By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC climbed to third place in the JD Cymru Premier with an impressive 1-0 victory against joint-leaders Cardiff Metropolitan at LHP Stadium on Friday night.

A second-half goal from Owain Jones saw the Bluebirds pick up their second win in three games, as we closed the gap to second place to two points.

The first half was evenly contested by both sides, with County and the Archers each having one great chance to open the scoring. Jones hit the bar from distance just before half time for the Town, before striker Adam Roscow had blazed his close-range effort over the crossbar.

The Bluebirds stepped things up in the second half, with the goal coming 10 minutes after the restart courtesy of Jones, who applied the finish to Lee Jenkins’ ball into the area for what proved to be the winning goal.

Team news

There were two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Barry Town United on Tuesday, with Greg Walters and Jones coming into the XI to replace Kyle Kenniford and Ben Fawcett, who started from the bench.

Haverfordwest County: Z. Jones, J. Owen, A. Jones, Tabone, Jenkins, McCarthy, Shephard (C, H. John 22′), Watts, Walters, O. Jones (Fawcett 67′), Ahmun

Substitutes not used: Knott, Rees, Kenniford, D. John, Humphreys

First half

The first chance fell to the Bluebirds inside the opening few minutes when captain Corey Shephard struck a free-kick from around 25 yards, however the midfielder’s effort was gathered by Alex Lang.

Eliot Evans was the first to have an attempt at goal for the Archers, with his strike from just outside the box flying narrowly past the left post.

There was very little to separatethe sides early on, although a great chance fell to the Archers just past the 20-minute mark when Evans played a dangerous ball into the penalty area which found Roscrow unmarked, however the forward was unable to sort his feet out and blazed his shot high over the bar.

The visitors were beginning to get on top, and five minutes later Ryan Reynolds tried his luck from distance with an effort which flew past the post.

The Bluebirds were carrying a threat on the counter, with former Archer Kyle McCarthy winning the ball high up the pitch and playing in Ben Ahmun, who released a curling effort from just outside the area which flew past the right post.

Up the other end, striker Lewis Rees produced an audacious volley from outside the area which sailed past the top left-hand corner of the goal.

With the final chance of the first half, Jones tried a speculative effort 30 yards from goal with flew over Lang before cannoning back off the bar as the Students counted themselves fortunate.

Second half

The Bluebirds started the second half with real purpose, with a good chance falling to subsitute Harri John – who had replaced Shephard in the first half – as the midfielder created space for himself with a neat touch on the edge of the box before seeing his left-footed shot rise over the bar.

Shortly after, County were ahead when a precise through ball from Walters freed Jenkins down the right flank, and the defender played a low pass into the area which picked out Jones and the forward made no mistake as he fired past Lang to make it 1-0.

Soon after the goal, the Bluebirds looked to quickly add a second with Ricky Watts having two attempts within a minute of each other. The first flew over the bar, with the second striking the left post.

Zac Jones was looking as solid as ever in the Town goal, and the Kiwi goalkeeper did well when he got across to make a diving save from Rees’ free-kick.

Almost instantly after the free-kick, the Bluebirds broke forward after a mistake at the back from the Archers which played Jacob Owen through on goal, however he was denied by a great save from Lang.

Haverfordwest County were looking to kill the game off, as Jenkins received the ball inside the area before seeing his goalbound effort held by Lang.

A quick move from the Archers gave Rees the chance to break through on goal, however Alaric Jones was on hand to make a well-timed sliding challenge to disposses the forward and cut out the danger 10 minutes from time.

The Bluebirds withstood the inevitable pressure from the Archers in the closing stages of the match, with the only chance falling to CJ Craven whose strike from distance flew narrowly wide of the post.

Highlights

Reaction