- Hawkins (39')
By James Dow
Haverfordwest County AFC celebrated their eagerly-anticipated return to the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium with a 1-0 win over Aberystwyth Town on New Year’s Day, while also welcoming the highest JD Cymru Premier crowd of the season to date.
Dan Hawkins’ goal late in the first half was enough to earn the Bluebirds their 10th league win of the season, confirming their place in the top six for Phase Two of the JD Cymru Premier campaign for the first time since the top-flight restructured in 2010.
The Bluebirds were on top for the vast majority of the contest on a historic day in Haverfordwest, as we kept our 12th clean sheet in 20 league outings so far this term.
The result ensures County will finish Phase One in third place, with two more games at home to Briton Ferry Llansawel and away to Barry Town United to come before the split.
Team news
Tony Pennock stuck with the same side that defeated Newtown 2-0 on Boxing Day, with Dan Hawkins making his 50th league appearance for the Bluebirds while Luke Tabone returned to the bench after serving his suspension.
Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, Abbruzzese, Rees (C, Walters 83’), Jenkins, Shephard, Fawcett, Hawkins (Ahmun 72’), A. Jones, McCarthy, Kenniford (H. John 72’), J. Owen
Substitutes not used: Knott, Watts, D. John, Tabone
First half
The Bluebirds almost made the perfect start with only three minutes on the clock when Jacob Owen drove into the box and played a ball from the byline across the area to Kyle Kenniford, whose first-time effort was pushed around the left post by Dave Jones.
Owen had a chance himself soon after, receiving the ball from 25 yards before seeing his well struck effort rise over the crossbar.
With the Town having started brightly, Corey Shephard was next to try an effort on goal when he beat his man before unleashing a low, driven shot from just outside the box which went narrowly wide of the post.
Owen was getting forward down the right flank with regularity in the first half, and the youngster put an inviting ball into the box which was met by Ben Fawcett, with the forward’s header well saved by Jones who reacted sharply to turn the ball over the post from close range.
The Seasiders had their first effort of the game on the half hour mark, with Calum Huxley putting his effort well over the bar from 15 yards out.
Pennock’s men were able to make their dominance count as they opened the scoring just before half time, as Shephard’s free-kick from 25 yards rattled the crossbar with the rebound falling to Hawkins, who reacted quickest to head home from close range.
Some neat build up saw County carve open another opportunity when a fine passing display finished with Kenniford launching an effort from range over the bar.
Second half
The Bluebirds almost made the perfect start to the half with Hawkins nearly adding his second of the game when he met Shephard’s cross at the back post, but his header was straight at Jones.
Fawcett had another chance to double the hosts’ lead 10 minutes later when he beat his man inside the penalty area and released a low shot which was blocked by the Seasiders for a corner.
The forward went close again soon after, with Alaric Jones producing a pinpoint cross onto the head of Fawcett, but his effort drifted wide of the post.
The Black and Greens came on strong in the final 20 minutes, with Louis Bradford glancing a header wide from a corner, and then with two minutes of normal time remaining Rhys Abbruzzese produced a vital intervention when a ball to the far post was waiting to be headed home by an Aber player, but the wing-back got his head in the right place to divert it away to safety as Haverfordwest County negotiated the four minutes of stoppage time to ensure their Ogi Bridge Meadow homecoming was a successful one.
Attendance: 1846
