- Hawkins (45+1')
- Taylor-Crossdale (58')
Manager Tony Pennock was pleased to see his Haverfordwest County team record our first victory of Phase Two after the Bluebirds saw off 10-man Aberystwyth Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow on Friday evening.
Goals from Dan Hawkins and Martell Taylor-Crossdale either side of the half time interval earned County all three points under the lights, ensuring we remain top of the Playoff Conference for another week.
The Seasiders played almost an hour with a man less after goalkeeper Oliver Basey was given his marching orders for bringing down Taylor-Crossdale inside the area, with the striker set to break free and face an empty net, and the Town took full advantage to send the impressive crowd of 568 home happy.
Here’s what Tony had to say in full after the game:
On the result
“We’ve been searching for that first win of Phase Two, and thankfully it’s come this evening. It’s a clean sheet, a couple of goals and overall a good performance, which is always tough against 10 men.”
On the performance
“I was pleased with the way we started. We know Aberystwyth are a threat on set-pieces, and they were in that period as well. But in general play, I thought we were controlling the game and we did look at threat. It was a great ball through for Martell and the keeper has brought him down. Unfortunately we missed the penalty, but that happens. However, we got the goal just before half time, which was important for us.”
On the energy and purpose we showed from the start
“The lads have been great in training. They’re as fit as they’re ever going to be now. It’s just little parts of our game we need to be better at. We’ve kept another clean sheet, so that’s two in three games for us. We haven’t been conceding many goals. We stay in games and it was important tonight that we got that first win.”
On Dan’s goal
“I thought Abu was excellent tonight. He’s in the Cymru C squad and he showed how good he is this evening. It was a good ball in and Dan’s got himself on the end of it and looped it over the keeper. Like I say, that first goal was all-important on the stroke of half time. It certainly helped things settle down.”
On Martell’s goal
“It’s always tough when you miss a penalty. Nobody means to miss chances. On another day, Martell walks away with the match ball tonight. But he kept going, got his goal, which he thoroughly deserved. It was a big goal, the second one, because that’s just probably killed the game off then.”
On Aber
“If there’s one thing about Aberystwyth, you know for a fact they’re never going to give up. They’ve got a group of players who dig in for each other, and they did that when they were down to 10 men. They’re a threat because they’ve got pace in behind, and they’ve got willing runners, so it was pleasing to get the second goal because that just knocked them a bit then, and from then on we pretty much controlled the game.”
On handing Declan his return after a few years away
“Wattsy has been carrying an injury on and off throughout the season, the same injury, and he had a knock on that this evening. So it was a great opportunity to give Ricky a rest, now we don’t play for two weeks, and give Declan the opportunity to get on the pitch. Declan’s been working hard to get back to fitness. It’s been a few years since he’s played at this level, but he’s shown his quality in training and he’s been frustrated that he picked up an injury just before the start of Phase Two. So I was pleased with Declan, a local lad who played for the club for many years.”
On Fletcher’s debut and the pathway continuing to bear fruit
“Fletcher has been training with us for some time now. He trains with us once a week with the Development lads. He’s scored plenty of goals and he’s shown an attitude and application in training, and in matches, that warranted him getting his chance this evening.
“If you look at the bench tonight, and how many local boys and academy boys are involved in the squad, it’s important as it shows that anybody who’s in our academy and does well has got an opportunity to come and play for the first team – and Fletcher’s another one who was made his debut tonight. He’s not the first this season, there’s been several of those, and I’m pleased for Fletcher, pleased for him to finally get his opportunity and get on the pitch.”
On the next challenge
“Pontypridd are a very good side. They’ve got a great squad. I know they’ve lost a few players at the end of Phase One, but when they’ve got their strongest 11 on the pitch, they’re a threat for anybody. I’ve watched them a couple of times. Obviously we drew here against them at the start of Phase One and Two, and we know how tough a game it is at Pontypridd.
“We haven’t had much fortune there since I’ve been at the club. I know that’s got to turn sometime, hopefully that’s a week Friday, but we’ll work hard between now and then and get ourselves prepared for another tough game.”
