Dafabet Welsh Premier

Carmarthen Town 4

Haverfordwest County 1

THIS game for the Bluebirds was a string of misfortunes, from mistakes at the back, a penalty and a red card, through to an injury to a key player which saw them struggling for ten minutes with only nine men on the pitch, writes Robert Nisbet.

The opening exchanges were brisk, scrappy and quite exciting, with no clear edge to either side. Between the 10th and the 15th minute the Bluebirds forced two corners, each of which was beautifully curled in by Kieran Howard to the six-yard line at the far post but each of which was plucked down with complete assurance by Old Gold keeper Lee Idzi.

Two parallel raids, in the 27th and 35th minutes, saw Scott James unable to attack the ball in with the same certainty, allowing Carmarthen attackers Mark Jones and Liam Thomas to pounce and give the Old Gold a 2-nil lead. The Blues had to weather further attacking until half-time but were able to hold the lead to two before going in to re-group.

Wayne Jones started the second half with two substitutions, and the introduction of Jack Christopher made an immediate impact. Within a minute he had nodded a ball on to Steffan Williams whose cross just evaded Luke Borrelli. Then in the 50th minute the Blues pulled a goal back when Howard’s ball in was driven home by Sean Pemberton.

It really did look at this point that the re-shuffled Bluebirds might really get a good result from the game, but three minutes later came the body-blow which pretty well settled the match. Ricky Watts was adjudged to have handled in the area and the Blues conceded a penalty and a red card. Thomas thumped in an emphatic penalty and the Blues were 3-1 down and with ten men.

There was worse to follow, when Christopher went down after an aerial collision and had to leave the field. It was hoped that he might resume and the Blues played with nine men for 10 minutes before Spencer Williams took over.

Carmarthen‘s fourth goal, in the 69th minute, came when Jones beat James to a simple ball in from the right. But before and after that goal we saw some dangerous Blues’ attacks. Idzi made a superb save from a Borrelli shot. Howard sent in a superb 30-yard free kick, similar to his goal against Bangor, only for Idzi to turn it round the post brilliantly. Idzi pulled off an equally fine save from Declan Carroll, parrying a blistering low shot from inside the penalty area.

Wayne Jones was left to reflect on just a few credit points. There was another dogged defensive shift from Pemberton and Sam Rodon, some exhilarating second-half runs by Carroll, some determined running up front from Borrelli, having to go it alone in the later stages, and another powerful grafting display by Greg Walters. But otherwise it was an evening when very little went right.

Last night (Tuesday) the Blues were away to he New Saints in the Word Cup. This Saturday, Haverfordwest County are home against Bala Town, kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: 1. Scott James, 2. Ricky Watts, 3. Ryan Batley, 4. Sean Pemberton, 6. Sam Rodon, 7. Luke Borrelli, 8. Greg Walters, 9. Jordan Follows (17. Jack Christopher 46' [20. Spencer Williams 66']), 11. Steffan Williams, 14. Kieran Howard, 15. John Roberts (10. Declan Carroll 46') .