Dafabet Welsh Premier

Bala Town 3

Haverfordwest County 2

There is little disgrace in a single-goal defeat when playing away to the league’s second-placed side, but, having led 2-0, with cracking goals from Kieran Howard and Greg Walters, the Bluebirds ended with a real sense of disappointment.

From the start of the game, played at the Airbus UK ground at Broughton because Bala’s pitch was waterlogged, the Blues were having to defend against a very good Bala side, but the work-rate of the back four and the rest of the team was exceptional, with Dale Griffiths having a particularly good game. At the same time, the Bluebirds looked dangerous when they broke.

The Blues went into the lead in the 19th minute and once again livewire striker Luke Borrelli was at the heart of the action. His run to the by-line took him round the Bala defence, his cross to the 6-yard line was only half-cleared and Howard shot in from the edge of the box.

Borrelli continued to be a danger, and there was a real buzz when he lined up a free kick in about the position from which he scored the winner against Aberystwyth. This time keeper Ashley Morris saved low down and Greg Walters’ shot from the rebound crashed against the post.

In the 40th minute Borrelli went on another fine run but this time his cross whistled across the face of the goal with no-one able to get the touch. A one-nil lead to the Bluebirds at half-time.

That situation was good enough but there was real drama to follow, just 30 seconds into the second half, when Walters picked up a ball 10 yards inside the Bala half and went on a powerful run which ended with his angling the keeper and cracking in for a superb solo effort.

This prompted a strong rally from Bala and, after Stu Jones had shot against a post following a corner, Mike Hayes pulled back a good goal in the 53rd minute.

Bala now came pouring forward with the wind behind them, but there was an element of fortune about the two goals they scored in the 75th and 79th minutes. In the 75th, the Blues thought that Walters had put Borrelli in with a sharp through pass but the referee’s assistant adjudged him offside and when the resultant free kick was pumped into the Blues’ box Sam Rodon was forced into an own-goal.

In the last fifteen minutes there were promising performances by new signings Kristian Speake and Tom Wellington, but then came goal number three. It was described by Bala’s own press team as a lucky one, as Ian Sheridan’s shot hit the bar, cannoned down into Craig Morris’ back and trickled over the line.

A big disappointment then but there must still be the real consolation that, apart from defending well yet again, the Blues, for the second game in succession, scored two goals in open play. They will be a handful for any team when the league moves to its conference stage in a fortnight’s time.

This Saturday, Haverfordwest County travel to play Bangor City, with a 5.15pm kick-off.

Haverfordwest County: Craig Morris, Ricky Watts, Spencer Williams, Sam Rodon, Dale Griffiths, Sean Pemberton, Greg Walters, Kieran Howard (Tom Wellington, 75), Nicky Palmer, Luke Borrelli (Steffan Williams, 75), Jordan Follows (Kristian Speake, 60). Sub not used: Alex Connell (g/k).