Haverfordwest County AFC’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday afternoon as the Bluebirds were narrowly defeated 2-1 by champions The New Saints at Park Hall.

Ben Fawcett had given County the lead after 18 minutes, and the Town had further opportunities to extend their lead before Josh Pask equalised nine minutes before half time.

Ash Baker’s goal seven minutes after the restart proved to be decisive in a highly competitive affair in Oswestry, which saw the Bluebirds go toe-to-toe with a Saints side that recently became the first Welsh domestic team to win a league phase game in the UEFA Conference League.

Tony Pennock’s men caused plenty of problems with their speed on the counter and pace in behind, but were ultimately left to rue not fully capitalising on their good play and the manner of the goals we conceded.

The result means the Bluebirds stay third in the table with six games left to play in Phase One of the JD Cymru Premier, with our focus now switching to Saturday’s JD Welsh Cup third round meeting with Ammanford at the Recreation Ground, a tie which will be shown live on S4C.

Team news

Tony Pennock made two changes to the side that defeated Flint Town United 4-1 on MD15, as Jacob Owen – who was rested for the meeting with the Silkmen – returned to the side in place of Dan Hawkins, while Fawcett came in for Owain Jones, who didn’t travel to Oswestry as a precaution.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, J. Owen, Jenkins, Tabone (H. John 83′), A. Jones (Watts 76′), McCarthy, Rees (C, Kenniford 76′), Shephard, Walters (Hawkins 76′), O. Jones, Ahmun

Substitutes not used: Knott, Humphreys

First half

It was the hosts who started the brighter as they created a couple of good early opportunities. After Ryan Brobbel had seen his effort from just outside the area comfortably gathered by Zac Jones, the Kiwi stopper produced an excellent diving save to push Jordan Williams’ shot around the post. From the resulting corner, an unmarked Josh Daniels headed wide at the back post.

The Saints created another opening with 10 minutes on the clock when a through ball from captain Danny Redmond played Declan McManus in, but the striker’s shot went just wide of the right post from a presentable position.

Having soaked up the early pressure, the Bluebirds were beginning to grow in confidence, as their approach to pressing the hosts high up the pitch started to pay dividends. And with 18 minutes played, the Town went in front as a ball down the right channel from Greg Walters freed fellow midfielder Corey Shephard who played a pinpoint ball into the area which picked out Fawcett, and the striker made no mistake as he fired past Connor Roberts to make it 1-0.

Just a minute later, Fawcett had a great opportunity to find the net for a second time as the hosts failed to deal with a ball upfield which resulted in the forward breaking free and advancing one-on-one with Connor Roberts, who produced an excellent save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

The Bluebirds were well on top at this stage of the first half, and they created another brilliant chance just moments later when Ben Ahmun wrong footed Pask before breaking into the area and squaring to Fawcett, who saw his goalbound effort blocked by the head of Ben Clark as the Saints eventually cleared their lines.

Craig Harrison’s side drew themselves level nine minutes before the interval when Brobbel’s free-kick into the area found Pask unmarked, and the defender prodded the ball home from close range for 1-1.

Second half

After Fawcett had seen his effort from 25 yards clear the bar two minutes into the second half, the Bluebirds fell behind with 52 minutes on the clock when Daniels broke down the right and put a cross into the area which was met by the head of Baker, who powered the ball in from point-blank range to make it 2-1.

County showed the sort of resilience that has been a hallmark of their strong start to the season to ensure they stayed in the contest against the champions, and just after the hour mark Walters saw his effort from the edge of the area fly over the bar.

Pennock made a triple substitution with just under quarter of an hour remaining, as Ricky Watts, Kyle Kenniford and Dan Hawkins were introduced in place of Dylan Rees, Walters and Alaric Jones.

After an action-packed hour or so in Oswestry, the pace of the game understandably died down somewhat in the final 20 minutes or so, with clear-cut chances few and far between for either side. That said, there was a bright moment when Ahmun broke into the area and latched onto a loose ball, but the striker’s effort from a difficult angle went wide of the right post.

Harri John came on for Luke Tabone with seven minutes of normal time remaining, as the defender now heads off on international duty with Malta, who play Liechtenstein in a friendly on Thursday before taking on Andorra in the UEFA Nations League next Tuesday.

Having battled to keep themselves very much in the contest, the Town knew the potential was always there for a late equaliser, and they came close to finding one when a long throw into the area from Owen briefly caused a problem for TNS, who couldn’t clear their lines, but the ball wouldn’t fall kindly enough to allow a Bluebirds player to direct it goalwards from close range.

(Featured image: Andrew Donnison/F28.Online)

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