Haverfordwest County 3 Newi Cefn Druids 0.

The Bluebirds moved up to tenth place with a welcome league win, as their front runners posed a string of problems, with striker Jack Christopher notching up a brace and sub Craig George getting his first Welsh premier goal.

On an afternoon in which five other fixtures were called off, the Bridge Meadow once again looked in remarkable nick, thanks chiefly to the strenuous forking of chairman Rob Summons during the morning.

If there was to be a man-of-the-match award for the game, most fans would think of Christopher, Neil Thomas and Gareth Elliott, but perhaps an accolade should go to chairman Rob for getting the game on at all.

There were other architects of this win, notably the management team of Derek Brazil and Mark Evans, who continued with the formation which had worked so well in the Welshpool game.

Jonathan Coates and Lee Hudgell were installed as wing backs, trawling up and down the flanks, around a back three of Terry Evans, Gareth Elliott and Wayne Jones. Simon Gilderdale moved into midfield, playing just in front of the back three, with Tom Ramuset as central midfielder, and Neil Thomas tucked in tightly behind strikers Christopher and Nick Woodrow. All of these players seemed comfortable with their roles, and the aggressive forward formation kept the Druids defence stretched all afternoon.

Just as the New Saints had done a fortnight earlier, the Bluebirds were able to squeeze two of their goals into early and late moments in each half.

In the third minute, Hudgell forged down the left and sent a wonderful deep cross over keeper Chris Mullock, for Coates to head back across the goal and Christopher to stab in from close range.

The next quarter-of-an hour was the Druids' best spell of the match, as Paul Mazzarella was able to orchestrate a certain amount in midfield. Woodrow was finding Druids' experienced centre half Timmy Edwards a difficult man to get round, but he, Christopher and Thomas kept up the pressure. Thomas was just shaded out by Mullock in a one-on-one after Christopher's deft flick had played him in.

Another deep Hudgell cross just evaded Christopher, and Druids' under-18 international goalkeeper Mullock found himself in a horrible tangle with a Thomas free kick which scraped just inches past his left hand post with the keeper himself hopelessly out of it. Woodrow pounced on a loose ball after a Thomas shot was blocked and blazed his effort over.

At the other end, Bluebirds' Lee Idzi looked the under-23 international he has lately become and, while he had very few shots to save, looked very assured under the pressure of a few dipping corners and crosses. One of the Druids' few break-outs late in the first half saw Danny Williams head wide, but the first half ended with Christopher's header over the defence just beating Woodrow's run.

In fact (although Carmarthen Town and Tim Hicks seemed to be disproving the fact at Richmond Park) it wasn't really an afternoon for finishing as even Summons' very good pitch was bound to be a little slippery. But the pressure was on the Druids for the 90 minutes.

Inevitably, as the second half started, there was a lurking doubt as to whether the Bluebirds' dominance would be translated into goals. Then, ten minutes after the re-start, Christopher added his second, blasting home at the second attempt after Thomas' left-wing run.

For the remaining half-hour the Druids could do little to break down a Blues defence in which Gareth Elliott and Terry Evans were outstanding. Substitute Geraint Lewis dragged one shot past the post and Osian Jones threatened with one inswinging corner which Idzi had to pluck from under his bar, but most of the danger came from the Blues front players.

Christopher shot just over after Thomas had steamed down the right. Craig George came on to replace Woodrow and got in a low shot, which Mullock covered well, after a break by Hudgell and Thomas.

The third goal really should have come two minutes from the end when Thomas' cross from the right saw Christopher shoot across the face of the goal. But one minute later, the goal did come when Coates jinked past two defenders before slipping the ball over to George for him to notch his first Welsh Premier goal.

Next Saturday the Blues travel to Caersws, before playing at home to Bangor City on Saturday, December 22nd.

County: Idzi; Evans, Wayne Jones, Gilderdale, Elliott, Coates, Hudgell, Ramasut, Woodrow (George, 74), Christopher, Neil Thomas.

Subs not used: Durham, Cattlin, Briers.

The Bluebirds suite was occupied by Adrian Griffiths, Ian Poole and friends, and the College Suite is still available for future games.

The programme sponsor was David Rees (Fencing), and the match ball sponsor was Sandy Lawrence (Landscapes).