Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup – Round 1
Haverfordwest County 2 – Goytre United 2
(After extra-time Goytre United win 5-4 on penalties)
Haverfordwest County suffered cup heart ache for the second time in three days at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
The cup-tie finished 1-1 after full time and 2-2 after extra time, and the visitors went on to dramatically win 5-4 on penalties as Mike Waters scored the winning spot-kick after Bluebirds Joe Leahy and Martin Carroll had their poor efforts from 12-yards saved by goalkeeper hero Luke Martin.
The Bluebirds took the lead shortly after half time as Sam Roden nodded home; the visitors equalised
through player manager Andy Hill and forced the tie into extra time.In the first period of extra-time Greg Walters scored the Bluebirds’ second goal, but the home side’s central midfielder Sean Pemberton was sent off and the visitors equalised late through Sam Wade.
After the Bluebirds suffered a 3-0 mauling at the hands of Aberdare Town in midweek, things got worse for manager Wayne Jones as his team crashed out of a second cup competition in just three days.
The visitors edged the first period, despite not scoring in a goalless first half.
Declan Carroll returned to Haverfordwest County from Welsh Premier outfit Aberystwyth Town and he looked lively playing in midfield and trying to supply ball to lone striker Joe Leahy.
United included seven-former Bluebirds playing in their squad and they made life extremely difficult in the opening 45 minutes.
Referee Kevin Bowen produced two yellow cards in the first period to Joe Leahy and Ricky Watts, both warranted for rash challenges.
Two minutes after the break and Sam Roden broke the deadlock. The centre half heading home an in-swinging Ritchie Lewis free kick inside the box.
The visitors equalised in the 83rd minute when Hill came off the bench and scored against his former team-mates from inside the box to put the tie into extra-time.
The visitors pressed hard and Ross Jones and Jordan Davies missed guilt edged chances in front of goals and Chris Holloway skied a free kick outside the box over the crossbar.
Holloway headed straight at keeper Chris Curtis and Hill hurried his opportunity when he only had the keeper to beat, they should have scored those two late chances.
In the first period of extra time Leahy should have given his side the lead, but the striker volleyed wide when he should have hit the target. But minutes later and substitute Walters made no mistake from inside the box. Ritchie Lewis flashed a low shot across the face of goal as the home side began to get on top.
But things then took a dramatic swing in the visitors’ favour as the home side were reduced to ten men when Sean
Pemberton received his marching orders late in the game, and to add insult to injury, the visitors equalised through Wade and forced the tie into penalties, which the visitors won 5-4 and progressed in the second round of the competition.
Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Antonio Facciuto; Sam Roden; Dale Griffiths (Captain); Sean Pemberton; Ashley Curtis; Jack Britton; Declan Carroll; Joe Leahy; Ritchie Lewis. Substitutes: Steffan Williams; Martyn Carroll; Greg Walters.
Goytre United: Luke Martin; Jamie Pugh; Kyle Graves; Lee Bevan (Captain); Anthony Finselbach; Chris Holloway; Mike Waters; Jordan Davies; Ross Jones; Sam Wade; Darren Griffiths. Substitutes: Joe Clarke; Andy Hill.
Referee: Kevin Bowen.
Assistants: Neale Lewis & Matthew Mercer.