JD Cymru South:
Haverfordwest County 4 Llanelli Town 1
(courtesy of Gordon Thomas)
Haverfordwest County moved back to the top of the table after overcoming a determined Llanelli Town outfit on the Bridge Meadow.
After having their last two games postponed, The Bluebirds grabbed the vital win to go two points clear at the top of the table.
KURTIS REES scored the only goal of the first half, but the second period started with a bang as KIERAN HOWARD added his side’s second, a minute later ex-Bluebird, LEE BEVAN , pulled one back for The Reds with a powerful header. Late in the match BEN FAWCETT struck a third and Zac Brown scored an own goal to secure the points for the Bluebirds.
After a quiet start it was the home team who finally broke the deadlock after neither side had really threatened in front of goal for the first quarter.
The Bluebirds opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Kurtis Rees’ cross cum shot sailed over The Reds’ goalkeeper Kai Rees.
Scott Tancock saw his close-range header blocked and Ben Fawcett struck a low 20 yard shot which Rees saved diving to his left.
The hosts continued to press as Marcus Griffiths’ firm header was tipped over the crossbar by Rees, and then the striker got on the end of Fawcett’s chip over the defence and he struck a wicked volley which went in off the post, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
On the overall balance of play Wayne Jones’ Bluebirds deserved their slender 1-0 lead at half time.
The Bluebirds added a second goal in contentious fashion. Marcus Griffiths collided with keeper Rees inside the box, and the ball broke to Kieran Howard who struck home from outside the box.
But the Reds hit back immediately when former Bluebird Lee Bevan scored with a powerful header, getting on the end of a well-directed free kick.
The Reds kept plugging away as Kyle Copp struck a weak shot from distance which didn’t trouble Kyle Stuart.
Kurtis Rees set-up Jack Wilson but the left sided front man fired wide of the target. Minutes later and Nicky Palmer replaced teenager Wilson.
Kieran Howard’s low shot was well saved by Rees, but then Fawcett struck a superb third, the striker cut in from the left and hit a superb shot that beat Rees at his near post. Zac Brown scored a late own goal to complete the scoring after Kurtis Rees and Harri Rowe had combined well down the left. It was a spectacular own goal but Rowe’s cross was perfect and so difficult to defend
On Friday, January 3rd, Haverfordwest County are away to Llanelli Town, and the kick-off is at 7.30pm.
Haverfordwest County: Kyle Stuart, Miles John (80 Jake Merry), Harri Rowe, Sean Pemberton (captain), Scott Tancock, Kieran Howard, Ricky Watts, Kurtis Rees, Marcus Griffiths, Ben Fawcett, Jack Wilson (70’ Nicky Palmer).
Substitutes not used`: Seamus Drake, Ryan Hughes, Dafydd Harman