PHOTOS:
Ritchie Lewis struck a terrific third goal for the BluebirdsTwo-goal hero Steffan Williams celebrates
Luke Borrelli is under pressure
Tim Hicks releases Borrelli
Pictures by Kevin Bryce
Haverfordwest County 5 – AFC Porth 1
Five brilliantly taken second half goals saw Haverfordwest County welcome the New Year in style by easily accounting for AFC Porth and marching to the top of the Welsh League Division One table.
Haverfordwest County are the only team in the division who still remain unbeaten. The Bluebirds have gone a point clear of second placed Taffs Well, and they still have a game in hand over their nearest rivals. So far this season, the Blues have played 14 matches, won ten and drawn four, scoring 32 goals and conceding only ten, as they strive for the title and a possible return to the Welsh Premier.
After trailing 1-0 at half time, thanks to Joel Woodington finding the back of the net in the 12th minute, that solitary goal put the Bluebirds on the back foot as they lacked cohesion and gave the ball away to readily.
Tactical genius
However, Wayne Jones brought on three substitutes in the second half and they rewarded their manager by all scoring. Firstly, Steffan Williams replaced Declan Carroll, who was on a yellow card, and he scored twice in the space of a couple of minutes. Ritchie Lewis added a third with a fierce right footed drive before Matthew Fisher and Joe Leahy, both came on to score the fourth and fifth respectively and complete the rout.
In the first period the visitors looked the better side and they capitalised on a mistake by centre back Sam Rodon to take the lead, Woodington ran clear and rounded keeper Chris Curtis for a simple finish.
After the break, the Bluebirds looked a far better outfit and there was a huge sigh of relief from the Bluebirds’ supporters when super-sub Williams headed home Lewis’ cross from the right to square matters.
A few minutes later and Williams was released by an intelligent Tim Hicks through ball, and the lively substitute slotted home from inside the box.
Chris O’Sullivan started calling the shots in the heart of midfield, and he took on the role as skipper with Dale Griffiths sitting out a one match suspension.
It’s amazing what a couple of goals can do for a team, as all of sudden the Bluebirds were brimming with confidence and the Rhondda Valley outfit were looking shaky. Woodington did send a warning to the Bluebirds when he flashed a low shot across the face of Chris Curtis’ goal.
Cracking goal
But the Bluebirds responded by scoring a cracking goal through Lewis,
Hicks chested and controlled before releasing Lewis who struck an unstoppable shot from 18 yards that ripped into the back of the net and would feature in any goal of the season competition.Matthew Fisher had only been on the pitch for ten minutes after replacing Luke Borrelli and he directed a low shot past Nick Thomas.
Late in the game, Joe Leahy came on for Hicks and coolly chipped Thomas for a delightful fifth goal that earned the Bluebirds a thoroughly deserved victory after putting on a classy second half performance after an extremely poor first half display.
Before kick-off both teams observed a minute’s silence for Rhiannon Webb, wife of Haverfordwest County stalwart Barry, who sadly passed away earlier in the week.
Haverfordwest County: Chris Curtis; Ricky Watts; Antonio Faccuito; Sam Rodon; Dylan Blain; Sean Pemberton; Chris O’Sullivan (Captain); Declan Carroll (45’ Steffan Williams); Luke Borrelli (73’ Matthew Fisher); Tim Hicks (80’ Joe Leahy). Substitutes not used: Jack Britton; Dan Evans.
AFC Porth: Nick Thomas; Tom Mouncher; Craig Wells; Alex Lloyd; Jarrad Wright (Captain); Jacob Matthews; Shane Davies; James Gronow; Adam Wright; Luke Jones; Joel Woodington. Substitutes: Chris Bullock; Shaun Moss; Kristian Orchard; Stuart Brock; Aaron Wright.
Referee: Mark Whitby.
Assistants: Tom Bevan & Miss C Williams.
