Haverfordwest County AFC were held to a 0-0 draw against Bala Town at a rain-soaked LHP Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Chances were few and far between for both sides during the 90 minutes, with the terrible weather conditions making it very challenging for either team to put consistent patterns of play together.
The result was enough to see County reach the 30-point mark, which is a record tally for a Haverfordwest County side in Phase One of a JD Cymru Premier season. There are still five games left to play before Phase Two.
The Town were again solid at the back, as we kept a 10th clean sheet in the league this term, with Tony Pennock’s men conceding just eight goals in our 17 league games to date.
The Bluebirds remain third in the table, two points clear of Cardiff Metropolitan in fourth, with the Town now having a nine-day break before we take on leaders Penybont at SDM Glass Stadium on Tuesday 3 December.
Team News
Manager Tony Pennock made six changes from last week’s JD Welsh Cup victory at Ammanford, with Zac Jones, Dylan Rees, Jacob Owen, Ben Fawcett and Ben Ahmun all coming into the side along with Luke Tabone, who returned from international duty with Malta.
Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, J. Owen, Jenkins, Tabone, A. Jones, McCarthy, Rees (C, Kenniford 77’), Watts, Hawkins, Fawcett, Ahmun (O. Jones 67’)
Substitutes not used: Knott, Humphreys, Abbruzzese, H. John, D. John.
First half
With the wind behind them in the first half the away side were able to pen the Bluebirds inside their own half in the early stages, without creating any significant chances.
Both teams needed time to get used to the difficult playing conditions, with the first real chance falling to Osebi Abadaki who took the ball into the Bluebirds’ box but shooting straight at Zac Jones.
It was a tough start for the Town, who were playing into the wind, however Dan Hawkins delivered a teasing ball into the area from a free-kick just before the half hour mark, but it somehow went through a host of bodies before going behind for a goal kick.
A great chance then fell to the Bluebirds in added time of the first half, with some nice link up play from Hawkins, Ben Ahmun and Ben Fawcett, with the latter driving forward but, once in the box, he was unable to generate enough power on the shot which was saved by Torrance.
Second half
Somehow, the conditions managed to deteriorate further after the break. The start of second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with limited openings for either side as the rain continued to pour down.
The Lakesiders tried to use the conditions to their advantage, putting in a lot of high balls into the box. Abadaki threatened for the visitors when his cross into the area looked as if it might pick out Aeron Edwards, however a great piece of defending from Jacob Owen ensured it came to nothing.
Abadaki was Bala’s main threat going forward, and he tried to catch Zac Jones out by producing an in-swinging cross which was heading for the top right-hand corner of the goal, but the New Zealander was able to turn the ball over the bar for a corner.
The last chance of the game fell to the Bluebirds in added time, when Fawcett received the ball on the turn but had to take his shot quickly, which rose well over the bar in what was the final kick of the game.
Highlights
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