Bluebirds come from behind to snatch Welsh League Cup win

PHOTOS:
Rhys Dalling scored the winner
Steffan Williams presses forward
​Sean Pemberton scores with a header

Welsh League Cup – Round One

 

Haverfordwest County 3 - Cwmamman United 2

Haverfordwest County came from two goals behind to seal victory over Cwmamman United and progress in the next round of the cup.

The team from the Amman Valley play a division lower than the Bluebirds, and they deservedly took a shock 2-0 lead, as Ashley Curtis and Cory Saunders bagged goals, before Bluebirds’ skipper Sean Pemberton headed home just before the break. After the interval Steffan Davies equalised with a thumping shot and Rhys Dalling scored the winner, completing a stunning comeback.

Defensive blunder

The visitors took an early lead when a Bluebirds defensive blunder on the edge of the 18 yard box saw striker Curtis ran clear and coolly slotted past James Gwilt.

Curtis should have added a second goal five minutes later, he was through on goal after a clever through pass by Liam Soroka, and the striker fired wide with only Gwilt to beat.

The Bluebirds found it hard to keep possession but on the half hour mark they were unlucky not to equalise. Lee Hugell’s cross in the box was met by a firm header by Steffan Williams that keeper Mark Snell parried, only for Hudgell to strike the rebound which was cleared off the line by defender Jordan Vickers.

Ten minutes before the break and the visitors added a second goal. Left sided midfielder Cory Saunders ghosted past debutant Bluebirds right back Matthew Broome and fired a low shot in the far corner.

Pemberton header

Five minutes before the break and the Bluebirds pulled back a goal, it stemmed from a good Hudgell corner that skipper Pemberton looped his header into the top corner.

Shortly after the break, and the Bluebirds came out in determined mood and they squared matters, with some excellent work down the left wing by Hudgell, as he danced his way past the defender and drilled a low cross from the by-line into the box that Steffan Davies thumped right footed into the back of the net, for a superb finish.

Dalling gave the Bluebirds the lead in the 65^th minute, the left sided front man strongly held off a defender before drilling a low shot that flew in off the post.

It was not a good first half display, but the Welsh League Division One outfit certainly played better in the second period and got their just rewards.


Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt; Matthew Broome; Spencer Williams; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Stefano Antoniazzi; Nicky Palmer; Steffan Williams; Steffan Davies; Ashley Bevan; Rhys Dalling; Lee Hudgell. Substitutes: Kristian Speake; Rhydian Davies; Nathan Banner; Luke Harris; Alfie Stotter.

Cwmamman United: Mark Snell; Jordan Vickers; Aaron Richards; Gareth Howarth; Nathan McNeil; Liam Soroka; Steven Hughes; Ashley Curtis; Ryan Thomas; Cory Saunders. Substitutes: Colin Harris; Connor Morgan; Jonathan Eames; Robert Jones.

Referee: Tom Bevan.
Assistants: David Badger & Ben Williams.