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PENYBONT TOO STRONG FOR STILL-SEARCHING BLUEBIRDS
Haverfordwest County's wait for a first win of the season goes on, as an undefeated Penybont side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Dynamite Bridge Meadow stadium. Having opened the campaign with defeats to Airbus UK Broughton and champions TNS, Tony Pennock's side were unable to find an answer to a Penybont team that had already taken a point off TNS and arrived full of confidence.
Pennock made a couple of changes from recent weeks, with Clayton Green retaining his place in midfield and Jack Wilson keeping his spot after a second successive start, while Greg Walters was deployed in an unfamiliar central defensive role alongside Kyle McCarthy.
Penybont set the tone early, and after Walters made a vital touch to deny a clean one-on-one inside the opening ten minutes, the visitors' pressure eventually told. In the 31st minute, a lovely weighted cross from right-back Mael Davies was met by Max Melbourne, who headed home to put Penybont ahead.
Haverfordwest had a glorious chance to level just before the break, Jack Wilson bursting down the right and picking out Ben Ahmun with a fine cross, only for the effort to be scuffed wide of the far post from close range. Moments later, a swift Penybont break almost doubled their lead before the half ended with Davies again the architect, driving forward down the right and setting up a shot that was deflected and then parried into the path of Nathan Wood, who made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.
The half-time break saw much needed entertainment for the Bluebirds supporters - with a fantastic attendance of 794 spectators. Raffle-winning young star Leo-Jack stepped up for the club's first ever Dynamite Competitions Crossbar Challenge, hitting the bar to win £300 and a signed club shirt, to the delight of all those watching.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Haverfordwest struggling to find a foothold as Penybont continued to dominate. Pennock turned to youth in the 63rd minute, introducing Harri Thomas and player of the month (July) Will Hughes in a double substitution, and the Bluebirds' best chance of the half came when a free-kick was kept alive by Walters, only for the Penybont goalkeeper to hold on well. A VAR review midway through the half saw an initial yellow card for Kyle McCarthy rescinded after an earlier foul was instead awarded to Haverfordwest, before a booking followed for an animated Tony Pennock on the touchline.
With the game seemingly petering out, Penybont substitute Noah Daley put the result beyond doubt in the final minutes, latching onto a swift counter-attack down the left and rifling a superb left-footed finish beyond a hesitant Haverfordwest goalkeeper to complete the scoring.
Final Word
A thoroughly deserved victory for a well-organised Penybont side, backed by a magnificent travelling support whose noise and creativity throughout the evening was among the best seen at the Dynamite Bridge Meadow in some time. For Haverfordwest, three games in and still searching for their first points, there are clear signs of work still to do as Pennock continues to shape his new-look side, but having faced two of the league's finest teams already - there's plenty of time ahead yet.
Man of the Match: Marinho Manga (Penybont) - the visitor's showed no signs of missing midfielder Clayton Green, with his replacement showing his credentials with a fine performance in the middle of the park. Worked tirelessly off and on the ball, with a good technical and physically imposing performance for his side.
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