Gap Connah’s Quay 2

Haverfordwest County 1

A two-goal deficit at half-time was a real dent to the Bluebirds’ morale but the way they took the game to the Nomads in the second half will have left then with at least some degree of confidence in approaching the many difficult games to come.

The Nomads, like the Bluebirds, went into the game with two defeats behind them, but had supplemented their squad on the day of the transfer deadline with ex-Wrexham and Colwyn Bay player Wes Baynes and with two players loaned by Wrexham, all of whom featured. The Blues opted for quite an attacking line-up which had fluent goalscorers in Jack Christopher, Jordan Follows and Luke Borelli.

But the first goal went to the Nomads when big Les Davies’s curling cross-cum-shot seemed to sneak through the guard of keeper Scott James. From then onwards the Nomads had rather the better of a scrappy first half but there seemed to be no real threat of a second goal until a mis-kick deep in the Blues defence, in the 41st minute, let in Ashley Ruane for a simple shot on goal.

That left the Blues apparently looking down the barrel of another 3 or 4-goal defeat, but in fact they came back for the second half in a much more positive manner. Within 10 minutes, they had pulled a goal back, with a score whose details will be familiar to Welsh Premier fans of 5 or 6 years ago, when Jack Christopher rose to meet a high cross and headed down into the bottom corner.

Thereafter they battled hard for an equalizer but the Nomads, besides defending resolutely, were always dangerous on the break, in a half which saw some brisk tackling. The Blues used Ryan Batley’s long throw to good effect but once the Nomads’ defence had read the threat they were able to keep keeper Danby covered.

So there was no way through for the Blues who had to settle at least for their first league goal and a degree of pride in their second half fight-back.

The Bluebirds were due to play away last night (Tuesday) at Penybont, in the first round of the Word Cup. They return to the Conygar Bridge Meadow on Saturday, September 12 to play MBi Llandudno.

Haverfordwest County: Scott James, Ricky Watts, Ryan Batley, Sean Pemberton, Dale Griffiths, Sam Rodon, Luke Borrelli, Greg Walters (Kieran Howard 46'), Jordan Follows, Declan Carroll (John Roberts 46'), Jack Christopher ( Liam Hutchinson 82'). Sub not used: Spencer Williams.