By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC suffered their first home defeat since returning to the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium after losing 2-1 to Penybont on Friday evening.

The Bluebirds took the lead early on in the match when Ben Ahmun netted his 10th goal of the season, however the visitors equalised shortly after when Owen Pritchard’s effort from distance found the net.

County had a couple of chances to take the lead once again during the first half, but were unable to find the final touch to cause any real threat to Przybek’s goal.

The second half was a much more attritional and hard-fought affair, but the away side managed to find the vital goal with 20 minutes to play through James Crole, whose close-range header proved decisive in a game the Bluebirds deserved to take more from.

The result means the Town remain third, with Penybont extending the gap to second place to nine points with three games remaining. Haverfordwest County can guarantee a third place finish with victory over Caernarfon Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow next Saturday.

Team news

Tony Pennock made one change from last week’s draw at Bala Town, with Kyle Kenniford coming into the side in place of Lee Jenkins, who picked up a one-game suspension having received his fifth yellow card of the season. Dan Hawkins returned to the matchday squad having not featured since picking up a knock in the victory over Cardiff Metropolitan last month.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, Abbruzzese, Rees (C), Shephard, McCarthy, Walters (D. John 81’), Kenniford, O. Jones (Hawkins 63’), J. Owen, Tabone (Humphreys 27’), Ahmun

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

First half

The Bluebirds started strongly and created an opening inside the first minute when Owain Jones raced down the left side before delivering a dangerous ball across goal which just evaded Greg Walters.

The home side continued their bright early spell with the first shot falling to forward Ahmun, who won the ball high up from the Bont defence before releasing a low shot into the hands of Adam Przybek.

The away side struggled to settle during the early stages of the game, giving the ball away cheaply on a number of occasions, with Ahmun picking up a stray pass before the ball found Kyle Kenniford on the edge of the box whose effort scurried wide of the post.

The Bluebirds made their strong start count in the 20^th minute after the second phase of a corner saw Rhys Abbruzzese whip a fantastic back into the area and onto the head of Ahmun, who guided his effort past Przybek to open the scoring.

The lead lasted only three minutes though as the ball fell to Pritchard just outside of the box following a corner, with the midfielder releasing a powerful strike past a number of bodies and finally Zac Jones to level the score.

A quick move not long after saw Jacob Owen deliver a deep ball into the box which took a deflection and grazed the crossbar on its way over.

The Bluebirds looked dangerous on both flanks, with Abruzzese delivering another threatening ball across goal which was unable to find a blue body to direct it towards Przybek’s goal.

Abruzzese continued to threaten during the latter stages of the half, delivering yet another pin-point ball to Owain Jones which gave the forward a chance to head across goal into the six-yard area, but defender Ben Morgan reacted just in time to direct the ball over the bar.

Second half

The second period started slowly with neither team quite threatening either goal, however the first chance of the half did fall to the Bluebirds just after the hour mark after a loose ball following a Jacob Owen shot found Kenniford in the box, but his toe-poke dribbled narrowly wide of the left post.

The away side took the lead with 21 minutes to go after a set-piece saw captain Kane Owen deliver the ball into Morgan who put in a deep cross to Crole, and the striker was able to convert at the back post to give Bont the lead for the first time in the match.

The Bluebirds looked for an equaliser and came close through Abruzzese, with the full-back finding the ball inside the area before drilling a low effort into the side-netting.

A final chance fell to substitute to Dan John in added time when a set-piece found the young forward, but his header fell straight into the hands of Pryzbek.

Highlights

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