Dafabet Welsh Premier League
Friday 1st January 2016
Aberystwyth Town 1 Haverfordwest County 2
Two goals from livewire Luke Borelli earned visitors Haverfordwest a New Year's Day win at Park Avenue this afternoon. Aber Captain Stuart Jones had dragged the Black and Greens back into the game with a 68th minute equaliser after Borelli had opened the scoring just before the break, but an 88th minute strike straight from a free kick won the game for the Bluebirds.
On a difficult pitch Aber started in determined mood, but no more so than the visitors who also contributed fully to a frenetic start. In fact after the initial blows were traded it was the Haverfordwest who went on to dominate the first half, with Aber struggling to put together meaningful passing moves. Borelli had a shot deflected for a corner, then Declan Carroll put a free header over the bar and Jordan Follows sent in an effort which home keeper Mike Lewis punched to safety. Lewis then denied Kieran Howard with an excellent reflex save with his feet, and then contrived to clear a shot from Borelli which hit both posts, to keep the home side in it. At the other end the visitors were defending well with only dangerous crosses from Antonio Corbisiero and Geoff Kellaway causing concern. JUst as the home side were thinking they had succesfully weathered the storm, Ricky Watts burst down the right wing and cut back for Borelli to smash home a 44th minute opener which the Bluebirds certainly deserved.
Aber had the benefit of the wind in the second half, and playing towards the Dias Stand they made the second half a much more equal affair. After asserting thelselves with some territorial pressure, Lewis again had to be alert at the other end to rush out and smother the ball in front of Jordan Follows, and then at the other end a goalmouth scarmble created by good play from Craig Williams down the left and Jamie Reed inside, was fired wide by sub Liam Jaques. Lewis again burst out to deny Follows, and then Chris Venables saw a dangerous curling shot deflected for a corner. Finally with 22 minutes to go Craig Williams' inswinging corner was tapped in at the far post by Captain Jones, and the game was there to be won. On came Aber, with Reed setting up Corbisiero to shoot over the bar, and with Geoff Kellaway looking increasingly menacing the flying winger from Felinfach had a shot blocked, and another one saved by Craig Morris in quick succession. Reed then rounded Morris from a huge goal kick but sent his shot just wide, and then back came the visitors with the hard working Corbisiero doing well to block Steff Williams' effort. The with only two minutes to go disaster struck for the Black and Greens when the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, and Borelli sent in a worldie of a free kick zooming into Lewis' top right hand corner to win the game. Venables had his own dangerous free kick deflected to safety, but the game was up and Haverfordwest could celebrate a victory which on the balance of play they probably deserved.
Although this defeat was a big blow to Ian Hughes' men, results elsewhere this afternoon mean that Aberystwyth Town can still make the Top Six, and two wins from their last two home games could be enough to make the top half of the table. Town's Double Date with Destiny starts on Friday 8th January, at home to Port Talbot Town (kick off 7.45pm). The Greens Fight On!
Friday 1st January 2016
Aberystwyth Town 1 Haverfordwest County 2
Two goals from livewire Luke Borelli earned visitors Haverfordwest a New Year's Day win at Park Avenue this afternoon. Aber Captain Stuart Jones had dragged the Black and Greens back into the game with a 68th minute equaliser after Borelli had opened the scoring just before the break, but an 88th minute strike straight from a free kick won the game for the Bluebirds.
On a difficult pitch Aber started in determined mood, but no more so than the visitors who also contributed fully to a frenetic start. In fact after the initial blows were traded it was the Haverfordwest who went on to dominate the first half, with Aber struggling to put together meaningful passing moves. Borelli had a shot deflected for a corner, then Declan Carroll put a free header over the bar and Jordan Follows sent in an effort which home keeper Mike Lewis punched to safety. Lewis then denied Kieran Howard with an excellent reflex save with his feet, and then contrived to clear a shot from Borelli which hit both posts, to keep the home side in it. At the other end the visitors were defending well with only dangerous crosses from Antonio Corbisiero and Geoff Kellaway causing concern. JUst as the home side were thinking they had succesfully weathered the storm, Ricky Watts burst down the right wing and cut back for Borelli to smash home a 44th minute opener which the Bluebirds certainly deserved.
Aber had the benefit of the wind in the second half, and playing towards the Dias Stand they made the second half a much more equal affair. After asserting thelselves with some territorial pressure, Lewis again had to be alert at the other end to rush out and smother the ball in front of Jordan Follows, and then at the other end a goalmouth scarmble created by good play from Craig Williams down the left and Jamie Reed inside, was fired wide by sub Liam Jaques. Lewis again burst out to deny Follows, and then Chris Venables saw a dangerous curling shot deflected for a corner. Finally with 22 minutes to go Craig Williams' inswinging corner was tapped in at the far post by Captain Jones, and the game was there to be won. On came Aber, with Reed setting up Corbisiero to shoot over the bar, and with Geoff Kellaway looking increasingly menacing the flying winger from Felinfach had a shot blocked, and another one saved by Craig Morris in quick succession. Reed then rounded Morris from a huge goal kick but sent his shot just wide, and then back came the visitors with the hard working Corbisiero doing well to block Steff Williams' effort. The with only two minutes to go disaster struck for the Black and Greens when the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, and Borelli sent in a worldie of a free kick zooming into Lewis' top right hand corner to win the game. Venables had his own dangerous free kick deflected to safety, but the game was up and Haverfordwest could celebrate a victory which on the balance of play they probably deserved.
Although this defeat was a big blow to Ian Hughes' men, results elsewhere this afternoon mean that Aberystwyth Town can still make the Top Six, and two wins from their last two home games could be enough to make the top half of the table. Town's Double Date with Destiny starts on Friday 8th January, at home to Port Talbot Town (kick off 7.45pm). The Greens Fight On!
