OSWESTRY TOWN 3 Haverfordwest County 2

This was a quite remarkable afternoon, when eleven of Pembrokeshires most talented young footballers were pitchforked hastily into League of Wales action and were desperately unlucky not to come away with a point, writes Robert Nisbet.

After the traumas of the week, it remained problematic as to what side caretaker manager Mike Ellis could assemble for this demanding fixture. In the event, the side had an extremely promising look and most certainly gave a very good account of themselves.

They were strong at the back, with the experienced Gavin Rees being flanked by the classy Simon Gilderdale and rugged ex-Milford centre back Jamie Lonergan.

The strike partnership of Matthew Price and Marcus Taylor kept the Oswestry defence stretched and wary, while wing backs Lee Hudgell and Dylan Blain were roaming dangerously, with a strong midfield in ex-Cardiff City player Dean Busby, Jamie Gilderdale and ex-Oxford United Andrew Richards.

The Harfat support present made up 27 of a crowd of 107, and they had to witness an uneasy first ten minutes, as the team took a while to settle. On the ten-minute mark, Oswestry did in fact take the lead when Jonathon Jones lobbed Peter Blain from 12 yards.

The new-look Bluebirds came battling back with an equaliser when Matthew Price went on a run into the box and was brought down. Andrew Richards slotted the penalty away convincingly.

The second Oswestry goal had a slice of luck about it when Aaron Jones cross took an awkward bobble off Gavin Rees boot on an uneven pitch. The ball reached Dave Norman at the far post for him to slot home.

Three minutes later the Bluebirds equalised again from a set piece. Jamie Gilderdale floated in a free kick from 30 yards and Marcus Taylor rose at the far post to send a looping header over keeper Barton.

Oswestry went ahead for the third time through Steve Evans and, remarkably, the Blues came within a whisker of a third equaliser when Matthew Price wriggled through in a one-on-one, only to be denied fortuitously by Bartons leg.

In the second half the Blues defence contained Oswestry very well but when long-range shots and floating corners came in, keeper Peter Blain, having another fine game, dealt with them superbly.

Indeed, it was the Bluebirds who might well have pinched the all-important third goal when Hudgell this time was through on goal, again to be denied by Bartons leg.

The side now prepare for what is, in context, one of the key games in the clubs long history, the third round Welsh Cup-tie against Pontardawe Athletic on the Bridge Meadow on Saturday (kick-off 2.30 pm).

Pontardawe, near the top of the Welsh League First Division and fielding ex-Bluebirds like Martyn James, Simon Dyer and Cerison Davies, will be a stem test, but if ever a side were, as they say, up for it, the new-look Bluebirds will be.

And that brings us to the other group whose contribution could be crucial on Saturday: the fans.

There are so many people out there who have always said they would support Haverfordwest County, if they played local players. So heres their chance.

On Saturday, they will need to get down to the Meadow and to get behind the team. There will be testing times ahead, so they will need to be patient too.

Haverfordwest County: Peter Blain; Dylan Blain, Lee Hudgell, Gavin Rees, Jamie Lonergan, Simon Gilderdale, Jamie Gilderdale, Dean Busby, Andrew Richards, Matthew Price, Marcus Taylor. Subs: Anthony Roberts (for J. Gilderdale), Brett Hawkridge (for S. Gilderdale), Paul Luke.