Welsh League, Division One

Haverfordwest County 2

Briton Ferry Llansawel 0

FOR many stretches of the game this was another brisk Bluebirds performance and although they will feel they should have scored more, they might best look on this as another three points gained, with the win putting them back in second place, writes Robert Nisbet.

The first goal came in the fourth minute and once again it was the dead-ball skill of Kieran Howard which prompted it. His outswinging corner set up a sequence of bobbling headers in the box before the ball broke to Jordan Follows who scored with a fine overhead kick.

The Bluebirds continued through the first half to play some nice sharp passing football and came close on several occasions. One flowing move of at least twelve passes ended when Nicky Palmer’s cross went behind. Luke Borelli’s shot on the run went just wide and the same player went close again after being sent in by a fine long ball from Antonio Facciuto. In the final five minutes of the half the visitors were put under severe pressure by a sequence of two free kicks and two corners from Howard. One of the free kicks saw keeper Probert having to scramble to a ball at the foot of his post, and after one of the corners Probert had to tip over a rising shot from Follows.

The Bluebirds started the second half with quite a sluggish spell in which the passing game wasn’t clicking as it had in the first half. A yellow card for Sam Rodon for a poorly-judged tackle seemed to send them a wake-up call and from then on they began to get back to their earlier rhythm, with Nicky Palmer industrious at the heart of a busy midfield.

It indicates the Blues’ dominance that throughout the last half-hour, when you might expect a side chasing a one-goal deficit to be attacking, the visitors had to rely on the odd breakaway as the Blues pushed hard for the second goal. They re-oiled the attacking machine with appearances from Declan Carroll and Greg Walters and by giving the burly Steffan Davies a spell up front. Fittingly, it was Palmer who set up a clinching goal right at the end when he won a good ball 35 yards out and slipped it through to Borelli, whose crisp low shot was parried by Probert but slithered from his grasp and over the line.

The programme sponsors were The Western Telegraph. The ball sponsors were Howdens Joinery.

This Saturday’s home game against Ton Pentre has been postponed.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Antonio Facciuto, Sam Rodon, Dale Griffiths, Steffan Davies (James Hartson, 87), Kieran Howard; Nicky Palmer, Luke Borelli, Jordan Follows (Greg Walters, 75), Owen Thomas (Declan Carroll, 60).

Sub not used: Dan Evans (g/k).