JD Cymru Premier – Play Off Conference

 


 

Haverfordwest County 2 – Caernarfon Town 2

 
Twice Haverfordwest County surrendered the lead against Caernarfon Town as this entertaining tussle finished in a draw at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium.
 
Jack Wilson scored a cracker which gave the Bluebirds an early lead, but the Canaries immediately equalised through a soft goal by Gruffydd Williams as the score read at 1-1 at half time. Substitute Kyle Patten restored the lead for the hosts, but an own goal by Jordan Davies levelled matters again, two minutes from full time Darren Thomas picked up a second yellow which reduced the visitors to ten men.
 
In previous games this season between the teams, it was the Bluebirds who narrowly won 1-0 on the opening day of the season, thanks to a late Jordan Davies far post header, last month the Bluebirds lost 2-0 at the Oval as Laurie Bell and Joe Faux scored for the Canaries.
 
The visitors had the first shot of the afternoon as Robert Hughes drilled wide from the edge of the box, at the other end Dan Hawkins slide a clever ball through to Jordan Davies, whose shot is blocked by advancing keeper Joshua Tibbetts.
 

Wilson strikes superb opener

 
Tony Pennock’s Bluebirds opened the scoring in the 12^th minute when Jamie Veale’s brilliant crossfield pass from distance was controlled beautifully by Jack Wilson inside the  box, he took a superb first touch before nonchalantly put the ball into the net.
 
However, the lead was short lived as the visitors equalised just two minutes later when the unmarked Gruffydd John scored with an easy six yard volley from a corner.
 
Minutes later the lively Dan Hawkins pushed his low shot wide of the post, Jordan Davies agonisingly failed to get a touch on a well flighted ball in the box.
 
On the half hour mark, Jazz Richards left the field with a leg injury after he fell heavily in an aerial challenge, the former Welsh international was replaced in the defence by Kyle Patten.
 
After the break the industrious midfielder Henry Jones’ dangerous cross evaded everyone in the box, Wilson blasted a good chance from inside the area over the crossbar.
 
Midway through the second period the Bluebirds continued to probe as Henry Jones’ ambitious shot flew over Tibbetts’ crossbar.




 

Kyle restores Bluebirds’ lead

 
The hosts regained the lead in the 71^st minute, a well worked short corner which involved Hawkins, Abbruzzese and Wilson’s clever cutback fell to Patten to stab home from inside the six yard box.
 
A few minutes later disaster struck as a deep long throw-in in the Bluebirds’ box saw Jordan Davies glance a header into his own net, at the other end the striker had a chance to redeem himself as he put a close range diving header wide.
 
Two minutes from the end the visitors were reduced to ten men as Darren Thomas put in a late tackle in on Abbruzzese and was issued a red card by referee David Morgan.
 
In the end the Bluebirds had to be content with a draw as they currently stay three points clear at the top of the Play Off Conference table.
 
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones, Jazz Richards (30’ Kyle Patten), Rhys Abbruzzese, Dylan Rees (Captain), Lee Jenkins, Henry Jones (76’ Corey Shephard), Oscar Borg (65’ Ioan Evans), Jamie Veale, Jordan Davies, Jack Wilson, Daniel Hawkins.
Substitutes not used: Lee Idzi, Iori Humphreys, Elliott Dugan, Harri John.
 
Caernarfon Town: Joshua Tibbetts, Iwan Cartwright, Gruffydd Williams, Dion Donohue (Captain), Sion Bradley, Daniel Gosset, Darren Thomas, Robert Hughes (78’ Cai Powell), Ben Wynne, Josef Faux (83’ Cai Griffith), Rhys Williams (64’ Thomas Hughes-Marsh).
Substitutes not used: Ryan Woods, Caio Evans, Fabrizio Murtas.
 
Referee: David Morgan.
Assistants: Lewiss Edwards & Matthew Johnson.
Fourth Official: Tom Bevan.
Referee Observer: Nigel Richards.