Haaverfordwest County AFC’s record-breaking 2024-25 JD Cymru Premier regular season drew to a close with a 3-1 defeat to champions The New Saints at the Ogi Bridge Meadow on Saturday.

Having turned in a very positive first-half display, which could have seen County take a lead into the break on another day, the visitors altered their shape at half time and hit their straps after the restart to take control of the contest.

Goals in the second half from Adam Wilson, Zack Clarke and Ryan Brobbel saw the Bluebirds taste defeat for just the second time since returning home on New Year’s Day.

The Town were able to find a deserved consolation goal through Dan Hawkins with one minute of normal time remaining, giving the 672 supporters in attendance something to cheer about.

Haverfordwest County now have to play a waiting game to discover our opponents in the end-of-season European play-offs, with the outcome of the JD Welsh Cup final between The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads set to determine whether we host a home semi-final or advance straight through to the final.

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Cardiff Metropolitan last Friday, with goalkeeper Ifan Knott coming in for his first league start of the season, while Jacob Owen and Ben Ahmun also returned to the starting XI.

Academy products Owain Davies, Will Hughes and Luc Owen were also named on a youthful Bluebirds bench.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Knott, J. Owen, Jenkins, Rees, McCarthy (Davies 89’), Abbruzzese, Walters (L. Owen 89’), Kenniford (Watts 83’), Hawkins, O. Jones (H. John 74’), Ahmun (D. John 89’)

Substitutes not used: Z. Jones, Hughes

First half

It was the Bluebirds who created the first opening of the contest inside the first minute when a teasing ball into the area by Rhys Abbruzzese was met by the head of Ahmun, but his effort was glanced wide of the right post.

Ifan Knott was called into action early on, with the young goalkeeper making a tremendous save to deny Josh Pask’s powerful half-volley from the edge of the area, which was heading for the top right-hand corner of the net.

The champions went close to taking the lead minutes later when a corner picked out Jack Bodenham unmarked, with the defender heading the ball onto the crossbar from point-blank range.

Bodenham continued to threaten from set-pieces, placing a header just wide of the post with Greg Walters having put him under just enough pressure.

Playing his final league game before retiring at the end of the season, goalkeeper Connor Roberts nearly made a costly error when he played a loose ball straight to the feet of Abbruzzese, but the wing-back’s shot was blocked by Bodenham to prevent an otherwise open goal.

Second half

The away side came out of the blocks quickly after the restart, with Lee Jenkins being called into action to make two good blocks to deny Clarke.

The Saints managed to hit the front in the 55^th minute when Danny Redmond drove down the left flank before delivering a low ball across goal which was directed in by Wilson.

The goal brought some confidence to the Saints, and they added a second four minutes later when Clarke had space just outside the area to place his right-footed curling effort past Knott and into the net.

The goals did not discourage the Bluebirds, who were still creating chances of their own, with midfielder Walters forcing Roberts to tip the ball over the bar following a corner from Jacob Owen.

The away side continued to look dangerous down both flanks, with Pask making a marauding run into the box before releasing a low effort which was well saved by Knott at his near post.

The Town thought they had halved the deficit with just over 20 minutes remaining when captain Dylan Rees found the net from inside the area, but the linesman’s flag went up for offside to cut short the Bluebirds’ celebrations.

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The Saints added a third almost straight after the Bluebirds’ disallowed goal, with Pask making a good run down the right-hand side and into the box before teeing the ball up for Brobbel, who made no mistake from close range.

County were finally rewarded for their efforts with one minute of normal time remaining when Ahmun’s pass across the area found Hawkins unmarked, and the forward swept a low left-footed effort between Roberts and a couple of Saints players to give Haverfordwest County something to show for their efforts.

Immediately following the goal, there was a proud moment for the Academy when defender Owain Davies and Luc Owen were introduced from the bench to allow them to make their JD Cymru Premier debuts as a reward for all of their hard work and dedication over the years.

Highlights