Bluebirds miss out on promotion – but at what cost?
MacWhirter Welsh League – Division One
Cwmbran Celtic 5 – Haverfordwest County 1
Haverfordwest County finished their last game of the season with an embarrassingly heavy defeat at the hands of Cwmbran Celtic.
The visitors trailed 2-1 at half time, with Jack Christopher scoring the visitors’ solitary goal five minutes before the break. Steffan Williams’ low drive hit the post and Christopher scored with the rebound from eight yards.
No excuses
But the visitors were poor and had no excuses as they finished the campaign on a low note. Dom Connor (2), Owen Llewellyn, Lee Challenger and Rikesh Patel bagged the goals for the homesters.
Life begins at 40
Bluebirds youth coach Steve Batty came off the bench, making his Welsh League debut at the age of 37, and he told Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk after the game that he will continue to work hard and will aim to be a regular by the time he is 40!
As a result of losing their last game of the season the Bluebirds will have to settle for fourth position in the table.
West End won the title on Wednesday, winning 2-0 at home to Taffs Well, who finished third, whilst Cambrian & Clydach sealed second, after winning 1-0 at Tata Steel on the same night.
But putting this ‘funny old game’ into context the Bluebirds as a club are perhaps better off staying put, both on the playing side and financially.
This result means that the Bluebirds cannot be promoted to the Welsh Premier, as they have to finish in the top two to qualify for that right.
Bitterly disappointed
Many Bluebirds fans will feel bitterly disappointed, but there are others that believe it is better to compete in division one instead of struggle against far better opposition in the Welsh Premier.
Also there is the financial implications to consider, if they did go back up, with regular trips to North Wales every other weekend would be a cash drain, in recent times just look at the likes of top South Wales clubs such as Neath and Llanelli, both could not keep with the high pay demands of the top flight.
The Reds were wound up recently over an alleged debt of 27,000 in outstanding taxes, but it is believed their overall debt to creditors was in the region of £140,000.
It is a tragedy that a club with such a proud history has been so badly managed in recent times and it comes on the back of the demise of Neath, who were wound up last summer.
Haverfordwest County: Peter Blain; Ricky Watts; Antonio Fucciuto; Lee Bevan; Phil Cattlin; Chris O’Sullivan; Rob Morgans; Sean Pemberton; Owen James; Steffan Williams; Jack Christopher. Substitutes: Nicky Woodrow; Adam Raymond; Steve Batty.
PHOTOS:
Jack Christopher and Chris O'Sullivan celebrate the Bluebirds' solitary goal.
Steve Batty makes his Welsh League debut for the Bluebirds at the age of 37!