The Matchday 1 encounter at the Bridge Meadow Stadium saw Penybont make their visit a successful one on Friday (Aug 8) with a 1-0 victory, quickly banishing last weekend’s cup success with the 5-0 drubbing of Newport City a distant memory for Haverfordwest.
The opening exchanges saw Ben Fawcett and Ben Ahumn gain space from Corey Shephard moving the ball swiftly through transition. Equally, the visiting all white kitted Penybont found success in wide areas, Mark Little playing a peach of the ball down the right flank which saw Nathan Wood stretch his legs, the final delivery intercepted crucially by a well positioned Ricky Watts to clear the danger.
Watts and his skipper, Dylan Rees combined well in a back three with Alaric Jones, the centre half with a well won header just before the quarter of an hour mark set up Ahumn but his shot from inside the right side of the area ballooned harmlessly high and wide.
Both sides endeavour saw most success from the ball placed over the top to turn defences, Fawcett and Ahumn marauding without their blue shirts threatening Cardiff City loanee goalkeeper Luke Armstrong.
The game saw both sets of players committed in their approaches and tackles, yellow cards issued to Penybont pair, Clayton Rees for a flaying arm across Rees and forward, James Crole for demanding a punishment for a late tackle.
Fawcett did put the ball in the net from a Shephard corner, referee Bryan Markham-Jones well positioned to rule the goal out after 40 minutes, as Jones blocked across the advancing visiting goalkeepers effort to snaffle the incoming ball. Ahumn ten minutes earlier also fashioned a chance from a Dan Hawkins touch, with neither Armstrong or his opposite number debutant Luc Rees were unduly troubled, Hawkins, Ahumn and Fawcett a combination to try and fashion opportunities as the game meandered to a half time. Fawcett had fired a bullet header from eight yards as Markham-Jones drew the proceedings to a close, Armstrong his equal with a fine save.
The Honolulu coloured blue shirts started on the front foot, Shephard and an impressive Greg Walters creating, a major incident after four minutes saw Crole dismissed as he kicked Jones after they tangled on the floor, Markham-Jones well positioned to dish out the correct punishment, although the much maligned VAR not in use as the Football Association have delayed its roll out. Such innovation would indeed enhance the leagues credence whilst being a much advanced tool to assist match officials as the exposure available widens further.
The experienced Chris Venables immediately made an appearance for the ten man visitors replacing Alexander Cvetkovic, assuming a role as the fulcrum, the ace marksman now in his forties one who requires only one chance to win the game. A chance did fall on the hour mark as Fawcett sprung through and deflected the ball beyond Armstrong, whose momentum took out the player.
It took just two minutes for the deadlock to be broken, the Castle behind Rees goal saw the home side 1-0 down as Mael Davies fashioned the chance, centre half Jones hesitated in clearing his lines leaving his goalkeeper Rees staring down the barrel, Davies sending the travelling visiting supporters, who had travelled by land and sea into the euphoric melody of songs, Venables striking from twenty yards two minutes later. Which Rees saved.
Tony Penncok’s side showed both their resilience and aptitude as they took the game back at the white shirts, Walters and Hawkins intricate and crips interplay not rewarded with clear cut opportunities, Ahumn half chance well blocked by Gabriel Kircough, the centre half having a header agonisingly close to doubling the lead on 65 minutes following a Nathan Wood corner, Watts withdrawn and replaced by Owain Jones.
The ten men were well drilled and defended their half with aplomb, their work rate admirable alongside the self belief and organisation led by captain courageous Owen and Kai Ludvigsen, who was replaced by Mark Little, Venables then carded on 75 minutes for dissent, Kirkcough getting his foot across Ahumn as the striker was bout to shoot, Humphries close with a far post header from the resultant Shephard corner.
The final ten minutes as expected saw the Bluebirds driving forward, the final delivery too often eluding the willing runs from Fawcett and Hawkins, the visitors Venables teeing up Clayton Green who saw his left foot drive from twenty yards whistle agonisingly wide of the far post.
Iori Humphries made way for Luc Owen for the final ten minutes, Penybont also making a change, Ashley Baker having literally run himself into the ground departing for Billy Borge.
Haverfordwest Walters headed onto the cross bar from another Shephard corner, gave the momentum for the final onslaught, Fawcett dynamic and incisive for his side, the play worked from side to side and Owen set up Ahumn whose strike was well saved by man of the match Armstrong, Kirkcough carded for a late trip on substitute Owen as the 5 additional minutes were signalled, Fawcett again breaking the defensive line but the equalising chance not coming as Kircough again propelled him away from goal, which summed up a difficult night for the Bluebirds.
Haverfordwest County
Rees L; Rees D ©️; Abbruzzese; Jones A; Watts (Jones, O;64); Shephard; Fawcett; Walters; Humphries (Owen; 84); Ahmun;
Substitutes not used
Knott; Hughes; McGuire; Thomas; Vaughan-Harries
Penybont
Armstrong; Ludvigsen; Owen ©️; Kircough; Davies; Wood; Crole; Baker (Borge; 84); Green; Little (Woodmiss; 76); Cvetkovic (Venables;53);
Substitutes not usedCoe; Phillips; Jones; Mathews
Referee:
Bryn Markam-Jones
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Bebee-Bryant & Connot Thomas
4th Official: Ieuan Lewis
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