By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC continued their 100% record since returning to the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cardiff Metropolitan.

A late goal from substitute Ben Fawcett saw the Bluebirds pick up their second win of Phase Two, increasing the gap to the fourth place Archers to ten points and closing the gap to second place Penybont to third points in the process.

Following a relatively low-key first half, the Blues took firm control after the break and were worthy winners in front of a fantastic crowd of 1,127, our second-highest home attendance of the season to date.

County defended resolutely once more, limiting the Students to just two shots all night as we kept a 14th clean sheet in the league this term.

The result saw the Town move on to 48 points, as we beat our previous club-record tally in a 12-team JD Cymru Premier season of 46 with six matches still left to play in the regular season.

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made three changes from the draw at Caernarfon Town a fortnight ago, with Ricky Watts, Dan Hawkins and Owain Jones coming in for Greg Walters (suspension), Ben Ahmun (suspension) and Fawcett. On the bench, there was a place for Academy product Luc Owen, who joined brother Jacob in a matchday squad for the first time in the league this season.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, Humphreys (J. Owen 68′), Jenkins, Tabone, McCarthy, Abbruzzese, Rees (C), Shephard, Watts (Kenniford 76′), Hawkins (Fawcett 45′), O. Jones (D. John 90+1′)

Substitutes not used: Knott, H. John, L. Owen

First half

The Bluebirds started the match well with the first chance of the game falling to Ricky Watts with 17 minutes on the clock after Dan Hawkins played a precise ball into the midfielder’s feet, but his effort was struck just wide of the right post.

The away side slowly grew into the game, winning a free-kick around 25 yards out which was taken by Jack Veale who could not trouble Zac Jones with his effort flying over the bar.

As well as looking his dominant self in defence, Lee Jenkins was also a threat going forward throughout the half as he struck an effort over the bar after creating space on the edge of the box.

The defender went close once again not long after when a Rhys Abbruzzese set-piece found the head of the 23-year-old, but could not divert his header on target.

The best chance of the half fell to Iori Humphreys after a good passing move between the Bluebirds midfield saw Watts play the ball into the defender who drove into the box, but his effort was denied by Kelland Absalom who got down well to make the save.

The Archers went up the other end immediately after as Sam Jones creating an opportunity to shoot, with his attempt well blocked by Luke Tabone who threw his body at the ball.

Second half

The Town continued their bright first half performance going into the second half and created a chance early on with a set-piece finding Owain Jones, whose effort was blocked by the Archers defence, but it only fell as far as substitute Fawcett who tried to find a Bluebirds shirt at the back post but no-one could connect with his cross.

Another dangerous corner was delivered into the box when the second phase saw a scurry in the Met area, with the ball falling to Tabone whose header was straight at Absalom.

The deadlock was finally broken with just over 20 minutes remaining when an accurate pass upfield from Tabone was cushioned into the path of Fawcett by the head of captain Dylan Rees, and the striker controlled the ball well before firing past Absalom from close range to send the Bluebirds supporters wild.

The forward grew in confidence after his goal and soon after he produced an audacious chip from distance, but the effort was too powerful and did not cause any threat to Absalom’s goal.

The Archers had a presentable chance to equalise through a free-kick late on when a dangerous ball into the box was met by the head of Joel Edwards, but his glancing effort on goal was gathered by Jones who reacted well to deny the defender from close range.

Having replaced Owain Jones in stoppage time, striker Dan John almost made an immediate impact off the bench when a quick Haverfordwest County counter-attack saw the forward race past the Met defence to create a one-on-one opportunity with Absalom, but the goalkeeper stood strong to deny the forward his second senior goal in a Bluebirds shirt.

Highlights