Welsh League, Division One

Haverfordwest County 1

Afan Lido 1

THE Bluebirds had to settle for a draw after a frenetic second half in which Lido pulled men back to play for the point and were able to frustrate the Blues attackers, writes Robert Nisbet.

We saw some slick Blues attacking early on, but no direct shot on goal until the 20th minute when a 20-yarder from Declan Carroll whistled wide. Then they struck with a 25th-minute goal when a powerful header out of defence by Dale Griffiths enabled Luke Borelli to round the keeper and slide the ball home.

An equalizer came in the 34th minute when Lido’s Ross Hudson sent in a 30-yarder which seemed to fox Blues’ stand-in keeper Wyn Walters in its flight.

The Blues might have restored their lead in the 41st minute and again it was a Carroll shot which threatened, this time cannoning off the feet of keeper McCreesh and out for a corner. When Chris O’Sullivan’s corner came in Jordan Follows’ shot was blocked on the line.

After a scrappy 20 minutes at the start of the second half the Blues began to press, even though conditions were getting a little slippery now and there were a few cases of lost footing and several mis-placed passes.

Nevertheless, the Lido goal did have several escapes. Lido seemed to be settling for the draw now and the Blues were constantly attacking a crowded penalty area, but the Lido goal took a real peppering. McCreesh played extremely well under this pressure, Follows couldn’t quite find his usual goal touch and there was some simple bad luck.

There was one moment when, after Ricky Watts had been up-ended on the halfway line, the Blues broke down the middle and shots by Follows, Borelli and Greg Walters came cannoning out in rapid succession.

But the most bizarre incident came in the 79th minute when a penalty was awarded after the industrious Carroll was hauled down in the area. Follows’ first spot kick was parried at foot of the left hand post, the penalty had to be re-taken because a Lido player had entered the box, and Follows’ second effort was dragged past the right hand post.

County: Wyn Walters; Ricky Watts, Antonio Facciuto (Sam Wilson, 82), Sam Rodon, Dale Griffiths, Sean Pemberton (Greg Walters, 65), Chris O’Sullivan (Jack Britton, 65), Declan Carroll, Luke Borelli, Jordan Follows,Nicky Palmer. Subs not used: Gwion Howell, Dan Evans (g/k).