PHOTOS:
Veteran Nicky Palmer presses forward for Haverfordwest County
Chris O'Sullivan beats Declan Carroll
Kristian Speake gets to the ball first
Pre-season friendly
Haverfordwest County 1 – Carmarthen Town 2
Second half goals by Matthew Thomas and Declan Carroll secured a slender victory for Carmarthen Town against Haverfordwest County at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
The first period was a pretty even affair with neither side really dominating territory nor possession.Bluebirds’ centre back Nathan Banner was solid alongside skipper Sean Pemberton, the pair kept Town strikers Liam Thomas and Matthew Thomas relatively quiet in front of goal.
The homesters took the lead in the 31st minute, Chris O’Sullivan’s corner saw former Hakin United striker Ashley Bevan glance home a perfect header from inside the box that crashed in the back of Lee Idzi’s net.
The Bluebirds’ were quietly pleased with their first half showing against their Welsh Premier rivals, and they deservedly led by a slender one goal at the break.
Bluebirds brought most of their bench on at the start the second period, giving the players’ valuable game time, but this definitely unsettled their shape as the visitors kept their starting eleven on the pitch.
Old Gold took advantage as they grabbed two quick fire goals at the start of the second period, a clever looped pass into the box by Kieran Lewis fell kindly for Matthew Thomas to score with a low shot, a minute later, and former Bluebird Declan Carroll made no mistake from close range to score against his former teammates.Bluebirds’ keeper Wyn Walters received a heavy knock and was replaced by youngster Sam Franklin between the sticks.
The Old Gold were looking confident as the homesters were finding it increasingly hard to break the visitors down, and keeper Idzi didn’t have a decent shot to stop in the second period as they held firm for a narrow victory.
Haverfordwest County: Wyn Walters; Luke Harris; Spencer Williams; Nathan Banner; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Chris O’Sullivan; Nicky Palmer; Tomas Wellington; Steffan Williams; Ashley Bevan; Kristian Speake. Subs Lee Hudgell; Stefano Antonniazzi; Rhys Dalling; Alfie Stotter; Rhydian Davies.
Carmarthen Town: Lee Idzi; Kyle Bassett; Dwaine Bailey; Lee Surman; Lewis Harling; Kieran Lewis; Declan Carroll; Mark Jones; Liam Thomas; Matthew Thomas; Dan Sheehan. Subs: Craig Hanford; David Vincent; Ceri Morgan; Mark Jones; Danny Thomas; Sam Franklin.
Referee: Tom Bevan.
Assistasnts: David Badger & Bryn Jones.