Picksley; Dan Bale: Josh Webber; Richard George; Alex Wild (Capt); Josh Macarinelli: Scott Williams; Ryan Griffiths. Subs: Nathan Sweeney; Jack Siddle; Jack Susman; Chris Davies; Matthew Colley.