Pre-season friendly

Haverfordwest County 4

Barry Town United 1

THIS was another very stylish display by the Bluebirds, a clear win against a side who look certain to be highly placed in the Second Division this season, writes Robert Nisbet.

Wayne Jones had to shuffle his pack for this game, with several players unavailable, but the same flow and cohesion were evident as there had been in the earlier games. In defence there were particularly good performances from Sean Pemberton as a stand-in centre half and from Academy player Spencer Williams, drafted in at left back for the ailing Facciuto, and playing with remarkable composure. Reserve keeper Dan Evans, who played the second half, pulled off two very fine saves in that time.

For the first half-hour there was little real incident, but the Blues were already building very steadily from the back. Barry threatened periodically with their right back Geraint Frowen looking dangerous as he moved forward, and ex-Bluebird Tom Billing cracking a left-foot volley just wide in the 16th minute.

But, after Greg Walters had headed against the bar and Elliott Thomas had shot just over, Barry were hit in the 38th and 39th minutes by two fine goals, both of them set up by Walters. First of all, after a Jack Britton free kick had been cleared, Walters beat a defender out on the left and crossed well for Sam Wilson to slot in. Then it was Walters, out on the right, who crossed for Thomas to send his looping header over the keeper. The goals were a deserved reward for Wilson and Thomas who, along with Liam Fawcett, were harrying the Barry defence. Britton and Nicky Palmer, meanwhile, were dominating the midfield.

Barry pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when winger Rhys James made a fine run down the right and slipped in a cross for Billing to blast in from close range. But from this point on the Blues got right into their stride, with Ricky Watts making a series of powerful runs down the right. Fawcett chipped just wide after a fine through ball from Sam Rodon, Evans saved well from Billing, and Thomas shot just wide again.

The threatened goal came in the 77th minute when Wilson’s fine cross left Palmer to drive in from 6 yards. The Blues bench sent on three further Youth players as subs in the 80th minute (Laurie Haworth, Ben Aldridge and Gwion Howell), and the new formation served up a fine fourth goal for Walters who hammered in a 15-yarder in the 86th minute.

Next Saturday the Bluebirds travel to play their last friendly, against Carmarthen. The first competitive game is on Wednesday 13th August, kick-off 7.30pm, when they entertain Afan Lido in the Word Cup.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Spencer Williams, Sam Rodon, Sean Pemberton, Jack Britton, Greg Walters, Nicky Palmer, Liam Fawcett, Elliott Thomas,

Sam Wilson.

Subs: Dan Evans (g/k), Mark Davies, Laurie Haworth, Gwion Howells, Ben Aldridge.

Pre-season friendly

Haverfordwest County 4

Barry Town United 1

THIS was another very stylish display by the Bluebirds, a clear win against a side who look certain to be highly placed in the Second Division this season, writes Robert Nisbet.

Wayne Jones had to shuffle his pack for this game, with several players unavailable, but the same flow and cohesion were evident as there had been in the earlier games. In defence there were particularly good performances from Sean Pemberton as a stand-in centre half and from Academy player Spencer Williams, drafted in at left back for the ailing Facciuto, and playing with remarkable composure. Reserve keeper Dan Evans, who played the second half, pulled off two very fine saves in that time.

For the first half-hour there was little real incident, but the Blues were already building very steadily from the back. Barry threatened periodically with their right back Geraint Frowen looking dangerous as he moved forward, and ex-Bluebird Tom Billing cracking a left-foot volley just wide in the 16th minute.

But, after Greg Walters had headed against the bar and Elliott Thomas had shot just over, Barry were hit in the 38th and 39th minutes by two fine goals, both of them set up by Walters. First of all, after a Jack Britton free kick had been cleared, Walters beat a defender out on the left and crossed well for Sam Wilson to slot in. Then it was Walters, out on the right, who crossed for Thomas to send his looping header over the keeper. The goals were a deserved reward for Wilson and Thomas who, along with Liam Fawcett, were harrying the Barry defence. Britton and Nicky Palmer, meanwhile, were dominating the midfield.

