By James Dow
Haverfordwest County AFC extended their unbeaten run in the JD Cymru Premier to five matches after a goalless draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads at LHP Stadium on Saturday.
The Bluebirds had good spells throughout the match but were unable to make the most of the openings they created, as we produced another strong defensive display to earn an eighth clean sheet in 12 league outings so far this season.
County were the better team during the first half, however both sides each had one clear-cut chance to take the lead, with Ben Maher hitting the post from close range for the Nomads before captain Dylan Rees’ goalbound effort was blocked.
There was much less in the way of attacking quality during the second half, as the two teams largely cancelled one another out. The result was enough to ensure that the Town maintain second place in the standings ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Briton Ferry Llansawel.
Team news
Manager Tony Pennock made two changes to the side from last Friday’s win at Bala Town, with Ben Ahmun coming back into the side for Owain Jones, as Rhys Abbruzzese replaced Luke Tabone – who is away on international duty with Malta – to make his first start of the season.
Haverfordwest County: Z. Jones, J. Owen, A. Jones, Jenkins, McCarthy, Abbruzzese, Rees (C, H. John 73′), Shephard, Walters, Fawcett (Hawkins 73′), Ahmun (O. Jones 73′)
Substitutes not used: Knott, Watts, D. John, Humphreys
First half
The first chance of the match fell to Abbruzzese, who skipped past several Nomads players before advancing into the area and seeing his effort blocked by defender Ben Nash.
Despite the Bluebirds’ bright start, Connah’s Quay went close to opening the scoring when the ball found its way to Maher just inside the area, and the midfielder’s effort came back off the right post.
County had a handful of chances in quick succession after this scare. The first came via Ben Fawcett, whose close-range strike deflected just wide of the right post for a corner, and from the resulting set-piece Kyle McCarthy forced a sharp save from Ratcliffe who parried the ball out to Rees, effort was again saved by the Nomads stopper to keep the contest at 0-0.
The match lost a lot of its flow after this, with a number of stoppages and fouls slowing the game down, although a half chance did fall to Lee Jenkins near the end of the half when his snapshot from just outside of the area was gathered by Ratcliffe.
Second half
The Bluebirds started the second half positively with a ball into the area finding its way through to Alaric Jones at the far post, with the defender zipping an effort across the face of goal and just out of the reach of Shephard.
Although the Town were seeing more of the ball, the Nomads were sharp on the break which they showed after a quick counter-attack saw the ball fall to Rhys Hughes, who guided his effort wide of the post.
Zac Jones had his first save to make just after the hour mark when Nomads substitute and former Bluebird Elliott Dugan was played through, but his effort from inside the area was easily held by the goalkeeper.
Fawcett tried his luck from just outside the area with 20 minutes left on the clock, with his effort safely gathered by Ratcliffe.
Pennock injected fresh legs by introducing Harri John, Owain Jones and Dan Hawkins, with the latter coming on to make his 50th appearance for Haverfordwest County AFC.
Neither team looked likely to concede in the closing stages, and this proved to be the case as the Bluebirds added a point to their tally to extend the unbeaten run ahead of the final 10 games of Phase One.
