Welsh League, Division One

Taff’s Well 0

Haverfordwest County 1

A really good goal from Ben Fawcett gave the Blues a deserved win in a game which was always a little more than simply an end-of-season encounter.

With the Wellmen having some good young players in their ranks, the first half, which ended goalless, nevertheless offered a better quality game of football than a few of the Bluebirds’ recent matches. County played three runners up front, with a back four and midfield tucked in ahead of Kyle Stuart, aiming to let Ricky Watts break from deep positions.

Taff’s Well had two experienced strikers in Richard French and ex-Bluebird Jason Bertorelli but Sean Pemberton and Tim Hicks contained them so well that Stuart was rarely tested.  

Steff Williams had a goal disallowed after just 5 minutes, and nearest the Blues came to a first half goal, and it was very close, was when a Taff’s Well full back had to hook a scorching Pemberton header off the goal-line.

The winning goal came in the 55th minute when Elliot Thomas played a neat ball over the top and into the corner of the area where Fawcett was able to angle his shot beautifully over the keeper. From there, the Blues were able to keep the ascendancy, with full backs Jake Merry and Harri Rowe in particular playing well.

In the dying minutes Wayne Jones was able to give a break to his three energetic strikers and give spells of action to the versatile Fraser Finlay and to two 16-year-old debutants Seamus Drake and Max Howells.

The sides meet again on the Conygar Bridge Meadow next Tuesday, 23rd April. Fans are asked to note the 8.00 kick-off time.  

Haverfordwest County: Kyle Stuart; Jake Merry, Harri Rowe, Sean Pemberton, Tim Hicks, Ricky Watts, Nicky Palmer, Elliot Thomas, Ben Fawcett (Seamus Drake, 80), Jack Wilson (Max Howells, 80), Steffan Williams (Fraser Finlay, 70).