Haverfordwest County 3 Aberystwyth Town 1: Match Report

JD Cymru Premier
Friday 23rd December
Haverfordwest County 3 Aberystwyth Town 1
 
On a rainy night in Pembrokeshire Aberystwyth Town ended up on the wrong end of an exciting game, with hosts Haverfordwest prevailing by three goals to one. Jordan Davies tapped in their first goal on ten minutes and onetime Seasider Leigh Jenkins nodded home a second in the 24th minute.  Louis Bradford tapped home a response eight minutes before the break, and Aber pressed hard in the second half for an equaliser only for Ben Fawcett to settle matters with five minutes to go.

With Aber facing their second away match in three days, Steff Davies, Harri Horwood and Harry Arnison returned to the starting eleven, and after an even start with Jenkins going close, Jack Wilson crossed for Davies to tap home at the back post, and County were ahead. An entertaining match prevailed with Horwood’s dangerous cross caught by Lee Idzi in the home goal, and Sam Phillips seeing abgoalbound free kick saved by Idzi. Jamie Veale, Ioan Evans and Jordan Davies saw shots saved by Lewis Webb in Aber’s goal, and then Steff Davies fired over from a narrow angle in response. Then came a crucial moment when a long throw from Haverfordwest’s left wing found the head of Jenkins, and he back flicked the ball over Webb’s head to double the lead. Jordan Davies then surged through and smashed the ball against the crossbar to keep Aber in it, and then in the 38th minute the Seasiders halved the lead. After a corner the ball feel to the industrious Iwan Lewis, and his low volley was touched in by Bradford, who scored at the Bridge Meadow for the second season running. Steff Davies then had a shot blocked, Horwood had another free kick gathered by Idzi and the teams went in at 2-1.

Jordan Davies lobbed over a few seconds into the second half, then Arnison did the same after good work from Niall Flint. Lewis then sent a volley wide, and more promising crosses came from Phillips and Jonathan Evans, with Aber passing the ball around nicely and looking good for an equaliser. Sam Litchfield and Louis Bradford were looking strong at the back when Haverfordwest counter attacked, and Webb punched clear a cross from Wilson. Alex Darlington came on to try and unlock the County defence and had a shot blocked after some trickery almost immediately. Jack Thorn then picked out Darlington at the back post, and his low shot somehow contrived to stay out by rebounding off Lee Idzi for an agonising let off for County. Lewis had a chip into the box caught by Idzi, as Aber pressed again, but the hosts were threatening too as sub Elliott Dugan again tested Webb’s hands in a break through. Then with just five minutes to go and the game hanging in the balance, Jordan Davies found space down the right wing to cross for Fawcett to tap home a third, and the contest was settled. Steff Davies had two defiant attempts repelled and Lewis crossed for Jonathan Evans to fire over, and the game was sadly done.

Three consecutive defeats on the road have dampened Aber’s top six ambitions, however the opportunity to revive the team’s fortunes comes around quickly – and the Sesaiders host Newtown in their next JD Cymru Premier match on Boxing Day Monday, with a 2.30pm kick off. We wish you all a merry Black and Green Christmas and will see you at Park Avenue in two days time!