The Trip to Lloegr

This game was set up to be a classic. The Blues went into the game unbeaten in 8 and keeping 14 clean sheets in the league. The New Saints were on a winning streak of 9 in the league and had won the Nathaniel MG Cup versus a defiant Aberystwyth the week before.

This was our best form for a long, long time. Sometimes in football, records like this can paper over the cracks, but this couldn’t be further from the truth for Haverfordwest. 

In my opinion, this altered the mindset by thinking we could go toe-to-toe with the reigning and soon-to-be 17-time champions of the Cymru Premier. 

This just wasn’t the right plan.

The New Saints played very well. There’s no denying that. They started very brightly and had a lot of the ball. Their game plan was simple: attack at our left and right centre backs, spin them and get the ball out quickly to their wingers, Adam Wilson and Ryan Brobbel. Making up their attacking trident was Remi Oteh, who was sensational, to be fair. Every time he had the ball, he looked like he was going to do something; well, most of the time, he did do something.

Most of their goals came from playing and utilising wing play. A lot of their goals ended up being harder to miss rather than score, such was the good attacking wing play of the hosts.

You can’t fault the way they play football, it is an attractive, attacking style that any neutral would enjoy watching. Unfortunately for the Bluebirds, everything they did turned to gold for them.

We were poor today, too. I’m not going to go into detail about what player could have, should have, etcetera, but it’s always frustrating when this happens because we are so much better than how we performed.

When TNS were already 3 up, we did find it hard to get back into the game. But Zac Jones, had other plans. He took the ball in our own half and found Owain Jones in the last third, similar to how he found Ben Ahmun versus Bala, and he was in. His initial shot deflected from the woodwork. He was too determined, however and slotted in the rebound. Owain’s 6th goal this season was the only Bluebirds goal that we would celebrate today.

I must credit the substitution of Greg Walters for the second half. There was lots of talk with the many fans who travelled to England about why Greg didn’t start, as he has been our best player this season. I would argue that we brought Greg back for these tricky away games for his tenacity alone. When he came on, we were so much better on the ball. He was able to put his foot on the ball and keep possession better. He did transform how we played, and if it was any other team in the league, I wouldn’t have bet against him being instrumental in a comeback draw or even a victory. I think he’s already earned the accolade of our Player of the Season.

No matter how many goals went in, the travelling faithful never gave up in their singing and supporting our Bluebirds. Even the strict jobsworth who asked us to sit down wasn’t going to dampen our moods.

What dampened the mood was the poor beer, the hypocritical Dragon mascot and the ability to only use 1 stand in the stadium.

Maybe it is because the Haverfordwest matchday experience is so far superior to the English side that Park Hall felt like a closed-down library at times.

The library would have had a better atmosphere.

They went onto score twice more and were easily 4 goals better than us on the day. Credit where credit is due. On the field, they are worthy champions.

They may have substantial funds, a full-time side in a semi-professional league and record amounts of trophies, but I would never trade what Haverfordwest represents in community, passion and an organic evolution over time.

Plus, I’d rather follow a Welsh team anyway.

Full-time The New Saints 5-1 Haverfordwest. Recorded attendance: 634 (if you believe it)