Young Bluebirds are champions again!

 

Haverfordwest played down the slight slope in the first half and both sides had difficulty in keeping possession of the ball in windy conditions. Haverfordwest always seemed to be first to the ball when it mattered, but found it difficult to finish off several promising moves early on.

 

 

Rhys Kemble ran strongly up front and Ollie Gamble supplied the strikers with plenty of ball but Connah’s Quay showed they had some good players who could run with the ball and looked dangerous when they counter attacked.  Their threat, however, was restricted by the composed Jake Houston and Jay Power in central defence and Zac Rowell and Ben Fairbain at right and left back respectively.

 

The midfield pairing of Jake Merry and Cameron Thomas proved to be a winning combination and both boys put their all into the match, covering every blade of grass. Cieran Rees came on in the first half to add his pace to the attack and the Young Bluebirds kept the pressure on.

 

 

Their good play eventually paid off when Haverfordwest’s Ben Fawcett beat the offside trap to put his team ahead and  two minutes later Jack Wilson scored with a tremendous cross-shot from the edge of the penalty area to make the score 2-0. Connah’s Quay came close following a free kick from the edge of the penalty area, but Jake Merry and Cameron Thomas became influential in the midfield for Haverfordwest and as half time arrived the Bluebirds seemed pretty much in control.

 

 

Connah’s Quay pressed hard in the second half to get into the game and they hit the crossbar following some desperate defending by Elliott Wherrett and Ben Fairbain, who covered their central defenders well. Max Harrison and Jake Smith ran well and gradually Haverfordwest began to establish the passing pattern that had made them champions of the South Wales Academy League.  Ben Fawcett and Stephen Roberts came close to adding a third goal as Haverfordwest kept the pressure on.

 

 

Jarrod Davies had a sound game in goal and the whole squad contributed to a great match where the Bluebirds were worthy winners by playing concentrated football in defence, but always being prepared to attack quickly when they had the ball.

 

At the final whistle the Haverfordwest players and supporters celebrated their victory and for the second year running brought the FAW Academy Under 12’s cup back to Pembrokeshire.

 

Haverfordwest County Football Academy Squad: Jared Davies, Zac Rowell, Jake Houston (capt), Jay Power, Ben Fairbain, Elliott Wherrett, Cameron Thomas, Jake Merry,  Jack Wilson, Jake Smith, Ollie Gamble, Ben Fawcett, Rhys Kemble, Stephen Roberts, Max Harrison, Cieran Rees

 

Coach:  Angela Nicholls

Assistant Coach: Blayne Wherrett

Goalkeeper Coach: Bernard Steer

 

*Thanks to Mr Robert Kemble of the Wiseman Bridge Inn for his contribution towards the coach to Newtown and to all the parents and supporters.