Haverfordwest County manager Tony Pennock was left to rue an under-par first half performance as the nine-man Bluebirds were defeated 3-0 at Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

The Seagulls netted three first half goals as County lost defender Alaric Jones to a straight red card 11 minutes before the interval.

The Town put in a much-improved display after the break, but it ultimately proved to be in vain as the home side were able to negotiate the second half effectively to claim the spoils.

Here’s what the manager had to say in full after the game:

On the game

The sending off kills us. At 2-0 we were still in the game, but 10 men, 2-0, very few teams are going to get back in the game after that happens, and that was the case. The third goal, I was disappointed with the decision. I think it’s a blatant foul in the build-up, but it is what it is.

Second half, I’m really proud of the boys. I thought we played really good football. Our discipline was good without the ball, and we created a few chances, and that’s what we’ve got to take from the game as we look forward to next Saturday.

On the first half

We just let them on. We gave them too many set-pieces, and they’re really good at set pieces. They’d scored five out of their nine goals from set-pieces before today, two from wide crosses. So they put the ball in the box, they’ve got three big centre halves and they’ve got powerful centre forwards. And if you let them do the things they’re good at, then they’re going to cause problems. Teams try to stop us playing because they know we can play football, and that’s what we have to do to other teams. Stop them doing the things they’re good at and we’ll be fine.

I’m not concerned about anything. I’m concerned that we’ve got two more suspensions to add to our injuries. That’s the only concern. But in terms of the lads and how they are with us and how they are as a group, then I’ve got no concerns at all.

On the group

The boys are a solid group. A lot of them have been together for a long time, and that’s why we’ve had our success. Other teams find ways of having their success, we find our way by sticking together as a group, and that’s what we’ll do now until the end of the season.

On Rhys Abbruzzese’s 100th appearance

Abu’s obviously been here for the three years I’ve been here, fourth season now. Abu is a key part of our squad. We know that, he has been from day one and we’re lucky to have him, and hopefully there’s a lot more games to add to that hundred.

On next week’s game

It’s been a tough two weeks, two early kick-offs traveling on a Friday. It will be nice to get home next Saturday, let somebody else do the traveling, but we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and do the things we’re good at, and when we do that then we’ll be fine.