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Haverfordwest County AFC Women were on the road for the first time this season in an away clash with unbeaten Johnstown Women. The Bluebirds started the season with two home fixtures – the opening game against Goytre Women, which ended in an unfortunate 2-1 loss, followed by last week's 3-2 victory against Llantwit Fardre Ladies.
Home side Johnstown won the kick-off and immediately put on the pressure. In the 5th minute, Haverfordwest goalkeeper Jessica Rees was called into action with a brilliant close-range stop. However, the pace of the game changed quickly as, in the 6th minute, a long free kick from Haverfordwest's Lily Owen played Kayla Jones through over the top, forcing the Johnstown keeper to rush out and make a brave one-on-one stop.
In the 12th minute, Johnstown's number 12 intercepted the ball on the right wing and made a darting run into the box before testing the keeper with a low driven shot down the left-hand side, which was saved.
Johnstown dictated the pace of the game over the next 20 minutes, but a strong and structured Haverfordwest defence prevented many big chances from materialising. After that spell from Johnstown, the next five minutes saw great link-up play on the right between Lily Owen, Ffion Kirk and Kayla Jones, causing problems for the home side's defence – but once again the Johnstown keeper came up with another vital stop. In the 29th minute, Johnstown had a good free kick opportunity from the top of the box, which was put just over the bar.
The game then developed into some brilliant end-to-end action, with both teams looking to break the deadlock. The next big opportunity came in the 35th minute for Johnstown, as a ball was played over the top into space for their number 12, but Haverfordwest keeper Jessica Rees beat the attacker to the ball and claimed it.
Two minutes later, in the 37th minute, Johnstown's number 4 and captain received the uncommon blue card as the first booking of the game, sending her to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Haverfordwest had two more chances before the break. First, in the 44th minute, Lily Owen sent another great ball through the Johnstown defence on the halfway line, playing it into space for Kayla Jones as she ran through one-on-one – but a brilliant save denied Haverfordwest. Then, in the 45th+1 minute, Kayla Jones and Ffion Kirk went two-on-two with the Johnstown defence, but once again the Johnstown keeper made another heroic stop.
Going into half-time, the score remained 0-0, with both sides pushing to get the first goal. The half was highlighted by great goalkeeping from both ends of the pitch.
Haverfordwest started with the ball to open the second half and spent the first 15 minutes on the front foot.
In the 54th minute, Lily Owen struck a free kick well from long range, forcing the keeper into making a save rather than catching it, which resulted in a well-earned corner for the Bluebirds. Owen was involved again just before the hour mark, slicing a ball in between Johnstown's centre-half and full-back to play Ffion Kirk into space in the box – but Kirk's shot was forced wide by good defending.
Just after the hour, Johnstown's number 14 took a free kick from within her own half, playing it in behind for her number 9, but great defending from the Bluebirds stopped the shot from happening. Minutes later, in the 64th minute, the Bluebirds got a chance from a free kick lofted into the box. The defender headed it the wrong way, and Haverfordwest's Erin Frost had to take the shot quickly – narrowly missing the target.
Shortly after that close call, Johnstown took it up the pitch and put their number 9 through, who rounded the keeper but put it just the wrong side of the near post. In the 70th minute, Johnstown kept up the pressure as a lofted cross from the right-hand side beat everyone in the middle and found its way to the far post, where the Johnstown left winger got on the end of it. Her shot was blocked on the line by Haverfordwest's Macy Barcoe. Johnstown continued throwing everything at it to find a goal – after a great dribble from their number 9, she passed to the number 8 in the box, who took the shot on quickly but couldn't hit the target.
Controversy arose in the 75th minute as a strong appeal from the Haverfordwest sideline was dismissed by the referee. Haverfordwest won the ball back at the halfway line and passed it into the middle for Ella Mumford, who dribbled forward and played it in behind for Ffion Kirk. Kirk beat the keeper and appeared to be taken out in the penalty area – but only a goal kick was given.
In the 80th minute, Johnstown's number 8 found herself on the right wing, one-on-one with Haverfordwest full-back Chloe Thomas. As she drove into the box, great defending from Thomas forced the ball out for a goal kick.
In the 87th minute, Haverfordwest's coach Mikey Loveridge found himself on the end of an unusual yellow card, as the referee couldn't identify a spectator for the booking and instead gave it to the manager.
The last chance of the game went to Johnstown, as a free kick on the left-hand side of the box in the 91st minute was struck brilliantly by their number 10 – but with too much power on it, the ball drifted just wide of the far post.
Full-time: 0-0. A highly competitive game which saw controversy, exciting end-to-end action, and a great contest between two top sides.
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