Rhyl 2.

Haverfordwest County 0.

The Bluebirds will take a lot of credit from a game in which a storming second half comeback saw Nick Woodrow's shot come off the bar and two very likely penalty shouts turned down.

The Blues made two changes from the team which had done so well against Carmarthen with Woodrow returning for the suspended Jack Christopher, and new signing Adif Bashir slotting into the heart of the defence in place of Jonathan Coates.

It was one of Rhyl's new signings however who had the first impact, with an opening goal on nine minutes.

Marc Lloyd Williams, the Welsh Premier's all-time top scorer, had already scored 16 for Newtown this season, but he does tend to roam from club to club.

There is little doubt however about his ability to find the back of the net, and on Saturday he pounced after Dave Cameron had headed on the cross from another new signing, Greg Stones.

The combination of Stones and Lloyd Williams continued to threaten, but at this stage it was yet another fine goalkeeping display by Lee Idzi which kept the game nicely poised.

The second Rhyl goal, in the 35th minute, was a streaky one, as Stones' back-heel fed Craig Jones and the front runner's shot took a huge deflection.

The Blues could so easily have pulled the margin back to a single goal just five minutes later when Woodrow's through ball found Luke Bowen, whose shot drew a brilliant save from Lee Kendall.

The start of the second half saw the visitors surging to the attack. Woodrow's chip came back off the bar, and there were two vehement penalty appeals, first for a hand-ball and a second when Chris Roberts seemed to haul down Mike Hartley.

There was just time for Rhyl to get back into the game and for Idzi to save very well again from Lloyd Williams, but the final score-line left the Lilywhites looking more comfortable winners than maybe they were.

And the next big question is whether the Blues can go two or three goals better at the Bridge Meadow next weekend, when Rhyl are the visitors in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup. Saturday's game, as well as the game against Carmarthen in mid-week, typified Welsh Premier football at its very best, and the second Rhyl game should be a real cracker. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Idzi; Evans, Shafir (Coates, 64), Gilderdale, Elliott, Hartley (George, 73), Hudgell, Ramasut, Bowen, Woodrow, Thomas.

Sub not used: Briers.