MacWhirter Welsh League Division 1
AFC Porth 0 - Haverfordwest County 1
Steffan Williams grabbed a 70th minute winner to earn Haverfordwest County a slender one-goal victory against AFC Porth at Dinas Park.
Both teams came into this league clash unbeaten, and it was the Bluebirds who kept their unbeaten tag at the final whistle.
This result sees the visitors return to the top of the table as leaders Goytre were thumped 4-0 at home to Taffs Well.
Grinding out a result
These are the type of games that Wayne Jones’ Bluebirds have to grind out if they are going to be in the mix for the title at the end of the season. And that’s exactly what they achieved with another precious three points.
The crucial goal was scored 20 minutes from full time, a Ritchie Lewis cross caused a mistake from the home side’s goalkeeper and Williams nodded into an empty net at the far post.
Sam’s the man
The Bluebirds back four of Ricky Watts, Dale Griffiths, Antonio Faccuito and Sam Rodon were solid for 90 minutes, with Rodon named as the manager’s man-of-the-match.
Chris O’Sullivan had an excellent game playing in a deep midfield role, displaying a superb range of passing that put his team-mates into space. Striker Jack Christopher worked tirelessly up front and caused their defence a headache all afternoon.
Substitute Jack Britton replaced Sean Pemberton in the second half and played a lovely cameo role in the heart of midfield.
“We battled hard for this win,” said manager Wayne Jones. “We got what we came here for, it wasn’t pretty but that’s what you have to do when you play teams in the Rhondda Valley.”
Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Sam Rodon; Dale Griffiths; Antonio Fucciuto; Ritchie Lewis; Steffan Williams; Chris O’Sullivan; Sean Pemberton; Jack Christopher; Rob Morgans. Substitutes: Jack Britton; Ashley Curtis.