By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC bowed out of the JD Welsh Cup at the fourth round stage after a 2-0 defeat to Llanelli Town AFC at LHP Stadium on Friday evening.

A goal in either half from Ethan Cann was enough to earn victory for the Reds on a frustrating evening for the Bluebirds, in what was our final home game in Carmarthen before we return to the Ogi Bridge Meadow on New Year’s Day.

County had plenty of chances to find the net – hitting the post and the crossbar on multiple occasions – but were ultimately undone by a set-piece and a counter-attack from the JD Cymru South side, with the Bluebirds exiting the fourth round of the cup for the second time in two seasons.

The Bluebirds now have a two-week break from on-field action before we return with a trip to Latham Park to take on Newtown in the JD Cymru Premier on Boxing Day.

Team News

Manager Tony Pennock made two changes from last week’s defeat to league leaders Penybont, with Rhys Abbruzzese replacing Alaric Jones and Ricky Watts coming into the midfield for Dan Hawkins.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, J. Owen, Jenkins, Tabone, McCarthy, Abbruzzese (Hawkins 78’), Rees (C, Kenniford 70’), Shephard, Watts, Fawcett, Ahmun (O. Jones 70’)

Substitutes not used: Knott, A, Jones

First half

The Bluebirds started the game strongly and came close early on when a long throw into the area from Jacob Owen deflected to Lee Jenkins, who was unable to keep his header under the crossbar.

Llanelli dealt with the early pressure from the Town well, with their opening chance of the game coming from Joe Hunt who delivered a dangerous ball to Cann, who headed over the bar.

The Bluebirds looked dangerous from set pieces, with Abbruzzese delivering two dangerous free-kicks on both sides which were met by Jenkins and Corey Shephard, with both efforts failing to trouble Scott Coughlin in goal.

The visitors took the lead shortly before half time after a corner, which was delivered to the back post, was parried by Zac Jones to Cann, and the striker was able to get the final touch to direct it into the net.

Second half

The Bluebirds came flying out of the blocks after the restart and nearly equalised straight away through captain Dylan Rees, whose powerful effort from 15 yards came crashing back off the left post.

Ben Fawcett was next to be denied by the woodwork when his header following a Kyle McCarthy cross came off the crossbar with the rebound falling to Watts, who played the ball across the six-yard box, but the danger was cleared by Reds captain Joe Hopkins.

The Bluebirds kept pushing for an equaliser when a deep ball was played into the box by Shephard which Jenkins brought down to Fawcett, who took a touch before seeing his strike well saved by Coughlin.

Coughlin continued to make saves, first parrying out a free-kick attempt from Shephard, with the rebound falling to Kyle Kenniford who drilled a low ball across the six-yard box to Fawcett, with the forward striking over the bar.

The Reds were able to double their advantage with ten minutes to go after a loose pass from Shephard was intercepted by the midfield and played forwards to Cann, with the forward flicking the ball past Luke Tabone leaving him one-on-one with Jones, calmy slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

Late chances fell to both Kenniford and Jenkins to pull one back, with the midfielder’s effort from distance flying over the bar, and Jenkins header falling into the hands of Coughlin to sum up a rather frustrating evening for Haverfordwest County, who were left to ponder what might have been on another night.

Highlights