1/2/25
The day had been looked forward to by many blues fans. A rubbish week in school, college and work makes the football on the weekend more important. This game was put on a pedestal, rightfully so too as this was 2nd versus 3rd. Two teams that have seen a rise in the last few years. This could have been something special.
Going into the game, I would say most Bluebirds would take a draw away at Penybont. They play a different way against us and whilst this can be very frustrating, it can only be a big compliment showing the increasing improvement of our team.
At 9 am our day starts in the bitterly, frosty cold Pembrokeshire sunshine. January had finally died after being 490 days long and spring is getting closer. Still, this was ‘big coat’ weather.
A 12:15 kick-off is a strange one. Whenever we have travelled up to Penybont it seems to be in the dark so seeing the journey in morning daylight was an odd feeling.
After a scheduled coffee stop in Pont Abraham, we arrived at the SDM Glass Stadium about 45 minutes before kick-off. There is a lot you can say about Penybont but their Clubhouse is just different gravy. A big multi-purpose venue with lots of seating and plenty of drinking options makes this one of the best in the league. Though I did wince at the thought of paying £5.10 for a pint of Heineken. But when you pay using your phone it doesn’t come out of the bank…right?!
The flags were up, all travelling blues had taken the stand we usually occupy and the chants had started. There was lots of optimism for this game. The game begins.
The Penybont tactic was apparent almost straight away and continued for the whole game. They didn’t play like the home team, they soaked up pressure and lumped it forward more often than not to their star attackers Chris Venables and the new boy this season, James Crole, both men already scoring 7 goals this season. Not as good as our Ahmun’s nine, however….
Haverfordwest had some great chances in the first half. The best comes from Ben Fawcett. A pacey, long cross in from Kyle McCarthy on the left found Lee Jenkins’ head on the other side of the box. Jenks was able to direct the ball to Ben Fawcett whose header struck the post. Oh so, so close! A brilliant move which ended agonisingly close.
We had a few half chances but nothing seemed to stick. Zac Jones being as secure as ever did have some work to do but this was no trouble for our Kiwi between the sticks.
Alaric was replaced by Luke Tabone after going after a floated ball in with an audacious diving header that unfortunately saw him land awkwardly on his arm. Despite this and looking a bad one, he put on a brave face and got a good reaction from the travelling blue faithful.
The second half didn’t see many real attempts from either side. This was as cagey a match as you would ever see.
From a neutral watching live on Sgorio I imagine you had to be disappointed. Penybont, who had already scored 43 goals this season played like the away team. Playing very defensively and not really looking like scoring. The also apparent noisy ‘Bont Bank’ didn’t fancy watching the brilliant Bluebirds by the looks of it as it was very quiet. Their young mascots making more noise than the Bank.
I don’t make this point being snide, I make this point as usually the back-and-forth chanting between us and the Bont Bank is enjoyable.
VAR lite is coming soon into the Cymru Premier and whilst VAR has seen its criticism over the years, it would have been very helpful today. During the second half, Haverfordwest were starting an attack on the right-hand side when Gabriel Kirkough's unsafe, two-footed tackle on Dan Hawkins should have seen red. Just a yellow…
Then in the 94th minute, Haverfordwest were trying one final attack with the ball heading toward Owain Jones on the left wing. All of a sudden a late, flying tackle from Ben Morgan took out the talented Bluebird and we went mad. An awful tackle that the Penybont man had no intention of winning the ball should have seen red. This was always going to get the reaction that it did from us. Again only yellow.
So whilst VAR has its criticisms it would have seen Penybont go down to 9.
I wish I could describe more events that happened but the battle between 2nd and 3rd ended in a stalemate. Again the midfield duo of, captain for the day, Corey Shephard and player of the season contender Greg Walters were instrumental in how we were able to dominate the midfield.
Overall I do think we deserved the win, especially from how we played in the first half. Unfortunately though if you don’t make the most of your chances you won’t win.
We go back to the Clubhouse to enjoy the best the bar has to offer. We spoke to a group of Bont fans who shared the same opinions that they would have taken a draw beforehand too.
It was a quick trip home and all in time to watch The Masked Singer...oh how I'm feeling my age now!
UPPA Blues.
Full-time Penybont 0-0 Haverfordwest County. Attendance 354.
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