JD Cymru Premier – Play-Off Conference
Newtown 5 – Haverfordwest County 1
Lifumpa Mwandwe grabbed two goals to help Newtown to a convincing victory as they completely overran out of sorts Haverfordwest County at Latham Stadium.
The hosts led 3-0 at half time as Tyrone Ofori, Mwandwe and Shane Sutton scored, shortly after the interval Mwandwe added his second, Corey Shephard pulled one back with a superb lob from 40 yards out, but substitute Jordan Evans completed the rout five minutes from the final whistle.
The last time the two teams met it was only a few weeks ago, that time it was the Bluebirds who came away with a fully deserved 3-0 victory, but football is a funny old game as this time round the Robins turned the tables on the poor Bluebirds.
Shaky at the back
The home outfit-controlled matters as the visitors struggled to settle, looking extremely shaky at the back.
The Robins bagged two goals in as many minutes through Ofori and Mwandwe, on the stroke of half time, Shane Sutton headed home Craig Williams’ free kick inside the box.
Any sort of fight back for the visitors was compelled when Mwandwe was on target with the fourth goal.
The only saving grace for the Bluebirds was the fact they scored the goal of the game as Shephard spotted keeper Davie Jones well off his line and stroked a superb effort from distance into the net.
Debut for teenager
In the 75th minute Daniel James came off the bench to replace Marcus Griffiths, this marked the teenager’s debut for Haverfordwest County.
In the 85th minute Evans struck the fifth at the far post, completing an extremely good day at the office for the Robins, whilst Wayne Jones’ men will quickly want to forget their heaviest defeat of the season so far.
“You reap what you sow,” said bitterly disappointed Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones.
“As the result suggests we were poor defensively, we gifted them at least three of the goals.
“If it wasn’t for our goalkeeper (Wojciech Gajda) by the way he was outstanding, it really could have been far worse.”
On Tuesday, 20th April, evening Haverfordwest County travel to Cardiff Met.
Newtown: Dave Jones, Sean McAllister (Jordan Evans 68), Kieran Mills-Evans, James Davies, Craig Williams (capt), Tyrone Ofori, George Hughes, Shane Sutton, Alexander Fletcher, Lifumpa Mwandwe (Jamie Breese 73), Callum Roberts.
Substitutes not used: Kham Steventon (GK), Jake Phillips, Nick Rushton, Dylan Downs, Ryan Edwards.
Haverfordwest County: Wojciech Gajda, Daniel Summerfield, Alaric Jones, Scott Tancock, Corey Shephard (Sean Pemberton 86), Marcus Griffiths (Daniel James 75), Cameron Keetch (Trystan Jones 75), Kurtis Rees, Elliot Scotcher (capt) (Nicky Palmer 86), Kieran Lewis, Daniel Williams.
Substitutes not used: Joshua La-Grice (GK), Ben Fawcett.
Referee: Nicholas Pratt.
Assistants: Ashley Davis & Richard Dolphin.
Fourth Official: Alex McInch.