PHOTOS:
Greg Walters scored twice for The Bluebirds
Ricky Watts bagged a late third goal
Haverfordwest County 3 – Cwmbran Celtic 1
Haverfordwest County held firm for a hard-fought victory against Cwmbran Celtic at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.
This was The Bluebirds’ fifth win on the trot and this result sees them move up to third in the table, thanks to a first half brace by midfielder Greg Walters and a late lobbed effort by Ricky Watts which sealed another three points.Ashley Bevan was missing from the starting line-up due to an aggravating back injury and was replaced by Steffan Davies up front, whilst veteran midfielder Nicky Palmer was out with an injury and he was replaced by Kieran O’Brien.
Walters scores twice
The homesters opened the scoring in the third minute, O’Brien fed striker Steffan Davies and the latter’s unselfish square ball fell to Walters; who buried a low shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Walters bagged his second of the game in the 25th minute,after some neat build-up play led to the midfielder lashing home again from 12 yards.
The visitors were unlucky not to claw a goal back when striker Josh Bull’s vicious strike cannoned off James Gwilt’s crossbar.
Down to ten men
Haverfordwest County were happy to hold on to a two-goal cushion at half time, but two minutes after the break The Bluebirds were reduced to ten men when Matthew Broome was deemed to have handled inside the box and the right back was issued a second yellow of the afternoon by referee R. Kenny, which resulted in an early shower for the full back.
This certainly changed the dynamics of the game, after Bull kept his composure and fired in the resulting penalty straight down the middle, which put his side right back in contention.
Gwilt saves day
The Bluebirds were put under the cosh by the visitors, with Gwilt pulling off a number of good saves to deny Bull, Lee Penry and Lloyd Kinsella.
However, Haverfordwest County scored a cracking late goal, when substitute Steffan Williams’ exquisite through ball saw Watts run clear and delightfully lifted the ball over Lewis Watkins to ease his side’s nerves.
Next Saturday, March 11th Haverfordwest County are away at third from bottom Caldicot Town.
Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt; Matthew Broome; Jamie Evans; Sean Pemberton (Captain); Antonio Facciuto; Kieran O’Brien; Ricky Watts; Greg Walters; Rhys Dalling; Lee Hudgell; Steffan Davies. Substitutes: Spencer Williams; Kristian Speake; Steffan Williams; Chris O' Sullivan.
Cwmbran Celtic: Lewis Watkins; Kesh Patel; Richard Crees; Niall Yates; Andrew Larcombe; Dominic Connor; Lee Penry; James Young; Josh Bull; Adrian Maguire; Lloyd Kinselle. Substitutes: Callum Wakeham; James Thullier; Lee Cheshire; Rob Watkins.
Referee: R. Kenny.
Assistants: David Badger and Gareth Elliott.