By James Dow
We take a look back at a memorable fixture against Cardiff Metropolitan, ahead of our game at the Ogi Bridge Meadow this evening.
Prior to the match
The Bluebirds had made a slow start to their second season back in the JD Cymru Premier, with just one league win in seven and finding themselves in 11th place behind Cefn Druids. They travelled to Cyncoed Campus to face in-form Cardiff Metropolitan, who had won six of their last seven matches in all competitions.
A big result was needed from Wayne Jones’ team to kick-start their season and rise out of the relegation zone.
Team news
Haverfordwest County AFC: Wojciech Gajda, Jazz Richards, Elliot Scotcher, Ricky Watts, Ben Fawcett, Jack Wilson (Alaric Jones 90+2’), Dylan Rees (C), Alhagi Touray Sisay (Mason Jones-Thomas 89’), Kieran Lewis, Kyle Patten, Danny Williams (Kurtis Rees 84’)
Substitutes not used: Lee Idzi, Iori Humphreys
Match summary
The Bluebirds came flying out of the blocks early on, with Met goalkeeper Alex Lang forced into two big saves from Ben Fawcett and Alhagi Touray Sisay.
The home side grew into the game as the half went on, and tested goalkeeper Wojciech Gada for the first time through Eliot Evans, who released a powerful effort from range which was dealt with comfortably by the Pole.
The Bluebirds started the second half with the same high-tempo that they did in the first, and while creating chances early on in the half were unable to capitalise on their dominance with a goal.
Jack Wilson went close after creating space on the edge of the box but dragged his shot wide, and Touray Sisay broke through the Archers defence, leaving himself one-on-one with Lang but the forward could not generate enough power on the shot which was easily saved.
Cardiff Met, as they did in the first half, grew into the contest with central defender Emlyn Lewis heading wide from a set-piece and Liam Warman firing wide from close range.
The deadlock was broken with 20 minutes to go in the match through Fawcett, when Lang’s goal-kick was intercepted by Touray Sisay who headed the ball into the path of his strike partner and he took one touch to set himself up for a half volley which flew past Lang to open the scoring for the Bluebirds.
The game then became stretched with Cardiff Met looking for an equalising goal, which then presented counter-attacking opportunities for the Bluebirds which they exploited for their second goal through Kieran Lewis, with Touray Sisay and Fawcett linking up once again before the latter laid the ball off to the midfielder who fired home to claim all three points for the Bluebirds.
Where did the result leave the Bluebirds?
The result lifted Wayne Jones’ men out of the relegation zone and up to 10th place, leaving the Bluebirds on eight points from their first eight games.
Key player for the Bluebirds
Alhagi Touray Sisay joined the Bluebirds in 2021 after leaving National League side Grimsby Town. The forward spent one season at the Ogi Bridge Meadow, where he would go on to score 11 league goals in 27 appearances for the Bluebirds, while also registering five assists along the way.
Born in Barcelona, the forward started his career at Llagostera in his native country, before joining CF Santvicienti in 2018.
The Spaniard then made his first move abroad to England to join Ramsgate, where he would spend 18 months before having his first taste of Welsh football joining Cymru Premier side Aberystwyth Town in January 2020.
Touray Sisay only managed to make five league appearances for the Seasiders, but did manage to score four goals in that time and was able to help the side avoid relegation from the JD Cymru Premier.
The good performances in Wales saw the forward earn a move to League Two side Grimsby Town. He made two appearances in the first couple of months at the Mariners before going on loan to Cleethorpes Town for the remainder of the campaign.
The Spaniard then joined the Bluebirds in 2021 in hopes to gain more game time, where he would join Wayne Jones and his side for their second season in the JD Cymru Premier since being promoted.
After a strong season in west Wales, Touray Sisay was once again offered a chance to play in the EFL, this time at League One side Accrington Stanley where he made three league appearances during the 2022/23 season before moving back to Spain in 2023.