Barry pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when winger Rhys James made a fine run down the right and slipped in a cross for Billing to blast in from close range. But from this point on the Blues got right into their stride, with Ricky Watts making a series of powerful runs down the right. Fawcett chipped just wide after a fine through ball from Sam Rodon, Evans saved well from Billing, and Thomas shot just wide again.

The threatened goal came in the 77th minute when Wilson’s fine cross left Palmer to drive in from 6 yards. The Blues bench sent on three further Youth players as subs in the 80th minute (Laurie Haworth, Ben Aldridge and Gwion Howell), and the new formation served up a fine fourth goal for Walters who hammered in a 15-yarder in the 86th minute.

Next Saturday the Bluebirds travel to play their last friendly, against Carmarthen. The first competitive game is on Wednesday 13th August, kick-off 7.30pm, when they entertain Afan Lido in the Word Cup.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Spencer Williams, Sam Rodon, Sean Pemberton, Jack Britton, Greg Walters, Nicky Palmer, Liam Fawcett, Elliott Thomas,

Sam Wilson.

Subs: Dan Evans (g/k), Mark Davies, Laurie Haworth, Gwion Howells, Ben Aldridge.

Haverfordwest County 4

Barry Town United 1

THIS was another very stylish display by the Bluebirds, a clear win against a side who look certain to be highly placed in the Second Division this season, writes Robert Nisbet.

Wayne Jones had to shuffle his pack for this game, with several players unavailable, but the same flow and cohesion were evident as there had been in the earlier games. In defence there were particularly good performances from Sean Pemberton as a stand-in centre half and from Academy player Spencer Williams, drafted in at left back for the ailing Facciuto, and playing with remarkable composure. Reserve keeper Dan Evans, who played the second half, pulled off two very fine saves in that time.

For the first half-hour there was little real incident, but the Blues were already building very steadily from the back. Barry threatened periodically with their right back Geraint Frowen looking dangerous as he moved forward, and ex-Bluebird Tom Billing cracking a left-foot volley just wide in the 16th minute.

But, after Greg Walters had headed against the bar and Elliott Thomas had shot just over, Barry were hit in the 38th and 39th minutes by two fine goals, both of them set up by Walters. First of all, after a Jack Britton free kick had been cleared, Walters beat a defender out on the left and crossed well for Sam Wilson to slot in. Then it was Walters, out on the right, who crossed for Thomas to send his looping header over the keeper. The goals were a deserved reward for Wilson and Thomas who, along with Liam Fawcett, were harrying the Barry defence. Britton and Nicky Palmer, meanwhile, were dominating the midfield.

Barry pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when winger Rhys James made a fine run down the right and slipped in a cross for Billing to blast in from close range. But from this point on the Blues got right into their stride, with Ricky Watts making a series of powerful runs down the right. Fawcett chipped just wide after a fine through ball from Sam Rodon, Evans saved well from Billing, and Thomas shot just wide again.

The threatened goal came in the 77th minute when Wilson’s fine cross left Palmer to drive in from 6 yards. The Blues bench sent on three further Youth players as subs in the 80th minute (Laurie Haworth, Ben Aldridge and Gwion Howell), and the new formation served up a fine fourth goal for Walters who hammered in a 15-yarder in the 86th minute.

Next Saturday the Bluebirds travel to play their last friendly, against Carmarthen. The first competitive game is on Wednesday 13th August, kick-off 7.30pm, when they entertain Afan Lido in the Word Cup.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Spencer Williams, Sam Rodon, Sean Pemberton, Jack Britton, Greg Walters, Nicky Palmer, Liam Fawcett, Elliott Thomas,

Sam Wilson.

Subs: Dan Evans (g/k), Mark Davies, Laurie Haworth, Gwion Howells, Ben Aldridge.