Baywatch: Bluebirds Soar

After a great point earned away last week, thanks to a Corey Shephard 90+9 equaliser that made the Cofis bitter on Twitter, we were in good spirits. This followed on from really good performances in the league versus TNS and Connah's Quay. Losing the former was quite unlucky, but playing really well and coming back from 2-0 down after 30 minutes to draw 3-3 vs the latter was really pleasing. 

This shows what we have been saying for months. Overall, our performances have been mostly positive, and 2 late goals to earn a point away at Connah’s Quay and Caernarfon show that this group of lads never stop believing in their ability and picking up points away from home is always a positive. 

This fixture had been built up for a while... by us anyway! We have positive interactions with Bay fans, and our match report from the reverse fixture is still the most viewed blog on here, so cheers, lads! But also, the club hosted a family and kids event with a bouncy castle, pop-up games, face painting, etc, so there was a really good feeling around the Ogi Bridge Meadow. We put our flags up and went to our usual pre-clubhouse pint in Wetherspoons. 

Whilst enjoying a few drinks here, we met a couple of Bay fans and had a good chat with them. We had agreed that we would both take a draw now. We wished each other well, but not too well, and proceeded back to our home, The Socially Distant Sports Bar (aka the clubhouse). 

A couple more drinks there, and we had acquired the drum and went to our usual spot under the gantry. 

Everything clicked in this game. We were able to play our great style of football. Passing the ball like it was a training match at times. The opposing side came to ruffle feathers by playing to outmuscle and frustrate us, and oftentimes this does work against us. But we were able to play our positive game, making the most of the happy and good support on the sidelines. 

Greg being out could have been a huge blow but Panashe, marking out former Bluebird and Colwyn Bay talisman, Jordan Davies out of the game, Kyle Kenniford finding cute passes that open the game up, and Corey Shephard? Well, the man is currently playing like Paul Scholes. His long passes, vision and tenacity in the last few games, but this game specifically was a joy to watch. 

In the reverse fixture Alex Brown didn’t have very much to do in goal, but thankfully in this game our Bluebirds made him earn his money today. Early chances from Dylan Rees, Kyle Kenniford and a half volley from Corey Shephard reminded the opposing keeper that today was not going to be as easy as he had it back in September.

The ref today wasn’t a card-happy one as we always seem to find; although there were a couple of instances where the opposition were very physical and probably should have warranted cards, but thankfully this didn’t impact the result.

In the half he played, Owain Jones seemed to have the ball glued to his feet. On the half turn, and running at defence, he was unfazed. Finishing left a lot to be desired, but Owain is another player of ours who never hides from the ball and will always look to impact the game regardless of how many minutes he gets.

The second half saw the return of local hero Ben Fawcett who instantly did what he does best, by running at the defence in the final third and getting fouled in the box, in my opinion. No penalty awarded… 

The Bluebirds were on top and just needed one goal to emphasise their superiority. A brilliant passing move saw the ball at Rhys Abbruzzese’s feet.

SHOOOOOT!  

And shoot, he does! His quick feet found space away from the jockeying defender and fired it towards the goal. It takes a bounce away from the keeper and nestles in the back of the net. 

Superb. The home side deserved to be in front. But you just knew the attacking threat of Bay was going to intensify.

Haverfordwest, though, continued to attack, smelling blood, but the goal just didn’t come.

The final 10 minutes was all Colwyn Bay. Attack after attack. Chance after chance. These final minutes felt agonisingly long. Luc Rees and a solid back line, which was added to by the substitutions of Iori Humphreys and Alaric Jones, saw the game out.

A great and professional display by Haverfordwest. What a way to celebrate the Fun Day that was organised so brilliantly by Beccy and Harry.

The drinks were flowing, and we had good chats and laughs with our brilliant Bluebirds. What was great though, we had a good laugh and chat with some of the travelling Bay fans. Different ones to the fans from earlier. Even having a photo in the photobooth with some of them. Honestly, the best fans we’ve had down here. Closely followed by the Briton Ferry fans who came down last season.

A wonderful day which all of the family enjoyed. We now have a week off before facing Barry Town United on the 28th of November. We are now out of the relegation zone and only have to play bottom 6 sides in the rest of phase one. Plenty of points to be won, and only 5 points from 6th place…anything can happen!

#UTFB 

Full time: Haverfordwest County 1-0 Colwyn Bay. Attendance: 767