Welsh League Division One - Monmouth Town 2 Haverfordwest County 4

AFTER a well-earned point the week before, Monmouth Town Kingfishers were looking to extend their unbeaten home run as they welcomed West Wales based side Haverfordwest County to the Sportsground. Manager Andrew Smith made two changes to his side that drew to Goytre United, bringing in the returning Ford brothers for Kazeem Kareem and Dan Spence.

Haverfordwest started the game the brighter of the two sides playing various combinations and midfield rotations troubling the Kingfisher’s defence. The first chance of the game went to the away side when their midfielder floated a corner into the box which came out to their winger who shot first time; his shot flew way over the bar.

Perhaps against the run of play the home side took the lead when Mitchell Palmer floated a free kick from the halfway line into the box and found Rob Laurie, who headed it down, for Nick Harrhy on the penalty spot who emphatically volleyed into the bottom corner.

Despite going behind County continued to dominate the early stages of the game and could have found the equaliser in the 15th minute, when goalkeeper Lee Williams did well to tip a shot around the post.

The Bluebirds’ dominance eventually paid off and they gained an equaliser five minutes later. A through ball was played through Monmouth’s defence which striker Rhys Dalling ran on to and went one on one with Lee Williams. Dalling’s powerful shot was parried by Williams but the re-bound was netted by Haverfordwest striker Steffan Williams.

The Kingfishers responded well to the goal and started to have more composure on the ball and were playing the ball out from the back with added intensity. They had a great chance to take the lead once again after half an hour when Alex O’Leary whipped an inviting ball into the box. Haverfordwest’s defender cleared it but only to Monmouth’s winger, Sam Palmer, who took a touch and shot just over the bar.

Monmouth continued to dominate in the later stages of the half and gained their reward for positive play on the stroke of half time. Ashley Ford played a long throw into the box finding Sam Palmer who took a touch and was tripped by a Haverfordwest player. Harrhy stepped up to take it for the Kingfishers and calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Haverfordwest started the second half like they started the first, and five minutes later the visitors drew level. Aaron Davies lost the ball on the edge of the box to Haverfordwest’s winger Steffan Williams who beat Lee Williams, slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

County continued to dominate the game and five minutes later they took the lead when their winger cut in on his left foot and shot, which Lee Williams saved but could only tip to Haverfordwest player Ashley Bevan who had an easy tap in.

Monmouth continued to search for an equaliser in the later stages of the game and pressed the Bluebirds high up the pitch, but were vulnerable on the break. Haverfordwest caught the Kingfishers out and made sure they secured all three points when they played a long ball over the Town’s defence which their striker Bevan ran onto and, one on one with Lee Williams, found the bottom corner of the net.

Manager Andrew Smith described the loss as “frustrating” and “poor”. He said after the game: “I felt we created loads of chances and we looked dangerous on the break. I thought we had enough chances to win the game but individual errors costed us the three points we so badly needed”.

The Kingfishers are home again next Sunday in the first round of the JD Welsh Cup against minnows Brecon Corries. Kick-off is 2.30pm.