With a deluge of rain before kick off which took hold for the entire first half, the Bluebirds defended the Castle end, losing stalwart Ricky Watts after 7 minutes as he collided heavily with the perimeter advertising hoardings to be replaced in midfield by Tom Shepherd.

Haverfordwest County, the opening 10 minutes seeing the visitors control possession and territory, although central midfielder Jacob Cook picked up an early caution from referee Aaron Jones, for preventing a home side counter attack.

The opening goal came courtesy of Callum West after a Harry Franklin header rattled the upright of home custodian Ifan Knott, West driving home his right foot shot from eight yards beyond Knott and Walters on the goal line.

Dan Hawkins showed both composure and finesse as he tried to wrestle the game back for County, Ben Nash a commanding presence alongside Decland Poole which nullified the home offensive play, Nash directing a header just over the bar on the quarter of an hour from a Rhys Owen dead ball strike from near the home dugout.

The first foray into the Nomads saw full back Rhys Abburuzze fouled in the six yard box under duress from Poole, Ben Ahumn equalising the game just before the half hour mark with a well struck penalty beyond Cymru U21 goalkeeper Kit Margeston, Dan Cowan talking his way to a caution to rub salt into the visitors wounds.

The final five minutes of the half had the 341 in the crowd on their feet and vociferous, Corey Shepherd playing a sublime ball inside Nash, Hawkins driving into the space and his measured pass across the six yard box just eluding the oncoming Ahumn. A minute later Knott superbly clung on at full stretch to another Franklin header, Iori Humphries then collecting a yellow card for an abrasive challenge, before visiting striker Jack Keeny drove strongly into the penalty box but found his equal again in Knott, the home support irked for a handball but referee Jones interpretation correct that the striker did not deliberately accrue an advantage, but such are the laws of the game now, if the ball had nestled in the back of the net it would have been recalled for handball.

The second half began with Franklin on the ball, probing and pressing the Nomads possession, West striking a goal bound effort which Knott again saved with aplomb on the near post. Man of the match Knott again saved his sides blushes with a near post one handed save from Kenny on 58 minutes, the game exploding on the hour mark, Cowan misjudging a chip through and Ahumn bore down on goal, Nash making a key challenge amidst cries for a penalty, Ahumn then cautioned for dissent alongside home manager Tony Pennock on the home bench.

Greg Walters got on the end of an Abbruzzese free kick but couldn’t direct enough force to trouble Margeston, which irked Nomads head honcho John Disney for the foul, the manager jumping for joy with twenty minutes to play as a composed Rhys Hughes strike put them back in front 2-1. It went from bad to worse for Tony Pennocks side as Ahumn was dismissed 3 minutes later as he made a late challenge on Cowan and saw a second yellow which saw him trudge to the changing room for an early shower.

A triple change with a quarter of an hour to play saw Elliot Scotcher make a return from a long layoff for Panashe Makwiramiti, Luc Owen departing for his development side skipper Ashley Watkins and Harri Thomas entering the cauldron for Iori Humphreys.

That cauldron was boiling a minute later, when an off the ball clash between Nash and Walters saw the home side player poleaxed in midfield which wasn’t seen by the officials, Pennock receiving a second yellow and dismissal from the dugout and Ryan Evans collecting a caution for their protests, Jones then cautioning home skipper Dylan Rees for a foul which irked assistant manager Gary Ricahrds enough for him to also collect a card, which had been flung around like confetti.

Knott was again on hand with a save low down when normality was restored, Franklin again the fulcrum for the North Walian sides offensive play, bringing a finger tip save from Knott as the game entered its last five minutes, Hughes putting the game to bed with his second goal of the afternoon at 3-1 as 5 minutes added time was raised by 4th Official Ben Williams, the wide midfielder tapping in a cross after Franklin had made good ground on the right flank.

The drum beat for the game quietened down with the result set, the home support letting referee Jones know their feeling as he blew for full time a minute after Max Woodcock replaced West and Marco Fregapayne came to the fore for Cook.

Haverfordwest County

Knott; Humphreys (Thomas; 74); Rees D ©️; Watts (Shepherd; 7); Walters; Abbruzzese; Makwiramiti (Watkins; 74); Owen (Scotcher; 74); Shephard C; Hawkins; Ahmun.

Substitutes not used
Rees L; Hughes; James.

Connahs Quay Nomads

Margeston; Poole; Nash; Cowan; Marriot ©️; Cook (Fregapayne; 90+4); Edwards N; West (Woodcock; 90+4); Hughes R; Frankin; Kenny.

Substitutes not used
Berry R; Oswell; Zeli; Buah; Parry.

Match Officials

Referee: Aaron Jones
Assistant Referees: James Shiels & Jordan Christopher
4th Official: Ben Williams

Photos from Emmanual Cabral Photography

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