By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC kick-started their JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference campaign with a 3-2 win against Bala Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Saturday.

A brace from Dan Hawkins and a goal from Ben Ahmun saw the Bluebirds pick up their first win of Phase Two, while also creating an eight-point gap to fourth place Cardiff Metropolitan.

The Lakesiders took the lead through Osebi Abadaki, but Hawkins’ first of the afternoon ensured the score was level at half time.

The Town were much improved in the second half, and scored two quick goals after the hour mark courtesy of Hawkins and Ahmun.

The visitors pulled a goal back through Aeron Edwards with ten minutes remaining, but they were then reduced to 10 men six minutes later with captain Nathan Peate being given his marching orders.

County are back in action next Saturday, February 1, when we take on Penybont at SDM Glass Stadium in front of the live Sgorio cameras (12:15).

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made three changes from the final match of Phase One against Barry Town United last week, with Kyle McCarthy, Corey Shephard and Ben Fawcett all coming back into the side. Captain Dylan Rees missed out as a precaution, with Shephard taking the armband for the afternoon. It was also a special occasion for defender Lee Jenkins, who made his 100^th appearance in a Bluebirds shirt.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, J. Owen (Humphreys 81′), Jenkins, Tabone, McCarthy, Abbruzzese, Shephard (C), Walters, Hawkins (Watts 81’), Fawcett, Ahmun (O. Jones 75’)

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

First half

The Bluebirds started well and enjoyed most of the early possession while also creating the first chance of the match through Rhys Abbruzzese, who tried his luck from distance but could not keep his rising shot under the crossbar.

A fast counter-attack from the Town nearly saw them take the lead just after the 20 minute mark with Fawcett winning the ball high up the pitch before playing through captain Shephard, but his effort took a touch off a Bala defender and drifted agonisingly wide of the right post.

The hosts continued to push for the first goal of the match and continued to threaten the Bala goal, with Jacob Owen using his long throw to deliver the ball into the box and, after a couple of bounces, it landed at Fawcett’s head but he was unable to get a strong enough connection to divert his effort on target.

The Lakesiders took the lead after half an hour with winger Louis Robles driving down the left-hand side and delivering a ball to the far post, which was met by Abadaki to put the visitors in front.

Haverfordwest County had a chance to respond almost instantly when a deep ball was delivered into the box by McCarthy and met by Luke Tabone, who tapped the ball down to Walters, with his strike taking a deflection straight into the grateful arms of Joel Torrance.

Torrance was called into action once again with the Bluebirds winning the ball high up the pitch through Ahmun, who released a pinpoint cross to Fawcett’s head but his effort was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

The Bluebirds eventually made the most of their attacking threat just before half-time when an Abbruzzese corner was delivered into the box and brought down by Ahmun, with Hawkins first to react to the loose ball and directing his effort past Torrance to level the game.

Second half

Pennock’s side quickly came out of the blocks after the restart and created the first chance of the second half when a direct ball to Ahmun saw the forward lay the it down to Owen, who drove into the box and released a curling left footed effort which went wide of the post.

Chances continued to fall for the Bluebirds, with Fawcett having another effort at goal but his unfortunately slip when striking the ball caused his shot to go high over the bar.

Eddie Clarke challenged Zac Jones for the first time soon after, with his free-kick from distance lifting over the crossbar.

The Lakesiders enjoyed a spell of possession without creating any clear-cut chances, which the Bluebirds dealt with well defensively and even had a chance of their own to take the lead through Fawcett when he headed straight at Torrance.

County finally took the lead just after the hour mark when Abburuzzese went on a trademark marauding run and delivered a low cross across the area which took a touch off Ahmun and fell to Hawkins just outside of the box, with the forward taking a touch and drilling his effort low into the bottom left-hand corner for his second goal of the match.

Haverfordwest County were full of confidence at this stage, and they were able to make the most of this five minutes later when a long ball was missed by the Bala defence and collected by forward Ahmun, who advanced inside the area before keeping his composure and slotting past Torrance to double the Town’s lead.

Bala ensured a nervy ending for the 503 in attendance when Edwards found the net from close range, but the Lakesiders lost captain Peate six minutes later when the defender was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Walters in midfield.

Jenkins came close to celebrating his 100th appearance with a goal late on when a free-kick into the area fell to the feet of the defender, but his shot just cleared the bar as the Bluebirds negotiated the four additional minutes successfully to open their account in the Championship Conference at the first time of asking.

Highlights

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