Haverfordwest County AFC made it four games unbeaten at the start of the 2024-25 JD Cymru Premier season with a goalless draw against Cardiff Metropolitan at Cyncoed Campus on Bank Holiday Monday.

On the afternoon which saw club legend Ricky Watts make his 400th appearance in all competitions for the Bluebirds, it was a case of what might have been for the Town as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Similarly to Friday evening’s encounter with Penybont, both defences were well organised and proved difficult to break down, however Tony Pennock’s side did have the best opportunity of the contest when striker Ben Ahmun’s header from close range came back off the crossbar.

The Archers did have a couple of presentable opportunities of their own, but the Bluebirds defended well to earn a third clean sheet of the season.

The result sees County remain joint top of the standings after four rounds of action, with two wins and two draws to our name so far. We will be looking to keep our positive performances going when we welcome Newtown to LHP Stadium in Carmarthen on Friday evening, a game which will take place in front of the live Sgorio cameras.

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Penybont at LHP Stadium on Friday evening, with Harri John coming into the midfield in place of Watts. Iori Humphreys made his 50th appearance for the Bluebirds as he continued his run of starts,

Haverfordwest County: Z. Jones, Humphreys, Jenkins, Tabone, McCarthy, J. Owen, Shephard (C), Walters, H. John (Watts 63′), Fawcett (O. Jones 72′), Ahmun (Hawkins 72′)

Substitutes not used: Knott, A. Jones, D. John

First half

The Bluebirds didn’t make the best of starts as goalkeeper Zac Jones went into the book after just three minutes when he was adjudged to have fouled Archers striker Adam Roscrow just outside the area as the pair battled to reach a loose ball first.

After a relatively uneventful first 20 minutes or so, the Bluebirds produced the first effort on goal when Ben Ahmun’s shot from just outside the area flew over the crossbar.

The first half was very much a cagey, tactical battle with neither side at their fluent attacking best. The Town were still able to create the odd opening, however, as 10 minutes before the interval captain Corey Shephard’s clever first-time ball over the top appearing to have played Ben Fawcett in, however the Archers defence recovered to put the striker under just enough pressure so that his shot went over the bar.

Pennock’s men had started to build some momentum and assert a bit more control in the latter stages of the first half, and two minutes later John found space just outside the area before trying a left-footed effort which was gathered low down by Alex Lang.

Second half

Having known they were capable of going up a few gears, the Bluebirds came out for the second half with real purpose and, within a minute of the restart, Shephard tried his luck with a well struck effort from 30 yards which just cleared the bar.

Zac Jones was once again looking solid between the posts for County, and he was called into action 10 minutes later when midfielder Dixon Kabongo’s cross into the area picked out striker Sam Jones who saw his header saved by the Kiwi stopper.

Just a minute after this vital intervention, the Town regained possession and sprung a quick counter-attack which, after a few passes in and around the Archers’ penalty area, resulted in Greg Walters having his shot from the edge of the area tipped over the bar by Lang.

Then, from the resulting corner, the Students failed to clear the lines to allow Shephard to put a teasing ball into the area which found Ahmun, and although the striker did well to beat Roscrow in the aerial duel, he saw his header hit the crossbar as the hosts cleared their lines.

Humphreys was producing another typically energetic and industrious display down the right flank for the Bluebirds, and just after the hour mark the wing-back put an inviting ball into the area which found Ahmun, but his header looped over the bar.

Pennock then turned to his bench for the first time as Watts was introduced in place of John, as the midfielder entered the fray to bring up a fantastic individual milestone.

The game was still very much in the balance as we entered the final 20 minutes in the capital, and the Bluebirds defence had to be alert when Jones broke free on the right side of the area and lined up what would have been a testing effort for Jones, however Lee Jenkins and Kyle McCarthy – who was playing against his former club for the first time – produced some excellent last-ditch defending to block the striker’s shot from close range.

The manager made a double substitution with just over quarter of an hour remaining as Owain Jones and Dan Hawkins were brought on for Ahmun and Fawcett, with Pennock hoping that fresh legs would prove telling in the closing stages.

In truth, neither side was really able to craft out anything clear-cut in the dying embers, however Jones did have an effort on the turn from just outside the area which cleared the bar, before Lang missed Watt’s cross into the area and the ball fell to the unexpectant Hawkins, who couldn’t quite adjust in time to give his header the power it required to cross the goal line.

Highlights

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