JD Cymru Premier
Haverfordwest County 1 – The New Saints 3
Champions The New Saints as expected gained a comfortable victory against a gallant Haverfordwest County outfit at the Bridge Meadow Stadium.
Bluebirds’ manager Tony Pennock made one change from the team that lost at home to Bala Town last week, in comes goalkeeper Zac Jones and 16-year-old John Chesters is on the bench.
The New Saints picked up their eleventh win of the campaign and are top of league whilst Haverfordwest County sit third from bottom on the same points as second from bottom Newtown.
The full professional outfit had Ryan Brobbel to thank who scored twice to give TNS a 2-0 half time lead, shortly after the break substitute Declan McManus added a third before Rhys Abbruzzese’s superb late deflected strike grabbed his side’s only goal.
Pennock’s team competed well for the opening 30 minutes, but the visitors took the lead in the 36th minute when Brobbel’s scored directly form a corner, with the Bluebirds players remonstrated that keeper Zac Jones was impeded by Adrian Cieslewicz.
That goal was a bitter blow for the hosts, the visitors added their second of the afternoon two minutes before the interval when Brobbel played a neat one-two with teammate skipper Chris Marriott, the striker cut in from the by-line and drilled a low shot past keeper Zac Jones into the far corner.
McManus scores shortly after break
A minute after the break the hosts conceded a soft third goal when Jordan Davies square pass fell kindly for the visitors who set up McManus who slotted past Jones from a one-on-one.
Haverfordwest County did well not to concede any further goals as McManus flashed a shot wide
Dugan and Wilson denied by Roberts
At the other end, the hosts were extremely unlucky not to pull one back as substitute Elliott Dugan was denied inside the box by Connor Roberts, minutes later Jack Wilson had a sweetly struck close range volley stopped by the excellent keeper.
The game ebbed and flowed as Josh Daniels’ cross was met with a firm header by Leo Smith that flew over the crossbar.
Keeper Jones pulled off an excellent diving save to deny substitute Jake Canavan from adding to their tally.
In added time the Bluebirds finally grabbed a goal which they richly deserved and was orchestrated by a fine run and cross down the right by Wilson, the ball fell to Abbruzzese outside the 18-yard box, the defender let fly which took a deflection off Keston Davies as it wrong footed Roberts and crashed into the back of the net.
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones, Rhys Abbruzzese, Elliot Scotcher (62’ Ricky Watts), Dylan Rees (Captain), Kyle Patten (70’ Iori Humphreys), Ben Fawcett, Jordan Davies, Jamie Veale, Jack Wilson, Harri John (58’ Elliott Dugan).
Substitutes not used: John Chesters, Ryan George, Lucas Davies.
The New Saints: Connor Roberts, Chris Marriott (Captain) (53’ Daniel Davies), Keston Davies, Ryan Astles, Jonathan Routledge, Joshua Daniels, Ryan Brobbel, Daniel Redmond, Adrian Cieslewicz (76’ Jake Canavan), Leo Smith (76’ Ben Clark), Adam Wilson (37’ Declan McManus).
Substitutes not used: Luke Simpson, Daniel Williams, Billy Kirkman.
Referee: David Horgan.
Assistants: Peter Sheils & Bryn Jones.
Fourth Official: Kenny Ryan.
