By James Dow

Haverfordwest County rounded off a memorable 2025 with a hard-fought point following a goalless draw with Cardiff Metropolitan at Cyncoed Campus on Tuesday evening.

It was an evenly-contested encounter throughout, with chances for both sides in the first half. Ryan Reynolds went close for the Archers, while the Bluebirds threatened through Dan Hawkins.

The second half followed a similar pattern and, while the Bluebirds were required to weather spells of pressure from the hosts, it was Tony Pennock’s side who almost snatched a late winner. Substitute Greg Walters saw his header in the final minute superbly saved by Sam Seager.

The result secured a third clean sheet in four league games for the Bluebirds, and extended their unbeaten run to four matches for the first time this season.

The game was stop-start in the early stages, with a number of robust challenges from both sides. The first real chance came from a set-piece in the 15th minute when Met were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after Kyle McCarthy brought down former Bluebird Harri John. Reynolds stepped up and curled his effort towards the top-right corner, but Luc Rees produced a fine save to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

A scramble inside the Bluebirds’ box ensued after an Archers corner, with several players attempting to force the ball past Luc Rees, but the goalkeeper reacted well to smother the danger.

At the other end, Pennock’s side threatened on the break. Corey Shephard broke the line and delivered a dangerous ball into the six-yard area, where Hawkins met it with a diving header that rose just over Seager’s crossbar, although the move was later flagged for offside.

Challenges continued to fly in, and Reynolds was presented with another set-piece opportunity as a result. This time he went low in an attempt to catch Luc Rees out, but the goalkeeper reacted sharply to get down and parry the effort away.

An opportunity fell to the hosts with half time approaching when John played the ball to Lifumpa Mwandwe, who drilled a low effort wide of the left post.

Met’s set-pieces continued to cause problems in the Bluebirds’ box, with a deep delivery met by County defender Alaric Jones. His header struck the crossbar, rebounded off Luc Rees and went behind for a corner, with the Bluebirds perhaps fortunate that the deflection did not roll into the back of the net.

At the other end, some neat link-up play from the hosts created another opening in a positive start for the Archers. Eliot Evans and John combined before the midfielder slipped Mwandwe into the area, but he could only fire his effort into the side netting.

Into the second half, and the Bluebirds looked dangerous on the break and nearly made it count when Shephard won possession in the Archers’ midfield to create a three-on-two situation. The midfielder lifted his head and slid Ben Ahmun through on goal, but his strike towards Seager was superbly blocked by Matt Chubb, who recovered well to divert the ball behind for a corner.

Both sides continued to search for the opening goal as the final 20 minutes approached, with Hawkins finding space on the right before cutting inside and firing narrowly wide of the far post.

At the other end, Evans went close for Met, finding room just outside the area before curling his effort just over Luc Rees’ crossbar.

Luc Rees was then called into action again as another Reynolds set-piece caused problems, this time with an in-swinging free-kick that the goalkeeper did well to tip over the bar.

The Bluebirds’ best chance came in the final minute when a series of deliveries into the hosts’ box culminated in a cross from Rhys Abbruzzese. Substitute Walters guided his header goalwards, but Seager produced a superb save, stretching to keep the ball out and save a point for the Archers.

Cardiff Met: Seager, Jones, Chubb, Edwards, Soady, Reynolds, Craven, John, Evans (Kabongo 87’), Mwandwe (Rees 67’), Roscrow (Payne 67’)

Substitutes not used: Walsh, Morris, Popham, Perry

Haverfordwest County: L. Rees, Humphreys (O. Jones 61′), D. Rees (C), A. Jones (Walters 61′), McCarthy, Abbruzzese, Makwiramiti, Shephard, Kenniford (Watts 84′), Hawkins, Ahmun

Substitutes not used: Knott, Shepherd, Watkins, Hughes

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