PHOTOS:
Taku Padiwa goes close as Nashwan Blake tries to stop him
Goal scorers Leon Luby and Sean O'Neill
Referee James Olyott with assistants Dave Badger and Gareth Elliott
Welsh Premier Development League:
Haverfordwest County 3 - Aberystwyth 2
Referee: James Olyott
Assistants: Dave Badger and Gareth Elliott
A splendid strike by midfielder Leon Luby helped Haverfordwest County’s talented under 19s development squad beat their counterparts from Aberystwyth in an entertaining clash where the lead twice changed hands before that late goal.
Bluebirds’ coaches Steve Batty and Brett Hawkridge must be pleased with the fact that they have half of their squad still able to play at under 16 level yet still competing well against physically bigger opposition.
Aber take the lead but Bluebirds fight back well
This was certainly so in this tussle and Aber’s greater strength was very much in evidence early on before they took the lead from a good corner taken on the left by Nashwan Blake which allowed central defender Gwion Evans to soar above the home defenders and crash his header past helpless keeper Nick Jones.
But Jones and his back four of Aidan Rainbow, Fraser James, Curtis Hicks and especially Dan Williams quickly recovered and prevented any further danger before Haverfordwest drew level when full back Dan Hopton was put under pressure by Morgan Thomas and in a mix-up with keeper Liam Felloni headed into his own net.
Half-time pep talk pays dividends
Whatever coach Batty said at half time it certainly worked because his side were in control for the third quarter as Ben Aldred and Alfie Stottor took charge in midfield, supported by Paul Miller on the right and Luby wide out on the left, so that Thomas and Sean O’Neill had the chance to outpace a square visiting back four.
Luby forced a good save from Felloni and a superb run by Aldred put O’Neill in ion the left but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Hopton.
Aldred again featured as he won the ball in midfield and threaded it through a gap so that O’Neill’s classy first touch took him past his tackler and he buried his shot past a stranded Felloni; a quality finish indeed!
Aber draw level but Luby leads Haverfordwest to victory
Morgan Thomas fired just past the top of the upright before being placed by Taku Padiwa, who was soon in the thick of the action with his strong running and willingness to support colleagues – but Aber levelled matters out of the blue when Nick Jones did well to save from Guto Havard but could only push the ball into the path of Liam Lewis for the simplest of tap ins.Padiwa and O’Neill had half chances before the game went into the last ten minutes and Luby sealed success as Aldred provided the pass and Luby beat his marker with ease, shaped to pass inside and cleverly rounded Felloni before sliding the ball home with aplomb.
It set the seal on a good all-round squad as coach Batty also gave a run out to his young players on the bench, to complete a very satisfying Sunday afternoon at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Haverfordwest County: Nick Jones: Aidan Rainbow; Fraser James; Curtis Hicks; Dan Williams: Paul Miller; Ben Aldred; Alfie Stotter; Leon Luby: Sean O’Neill; Alfie Stottor. Substitutes: Taku Padiwa; Travis Jones; Matty Delaney; Ewan Jones.
Aberystwyth Town: Liam Felloni: Liam Berner; Gwion Evans; Ifan Rees; Dan Hopton: Rhys Jones; Jack Rimmer; Guto Havard; Nashwan Blake: Ryan Edwards; Liam Lewis. Substitutes: Liam Jacques; Gwion Jones.
