- Humphreys (52')
- Jenkins (33')
- Jones (58')
Haverfordwest County AFC produced a professional display to defeat 10-man Newtown 3-0 at LHP Stadium on Friday evening, as the Bluebirds continued their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 JD Cymru Premier season.
The Town started the contest quite slowly, but they were able to work their way into the contest and took a deserved lead through Lee Jenkins, who celebrated his birthday with a goal.
The Robins lost Zeli Ismael in first half stoppage time when the forward was shown a second yellow card, and County took complete control of the contest from this point on.
Iori Humphreys netted his first goal of the season early in the second half, before Owain Jones finished off an incisive team move to round off the scoring in Carmarthen.
The result lifted the Bluebirds to the top of the JD Cymru Premier standings, although we have played a game more than the sides around us.
Team news
Manager Tony Pennock made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Cardiff Metropolitan on Bank Holiday Monday, with Ricky Watts and Owain Jones coming into the XI. For Jones, this was his first league start for the Bluebirds, while Kyle Kenniford was added to the squad.
Haverfordwest County: Z. Jones, Humphreys (Hawkins 61′, H. John 79′), Jenkins, Tabone, McCarthy (A. Jones 72′), J. Owen, Shephard (C), Walters, Watts (Kenniford 61′), O. Jones (Fawcett 61′), Ahmun
Substitutes not used: Knott, D. John
First half
Although Haverfordwest County had been a bit sloppy in possession in the opening exchanges, they were still able to fashion the first effort on goal of the evening when a ball upfield played Jones in, and the forward’s near-post effort was tipped over the bar by Alex Swindell.
A minute later, the visitors came agonisingly close to taking the lead in spectacular fashion when Ismael’s long-range effort looped over Zac Jones before coming back off the crossbar.
Having negotiated the opening 20 minutes or so while not being at their best, the Bluebirds began to grow in confidence and were starting to assert more control on the game. On the half-hour mark, Jenkins went on a trademark marauding run which saw him leave a couple of Newtown players in his wake before the defender delivered a pinpoint cross for Greg Walters, whose header was saved by Swindell to deny what would have been a wonderful team goal.
Having begun to crank up the pressure with a series of attacks which had earned a few corners, the Town took the lead just three minutes later when Jacob Owen’s corner found Jenkins at the far post, and the centre-back showed his strength to hold off at least three opposing players and force the ball in from close range for 1-0.
Pennock’s men had the Robins under the pump at this stage, and they created another dangerous moment five minutes later when Owen’s long throw into the area was cleared only as far as Humphreys, whose first-time effort was saved low down by Swindell, before Jones was denied on the follow-up by the Newtown stopper.
Having received a caution earlier on in the first half, Ismael knew he had to maintain his concentration for the remainder of the contest, however in the first of five minutes added on he caught Owen with his elbow while competing for an aerial ball, with referee Bryn Markham-Jones left with no other choice as he brandished a second yellow card and the Albanian’s evening was over.
From the resulting free-kick Zac Jones’ ball into the area was headed into a dangerous area by Jenkins, with the unmarked Ben Ahmun taking a touch before unleashing a powerful effort which crashed off the bar and away to safety.
Second half
Haverfordwest County were keen to make the numerical advantage tell on the scoreboard as soon as they could after the restart, and they came close to adding a second goal six minutes into the second half when captain Corey Shephard’s effort from 25 yards took a deflection and flew just wide of the left post.
Pennock’s men looked a threat from set-pieces all evening, and from the resulting corner they doubled their advantage when Robins defender Shane Sutton’s clearing header only went as far as Walters, who nodded it back into a dangerous area where Humphreys was waiting to direct it home, unmarked, from point-blank range to open his account for 2024-25.
The result was put beyond any doubt just five minutes later when Walters’ clever, defence-splitting pass from inside the centre circle played Watts in, and the midfielder selflessly squared a pass to the unmarked Jones who rolled the ball into an empty net to make it 3-0.
With the contest effectively over, Pennock made a triple substitution on the hour mark when he introduced Dan Hawkins and Ben Fawcett in place of goal scorers Humphreys and Jones, with Kenniford replacing Watts to make his competitive debut for Haverfordwest County AFC.
Hawkins had to be replaced 18 minutes later as a precautionary measure, with Harri John coming on in his place.
Keen to get in on the act after coming off the bench, Fawcett tried a low effort from just outside the area with 10 minutes remaining, but Swindell was able to make the save.
The competitive edge had long disappeared from the game, and the closing stages were played out at a sedate pace as the Town secured a third league victory of the season to date. Our focus now shifts to next Saturday’s meeting with The New Saints at LHP Stadium, which gets under way at 14:30.
Attendance: 361
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