Haverfordwest County 5 – Afan Lido 1
(JD Cymru South: Match Day 6)
Haverfordwest County returned to winning ways on Friday, 13th with an emphatic victory against Afan Lido under the Bridge Meadow lights. It was pleasing to see the return of Ben Fawcett and Marcus Griffiths who along with Jack Wilson will surely prove to be a potent strike force in the important months ahead. Both Sean Pemberton and Elliot Thomas sat this one out to recover from their recent knocks but they should both be back in contention for next Saturday
The Bluebirds started the game brightly and even created a couple of early chances before TOM DYSON opened the scoring with a sweetly struck 12 yard volley following Marcus Griffiths’s cross from the right which was met by a firm Fawcett header that had clattered off the crossbar. For Afan Lido, Bradley Fray fired a low show shot wide and Stephen Morris nodded just past the post at a corner as Lido tried to get back on level terms.
However Lido’s Steve Cann, was the busier keeper and he pulled off a smart stop to deny Wilson’s shot cum cross from the right. Then it was stand-in skipper Ricky Watts, back to his very best, who assisted with his side’s second, when he brilliantly lobbed the advancing Cann from the edge of the box and MARCUS GRIFFITHS finished from close range to chalk up his seventh goal of the season.
On the stoke of half time the visitors pulled one back, Alex Gammond powerfully headed home from a well struck corner but I’m sure manager Wayne Jones would have had something to say at half time about the slack marking which allowed that to happen.
Afan Lido started the second half brightly and former Bluebird, Kaid Mohamed, went close when forcing a good save from Steve Hall. But the Blues were soon back in their stride and minutes later they had added their third. Fawcett made good ground down the right, his dangerous cross from the right fell kindly to KURTIS REES who drilled his shot into the far corner. This was Kurtis’ first league goal for the club and his all-round performance deservedly earned him “The HONEYHOME MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD”
Nicky Palmer replaced goal scorer Dyson on the hour mark and within five minutes they added goal number four. Watts’ long ball quickly turned defence into attack, Wilson controlled with his head and showed good composure as he struck a wicked volley into the back of the net. And on the stroke of full time Kurtis Rees’ intelligent ball out wide found Wilson whose pinpoint low cross fell to the player/coach, TIM HICKS, who swept home from inside the six-yard box.
Up next for Haverfordwest County is Cambrian & Clydach away on Saturday, 21st September and this will be a tough test for The Bluebirds.
Haverfordwest County: Steve Hall, Daniel Alfei (Tim Hicks 76), Jake Merry, Scott Tancock, Sam Rodon, Kurtis Rees, Tom Dyson (Nicky Palmer 60), Ricky Watts (Captain), Marcus Griffiths, Jack Wilson, Ben Fawcett (Harri Rowe 68).
Substitute not used: Kyle Stewart (g/k).