PHOTOS:
Bluebirds' keeper Nick Jones is unable to save Tim Charman's goalbound volley (note the old rascals looking on!)

The Haverfordwest County Development squad with coaches Steve Batty & Brett Hawkridge


Referee James Olyott, flanked by assistants Keith Amos and Gareth Elliott  

Bluebirds' Aidan Rainbow skips past Old Gold's Aled Jones

 

Welsh Premier Development League:

Haverfordwest County 1 - Carmarthen Town 4

 
Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium
Referee: James Olyott
Assistants: Gareth Elliott and Keith Amos

 
Haverfordwest County’s development league squad went down to defeat at the hands of nearest neighbours Carmarthen Town at the Conygar Bridge Meadow but manager Steve Batty can take a measure of consolation from the fact that he had no fewer than seven players from the club’s under 15s academy squad taking part and beginning to show their promise.

Nick Jones controlled his box early on and his back four of Ieuan Rutherford, Aidan Rainbow, Curtis Hicks and Dan Williams covered well – but the Young Bluebirds trailed by a single goal at the interval but then lost their shape a little in a 20-minute period where they conceded three goals against much bigger and physically stronger opposition.

They showed their grittiness, however, as skipper Glen Fiteni rallied his troops and scored a consolation goal as reward for some useful play in midfield alongside Alfie Stottor, Paul Miller and Fraser Finlay.
 

Chances at both ends

Carmarthen Town had useful players in Brieg Matthews, Liam Testino, Glen Fearn and Grant Stamp and they went close early on from a corner where Fearn headed inches over the bar.

Haverfordwest threatened via Fraser Finlay, Sean O’Neill and Morgan Thomas, whose clever little chip from outside the box had Iwan Roberts scrambling back – but the ball hit the top of the bar and the danger was averted.

At the other end the Bluebirds’ keeper Nick Jones did well to tip a deflected cross over the bar but from the resulting corner some slack marking allowed Tim Charman to put his side ahead with a sweetly struck left footed volley.
 

Visitors start second half with a bang

The second half started really well for the visitors and Brieg Matthews took the chance to slot the ball in from close range after good work by Ryan Foschi and Lloyd Davies – and soon afterwards they added their third goal when Tim Charman headed home from a corner.

Things went from bad to worse for Batty’s Boys when Brieg Matthews notched his second goal but it says much for the young home team’s resilience that they resettled at the back and Fiteni’s goal was to more than they deserved.

The match was ably controlled by James Olyott and both teams played their part in an entertaining contest.

Haverfordwest County: Nicholas Jones: Ieuan Rutherford; Curtis Hicks; Aidan rainbow; Dan Williams: Paul Miller; Glen Fiteni; Alfie Stottor; Fraser Finlay: Sean O’Neill; Morgan Thomas. Substitutes: Ben Aldred; Dan Llewellyn; Matty Delaney; Travis Jones.

Carmarthen Town:  Iwan Roberts: Josh Grota; Ryan Foschi; Lloyd Davies; Aled Jones; Glen Fearn; Tim Charman; Luke Raymond; Brieg Matthews; Liam Testino; Grant Stamp. Substitutes: Corey Thomas; Edward Rocke.

PHOTO:
Ref James Olyott looks on as Sean O'Neill takes on Old Gold defender Lloyd Davies