By James Dow

10-man Haverfordwest County AFC were narrowly defeated 1-0 by JD Cymru Premier leaders Penybont at SDM Glass Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Bluebirds performed well throughout and had the ball in the back of the net on two occasions, however both goals were ruled out either side of Mael Davies’ strike less than two minutes into the second half, which ultimately proved to be the difference in a game of fine margins.

The Town’s task was made more challenging when defender Luke Tabone was shown a second yellow card, however Tony Pennock’s men continued to commit numbers forward and came close to drawing level on a couple of occasions.

The result means the Bluebirds remain in third place on 30 points, with four games left of our Phase One campaign. Next up for County is a meeting with Briton Ferry Llansawel at LHP Stadium on Friday evening, which will be our penultimate game in Carmarthen before returning home to the Ogi Bridge Meadow on New Year’s Day.

Team news

Pennock made one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Bala Town 10 days prior, with Corey Shephard returning to the side in place of Ricky Watts.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, J. Owen, Jenkins, Tabone, A. Jones (Abbruzzese 69′), McCarthy, Rees (C, Watts 58′), Shephard (Kenniford 69′), Hawkins, Fawcett (O. Jones 69′), Ahmun

Substitutes not used: Knott, H. John, D. John

First half

The Bluebirds started strongly, with the first chance falling to captain Dylan Rees, who won the ball high up the pitch, with his effort going straight into the gloves of Adam Przybek.

County continued their bright start to the game, with the ball falling to Shephard just outside the box following a throw, but his first-time left-footed effort flew wide of the left post.

The Bluebirds continued to create chances with a free-kick into the area from Kyle McCarthy being met by the head of Tabone, who saw the ball fly agonisingly wide of the left post.

The first chance for the hosts came 10 minutes before half time when captain Kane Owen made his way into the box and unleashed a powerful effort from the left-hand side which hit the side netting.

Haverfordwest County thought they had taken the lead just before half time when a fantastic strike from forward Ben Ahmun from just inside the area flew into the top right-hand corner of the net, however the linesman on the near side waved his flag to signal a foul on former English Football League man Nathan Wood in the build-up.

Second half

The Bluebirds made the worst possible start to the second half as Owen’s corner landed at the feet of Davies, who shot first time through a number of bodies to beat the unsighted Zac Jones and make it 1-0.

Some quick link up play between Chris Venables and James Crole saw the latter play through midfielder Lewis Harling into the six-yard box, but Jones was there to meet him and produced a great save with his knee to maintain the one-goal deficit between the sides.

The Bluebirds had to push forward at this stage, leaving space at the back for the hosts to counter, with Venables playing Wood through on goal, but the ex-Newport County man shot straight at Jones.

The Town were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Tabone received his second yellow card of the evening for a challenge on Crole.

Lee Jenkins thought he had equalised for County not long after, but for a second time the Bluebirds were left disappointed as the linesman raised his flag to signal offside, deeming the ball to have hit Owain Jones on the goal line.

Owain Jones saw his curling effort from just outside the area fly narrowly wide of the right post as Haverfordwest County continued to chase an equaliser, however it proved to be elusive as the hosts used their experience and the benefit of an extra time to hang on for the victory and leave the Bluebirds pondering what might have been.

Highlights

Reaction