PHOTOS:
Ritchie Lewis presses forward for Haverfordwest County
Bluebirds' two-goal hero Tim Hicks
Pictures kindly supplied by Kevin Bryce
MacWhirter Welsh League Division One
Haverfordwest County 4 – Ton Pentre 2
Tim Hicks scored a superb brace to help Haverfordwest County to a thoroughly deserved victory against Ton Pentre at the Conygar Bridge Meadow.
The former Welsh Premier Carmarthen Town striker showed his true class, scoring the first goal in 13 seconds for his new club. The Bull Dogs equalised in the 10th minute when right back Ricky Watts touched the ball into his own net. Declan Carroll restored the Bluebirds’ lead; Leon Young equalised to make it 2-2 at half time. After the interval the Bluebirds scored twice through a superb Hicks header and an exquisite Ritchie Lewis strike that earned them the points.
Second in table
This was the homesters’ eighth win of the season, they currently sit three points behind leaders Taffs Wells, but they have two games in hand.
Hicks struck from the edge of the area that gave his side the lead before many supporters had time to settle into their seats. Antonio Faccuito and Lewis combined down the left and Dylan Blain neatly teed-up the star striker, who drilled his right footed shot in the bottom corner from the edge of the area for a dream start.
However, the visitors levelled matters with a bit of good fortune in the 20th minute when Rameer Outlaw’s low cross was turned into his net by Watts.
Ten minutes later and the hosts regained the lead, centre midfielder Declan Carroll drilling a left footed shot that flew in the bottom corner.
But once again the Bluebirds surrended their advantage when Young equalised, the front man headed home a corner at the far post.
Crucial save
The visitors could have taken the lead five minutes after half time, keeper Chris Curtis pulled off a stunning save to deny Jamie Wearn, who struck a terrific shot from distance.
Hicks nodded home his side’s third goal; Carroll’s excellent cross from the left fell perfectly for the striker in the box. Carroll hit the post and substitute Luke Borrelli rattled the cross bar, before Ritchie Lewis added a fourth with an edge of the area shot, that keeper Gavin Rees got a hand to, but could not stop it entering the net.
Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Antonio Faccuito, Sam Roden, Dale Griffiths (Captain), Sean Pemberton, Dylan Blain, Declan Carroll, Steffan Williams, Tim Hicks, Ritchie Lewis. Subs: Chris O’Sullivan; Joe Leahy, Matthew Fisher; Luke Borrelli; Dan Evans.
Ton Pentre: Gavin Rees; Ryan Morgan; Adam Lewis (Captain); Tom Davies; Ross Porter; Lloyd Togill; Adam Raymond; Dorian Sweet; Leon Young; Jamie Wearn; Rameer Outlaw. Substitutes: Richard Ingram; George Daly; Craig Rhys; Andre Griffiths.
Referee: Adrian Wilson.
Assistants: Matthew Mercer & Gareth Elliott.