By James Dow

Haverfordwest County suffered late heartbreak with a last-gasp defeat to Barry Town United at the Ogi Bridge Meadow on Tuesday evening.

A 90th-minute header from defender Ben Margertson denied the Bluebirds a point after an entertaining end-to-end encounter in which both sides gave their all.

The visitors applied early pressure, forcing goalkeeper Ifan Knott into two smart saves, but the Bluebirds soon grew into the game. Their best chance of the half came in the 33rd minute when Corey Shephard went close, his effort drifting narrowly wide of the post.

The second half produced plenty of goals, with the Bluebirds twice fighting back through Rhys Abbruzzese and Shephard after falling behind. However, they were unable to respond to Margetson’s late header, which sealed the points for the Linnets.

The Bluebirds started brightly, with neat midfield play releasing Panashe Makwiramiti in the 10th minute. He struck from 25 yards, but his effort flew over the bar in the game’s first attempt on goal.

Knott was called into action for the first time a minute later, denying Michael George’s close-range header after he met Ollie Hulbert’s dangerous cross unmarked in the box.

Barry threatened again when Elliot Scotcher was dispossessed in midfield by Will Richards, who quickly released Morgan Wigley through on goal. Wigley’s low curling effort from inside the area looked dangerous, but Knott was equal to it, making another smart save in what was proving to be a busy opening 15 minutes for the Bluebirds goalkeeper.

Chances fell for both sides early on however, with neat link-up play between Abbruzzese and Dan Hawkins creating space for the latter 20 yards out. Hawkins’ low strike, however, bobbled just wide of Joe Thomas’ left-hand post.

Barry’s solid defensive structure throughout the first half restricted the Bluebirds to efforts from distance, with Makwiramiti trying his luck from 25 yards, but his strike was comfortably gathered by Thomas.

The best chance of the half fell to the Bluebirds just past the half hour mark, with Hawkins delivering a dangerous ball to Shephard who struck first time, but his effort went narrowly wide of the right post.

Minutes later, Shephard was at the heart of the action again, driving through midfield before unleashing a powerful effort that Thomas parried away. The rebound fell to Hawkins, but his strike from a tight angle flew over the bar.

The visitors came out of the blocks flying and opened the scoring two minutes into the half, with Ellis Williams delivering a ball into the box which was met by Ryan Kavanagh, with his looping header finding the far corner of the goal.

The Bluebirds responded well and drew level on the hour mark after a slick move saw Abbruzzese deliver the ball into Greg Walters. His first-time strike was initially blocked by the Linnets’ defence, but Abbruzzese reacted quickest, rising superbly to guide his header into the net.

The visitors took the lead for the second time with 20 minutes remaining, as substitute Ieuan Owen headed Robbie Willmott’s corner into the net from close range.

Hulbert almost added a third for the visitors minutes later, testing Knott with a powerful strike from distance that the goalkeeper managed to parry behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Knott produced another outstanding stop, tipping Hulbert’s acrobatic close-range effort over the bar. Moments later, Owen sent Hulbert through one-on-one, but Knott stood firm to deny him again. Three top saves in the space of just a few minutes from the County stopper.

The Bluebirds weathered Barry’s pressure and drew level for a second time when Hawkins delivered a cross into the area which found Shephard unmarked, and the midfielder guided his header past Thomas to restore parity.

There was a proud moment for Haverfordwest County when Academy product Will Hughes came off the bench to make his first appearance in the JD Cymru Premier. The young wing-back has been a key part of our Development team in the last few seasons, and has come right the way through our Academy setup.

Knott continued to make vital saves in the latter stages, with Owen beating his man to put the forward through on goal, but the goalkeeper stood strong as he had all evening and made the stop.

Late drama unfolded in the 89th minute as a delivery into the penalty area from Williams was met by Margetson, who flicked his effort into the top right-hand corner.

A late chance fell to Hawkins who had space to shoot on goal from inside in the area, but his effort went just wide of the right post.

Haverfordwest County: Knott, Shepherd, Humphreys, D. Rees (C, Hughes 62′), Scotcher, Abbruzzese, Makwiramiti (Watkins 77′), Walters, Shephard, Hawkins, Fawcett (Thomas 77′)

Substitutes not used: L. Rees, James, McGuire

Barry Town United: Thomas, George, Sainty (C, Richards 90+3’), Margetson, Davies, Willmott, Kavanagh, Williams, Hulbert, Richards, Wigley (Owen 66’)

Substitutes not used: Masrani, Smith, Bernard, Barton