Haverfordwest County confirmed their place in the JD Cymru Premier League European Play-Off places, with a trip to Barry Town United ahead, following a comprehensive 6-0 victory over already relegated Llanelli Town.

Early pressure saw Kyle Kenniford testing Llanelli goalkeeper Alex Pennock from outside the box. Further sustained offensive play from Jacob Bacon driving forward from centre-half released Ben Ahmun, and his cross-shot was parried by Pennock. Dan Hawkins, fresh from signing a two-year contract extension, nipped in to open the scoring in the third minute. The visitors' Morgan Evans was forceful five minutes later but his drive from 15 yards cleared beyond Ifan Knott's far post.

Midfielder Corey Shephard enjoyed the freedom of the midfield, venturing forward and confident to play with either foot, one shot agonisingly close to doubling the lead before ten minutes had been played. The lead was then doubled by striker Ben Ahmun, who calmly beat an advancing Pennock from Kyle Kenniford's cushioned through ball.

Haverfordwest continued to create a plethora of chances. Hawkins scooped over from 15 yards after good interplay with Ahmun, Pennock saving from Ahmun midway through the half. Skipper Sean Cronin then headed the rebound off his own line.

Home captain Dylan Rees received the game's first caution on twenty-four minutes for stopping a promising attack, before former Bluebird Danny Williams received the game's second yellow card for a late tackle on Ricky Watts. The stalwart home midfielder was replaced on the half-hour by Iori Humphries. Pennock was also cautioned two minutes before that substitution for a late trip on Shephard, with Ahmun's subsequent penalty rattling against the upright.

The visitors' best chance of the half saw Tristan Jenkins curl his left-foot shot over the bar with ten minutes remaining. Hawkins made it 3-0 before half time with a neat left-foot finish following some interplay through the centre of the field with Shephard, before Rees subtly set up Ahmun, who fired over from the final play of the half.

Both sides started the second half playing first-touch football, switching play across the field. Man of the match Hawkins fired in his hat-trick on fifty minutes when he lobbed Pennock from 20 yards, with Shephard again the orchestrator. The Bluebirds went five up on fifty-two minutes with a beauty of a drive from Rhys Abbruzzese's left foot. Panashe Makwiramiti replaced Walters before the game restarted, with a returning Jack Wilson coming on for captain Rees - having missed over two years through an ACL injury. The visitors, who had former Haverfordwest manager Wayne Jones in their dugout, replaced Rio Booth with Joe Hopkins.

Manager Tony Pennock made a double substitution after the hour mark, with teenager Ashley Watkins replacing Kenniford and Hawkins departing for Wil Hughes. The change of personnel did not impact the flow of the game for the 822 spectators present, with Knott making a fine save from Williams as the game entered its final quarter.

Watkins nearly got on the scoresheet five minutes after coming on, latching onto Ahmun's knockdown, before Ahmun fired wide from Wilson's pinpoint cross. The Reds made a triple substitution with 73 minutes played, goalkeeper Oliver Williams replacing Pennock alongside Karim Hussain, with Bradley Gibbings making way. James Lester was replaced by Jack Goddard before Morgan Evans left the field for Sonny Parkhouse with ten minutes remaining.

Play was camped in the visitors' penalty box in front of the imposing castle at the town end. Makwiramiti sweetly scored the sixth home goal from 35 yards over a fully-stretched Williams with eight minutes left. Williams made a great save from Ahmun with minutes remaining, as he did from Watkins' goal-bound effort, as the game ended without any added time. The Bluebirds now head to Barry Town United for the European play-off game next weekend.

Haverfordwest County: Knott; Rees D ©️ (Wilson 54); Abbruzzese; Bacon; Watts (Humphries 29); Shephard; Hawkins (Hughes 63); McCarthy; Walters (Makwiramiti 54); Kenniford (Watkins 63); Ahmun.

Substitutes not used: Rees L; Jones.

Llanelli Town: Pennock (Williams 73); Cronin; Lloyd; Cann; Jenkins; Parsons; Gibbings (Hussain 73); Power; Booth (Hopkins 54); Williams; Lester (Goddard 73); Evans (Parkhouse 78).

Substitutes not used: Baker.

Referee: Alex Livsey (Borras Park).
Assistant Referees: Daniel Beckett & Josh Roper.
4th Official: Tegid Richards.

Match Photos from Ethan Ellis

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