Competition: Novira Cymru Premier 2026-27, Phase One
Date: Saturday 1 August 2026, kick-off 14:30
Venue: Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest
Attendance: 603
Referee: Tom Owen
Disappointing start to the campaign
Haverfordwest County's 2026-27 Cymru Premier season began with defeat on a sunny afternoon at Bridge Meadow, as newly-promoted Airbus UK Broughton claimed a deserved 1-0 win courtesy of a late Joshua Stevenson volley. On the balance of chances, the visitors from North Wales were full value for their three points, testing Ifan Knott throughout and producing the sharper edge in front of goal.
There was a poignant note before kick-off, with the Bluebirds paying tribute to former Life Member John Hughes, who passed away recently after more than 40 years of service to the club as a committee member, programme editor and PA announcer. His hearse made a brief visit to Bridge Meadow on its route to the funeral earlier in the week, and the ground observed a fitting tribute to a true Bluebird before the action got under way.
It was also a landmark occasion off the pitch, with VAR Light being used at Bridge Meadow for the first time in a Cymru Premier fixture. Under-8 boys and under-11 girls from newly-formed Johnston AFC provided the Guard of Honour as mascots and flag bearers, while Pure West Radio's DJ Robzy kept the crowd entertained and Stephen Fellows Chiropractor offered free spinal assessments in the Bluebirds Suite.
A new look Bluebirds
Tony Pennock made changes both on the teamsheet and on the tactics board. After a handful of summer signings, two of them made the starting lineup, forward Lewis Rees and right back Ben Phillips. There was a shift in system too, with the Bluebirds moving away from Pennock's favoured back five to a back four, set up in a loose 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 with Lewis Rees operating on the left from the start, Greg Walters pressing forward from midfield almost as a number 10, and Dan Hawkins on the right.
The visitors arrived in bright orange having secured the runners-up spot in JD Cymru North to earn promotion, and it was their captain Joseph Palmer who caused early problems, driving into the box before combining well in and around the area. Airbus's number 8 Jordan Evans was a persistent threat all afternoon, twice going close in the space of two minutes midway through the first half, first crashing an effort against the post which cannoned back off Knott and behind for a corner, before firing straight at the Bluebirds' goalkeeper from a rebound.
Haverfordwest had the better of the closing stages of the first half. Greg Walters headed narrowly wide from a corner before Ben Ahmun stretched to meet a header on target that lacked the power to trouble the visiting goalkeeper. The best chance for Bluebirds fell to Lewis Rees, slipped in down the right, who beat the Airbus keeper only to see his effort crash back off the crossbar. Ben Ahmun picked up a first-half booking for a late challenge near the halfway line, much to the frustration of a vocal Tony Pennock on the touchline.
Second-half possession counts for nothing
Dan Hawkins became an increasingly influential presence across the frontline after the break, as Haverfordwest began to dominate territory and push the visitors back into their own half. Hawkins was at the heart of everything positive, setting up chances for Greg Walters and Ben Phillips as the Bluebirds pressed for a breakthrough that never arrived.
Ben Ahmun thought he had found a way through midway through the second half, finishing well on the half-volley past the goalkeeper's near post, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Substitutes Harri Thomas and Will Hughes were introduced for Ahmun and Lewis Rees as Pennock searched for a way to break the deadlock, and further chances followed for Ben Phillips and Will Hughes, but a cutting final ball proved elusive.
Airbus, for their part, continued to look the more likely to score on the counter, with Kaiden Cooke a persistent outlet down the right, while a stinging free-kick from the edge of the box was superbly parried away by Knott, who capped an excellent afternoon's work between the posts.
The breakthrough, when it came, was a frustrating but perhaps not surprising one from a set-piece. In the 85th minute, a deep cross to the back post found the Bluebirds' defence square, and Joshua Stevenson arrived unmarked to fire home a left-footed volley that proved decisive. Haverfordwest pushed for a leveller in the closing stages, with Will Hughes whipping in a dangerous cross that was headed wide, but it was too little too late with Pennock now left with some big decisions to make across his big squad with key fixtures against TNS and Penybont coming up.
Final word
A tough opening test for Tony Pennock's side, with the manager hinting that he may have to make changes in the coming games. Airbus UK Broughton, backed by vocal travelling support, deserved their opening-day victory as they made a statement on their return to the top flight.
Man of the Match: Ifan Knott. That the award goes to the losing side's goalkeeper tells its own story. Knott produced a string of important saves, particularly in a first half in which Airbus repeatedly threatened, and without him the margin of defeat may have been considerably wider.
Haverfordwest County: Ifan Knott, Dylan Rees (c), Rhys Abbruzzese, Kyle Kenniford, Corey Shepherd, Lewis Rees, Dan Hawkins, Benjamin Phillips, Kyle McCarthy, Greg Walters, Ben Ahmun
Substitutes used: Harri Thomas, William Hughes, Jack Wilson
Airbus UK Broughton: Louis Fallon, Tyler McManus, Joshua Stevenson, Joseph Palmer (c), Sam Rickett, Mason Blackwell-Jones, Jordan Evans, Kaiden Cooke, George Peers, Sean Moscrop, Nathan Williams
Substitutes used: James Hughes, Jake Roberts, Evan Smith, Ieuan Jones-Wellstead
Match photos from Ethan Ellis - view more on Instagram.
Photo Gallery (click to view in full)
