By James Dow

Haverfordwest County AFC brought a memorable JD Cymru Premier Phase One campaign to an end with an entertaining 1-1 draw with Barry Town United at Jenner Park.

The Bluebirds made the perfect start to the match, with Ben Ahmun opening the scoring with just 18 seconds on the clock.

The home side – who needed a result to give themselves an opportunity to make the top six – responded well, and got a deserved goal 25 minutes later when Kayne Mclaggon converted from close range to find an equaliser for the Linnets.

Chances fell to both sides throughout the match, with the Bluebirds thinking they had stolen victory right at the death when substitute Ben Fawcett charged goalkeeper Liam Armstrong’s clearance down to regain possession and tap into an empty net, however the goal was disallowed with the officials adjudging there to have been a handball in the build-up.

The result left the Bluebirds in third place at the end of Phase One with 40 points to our name, which is a club record points tally going into Phase Two and guarantees at least a European play-off place at the end of the season.

Team news

Manager Tony Pennock made four changes from last weekend’s 5-1 win over Briton Ferry Llansawel, with captain Dylan Rees, Alaric Jones, Kyle Kenniford and Dan Hawkins all coming back into the side. Ben Fawcett also returned to the squad after sitting out the victory over the Reds, with the striker named on the bench.

Haverfordwest County AFC: Z. Jones, Abbruzzese, Rees (C), Jenkins, Hawkins (Fawcett 79’), A. Jones, Walters, Kenniford (H. John 62’), J. Owen, Tabone (McCarthy 79’), Ahmun (O. Jones 79’)

Substitutes not used: Knott, D. John, Humphreys

First half

No sooner had those in attendance settled down for the start of the game, the Bluebirds found themselves in front when a ball upfield from Rees found Ahmun, and the forward advanced into the area before slotting under Armstrong for his eighth league of the season.

Having provided the assist for the opening goal, Rees came close himself 10 minutes later when his powerful effort from distance was gathered by Armstrong.

Barry improved as the half went on, and deservedly found an equaliser through captain McLaggon when an attack led by Ollie Hulbert saw the forward receive the ball in the six-yard area before producing a backheel flick to the forward, who smashed the ball past Zac Jones from close-range to level the game for the hosts.

County nearly took the lead for the second time instantly after conceding, when miscommunication at the back from the Barry defence saw the ball fall to Ahmun, who drilled an effort across goal which was well defended on the line from the Linnets defence before the danger was cleared.

Both teams were creating chances during a very open first half, with Keenan Patten going close as his effort was well saved by Jones, who parried the ball away from danger.

The Dragons got through on goal once again shortly after, this time through Hulbert, but a very well timed block from Alaric Jones saw the effort deflect behind for a corner.

The Town were able to deal with this pressure, and nearly took the lead for the second time in the match when Jacob Owen showed a fantastic change of direction before delivering a low ball into Dan Hawkins, who was denied by some fantastic reflexes from Armstrong to keep the score level.

Greg Walters was next to have a chance at goal for the Bluebirds, with Luke Tabone winning the ball high up the pitch and driving up the left flank before picking out the midfielder inside the penalty area, with his first-time effortwell blocked by the Barry defence to deny the shot on goal.

Second half

Both teams started the half slowly with little to split the sides. The first chance of the second period fell to the hosts through captain Evan Press, but his effort from distance travelled wide of the left post.

The hosts had a fantastic chance to take the lead 15 minutes before full time when a stray pass from the Bluebirds defence was intercepted by substitute Ieuan Owen, who was one on one with Jones, but the young forward placed his shot just wide of the right post.

Haverfordwest County’s first real chance of the half fell to Walters late on, when a Rhys Abbruzzese corner was met by the midfielder who headed over the crossbar.

The Bluebirds thought they found a dramatic winner in the final minute of added time when Armstrong’s attempted clearance out of hand was charged down by Fawcett, who flicked the ball past the goalkeeper before having the simple task of rolling it into an empty net. However, following a discussion between the referee and his assistant, the decision was made to disallow the goal with the striker adjudged to have handled the ball as he charged the clearance down.

Highlights