Haverfordwest County showed their fighting spirit after scoring two goals inside the final five minutes to earn a valuable point from a 3-3 draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads at the Essity Stadium on Saturday.

The home side had moved into a two-goal lead with Declan Poole and Jacob Cook finding the net in the first half, however the Bluebirds were a completely different team in the second half.

Omnipresent midfielder Greg Walters halved the deficit eight minutes after the restart, however Dan Cowan’s close-range finish restored the Nomads’ two-goal advantage inside the final 20 minutes.

The Blues refused to give up though, and after Dylan Rees had found the net with 87 minutes on the clock, the Town sensed an opportunity, and when impressive substitute Owain Jones was fouled inside the area, Ben Ahmun stepped up to fire past Kit Margetson and earn County a dramatic late point against a Connah’s Quay side who had won their last four matches in all competitions.

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made three changes to the side that lost out to Llanelli Town in the JD Welsh Cup last Friday, with Ricky Watts, Alaric Jones and Panashe Makwiramiti coming into the starting XI. On the bench, there was a welcome return to the matchday squad for midfielder Kyle Kenniford, who had not featured since sustaining an injury in the pre-season friendly against Carmarthen Town on July 1.

Haverfordwest County: L. Rees, Watts (O. Jones 46′), D. Rees (C), Scotcher, A, Jones, Abbruzzese, Makwiramiti (Kenniford 69′), Shephard, Walters, Hawkins, Ahmun

Substitutes not used: Knott, Hughes, Humphreys, Owen, Watkins

First half

In blustery conditions on the banks of the River Dee, the home side started on the front foot, enjoying more of the early possession and territory as they won a couple of corners which were dealt with by the Bluebirds.

Having remained in the ascendancy, the Nomads took the lead with 14 minutes on the clock when Poole broke inside the area before sending his left-footed curling effort into the far left corner of the goal.

While they were doing well to stay in the contest, the Town were yet to really impose themselves from an attacking perspective, and they found themselves two goals behind just after the half hour mark. With both teams expecting a throw-in decision to go the way of the Bluebirds, it was the home team who had the chance to retain possession high up the pitch, with Harry Franklin’s ball into the area looping kindly into the path of Cook, who took a touch before sending the ball into the bottom left-hand corner from close range.

Second half

Having regathered their composure during the break, the Bluebirds came back out for the second half with real purpose. Owain Jones was introduced in place of Watts, giving the visitors a different dimension with two strikers now at the top end of the pitch for Pennock’s men.

It was the Nomads who had the first opportunity after the restart, with Callum West’s first-time effort from inside the area clearing the crossbar.

The Blues were looking a different prospect in attack, and after Ahmun’s effort from point-blank range had been saved by Margetson, it looked as if the deficit had been halved when Owain Jones glanced a header from Rhys Abbruzzese’s pinpoint cross into the bottom right-hand corner, however the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

Having put this disappointment behind them, the Bluebirds did cut the Nomads’ lead just two minutes later when Kai Edwards’ attempted cross-field pass was intercepted by the alert Walters, who raced into the area before slotting past Margetson to give his team renewed belief.

This was a real purple patch from an attacking perspective for the Pembrokeshire side, and when Alaric Jones’ long ball into the area found Ahmun, the striker skipped past the would-be tackle of Kai Edwards before seeing his effort saved at close range by Margetson.

After settling things down again somewhat, Connah’s Quay created a couple more opportunities. First, a cross into the area picked out the unmarked West who headed wide of the left post, before Rhys Hughes’ effort from the edge of the area was well saved by Luc Rees – who got down to prevent the ball finding the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Kenniford was introduced from the bench to replace Makwiramiti – who had put in a tireless dislay in front of the back three – for his first action in almost four months.

However, just a minute after Luc Rees had reacted well to push Hughes’ effort from range over the bar, John Disney’s side restored their two-goal lead when a low cross into the area from the right was poked home from a matter of yards by Cowan to leave with the Blues facing an uphill challenge in the closing stages.

Pennock’s men were trying everything to find a way back into the contest, with Abbruzzese’s ball into the area from the left picking out Ahmun who headed just wide of the right post.

Then, with three minutes of normal time remaining, the Town set up a thrilling finale when Alaric Jones’ teasing ball into the area from the left touchline found its way through to Dylan Rees at the back post, and the captain’s first-time finish beat Margetson to make it 3-2.

County were, as expected, committing men forward at every opportunity to try and find an equaliser, and they were presented with a golden opportunity to do so just two minutes later. With Elliot Scotcher’s shot from inside the area rebounding into the path of Owain Jones, the striker managed to get a shot away, but he was caught late by a reckless challenge from Cowan and referee John Jones pointed to the spot. With the hopes of Haverfordwest County resting on Ahmun’s shoulders, the striker stayed cool to send Margetson the wrong way for his ninth and arguably most important goal of the season to date.

Highlights

Reaction