HAVERFORDWEST County manager Tony Pennock issued a wake up call to his players after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Penybont in the JD Cymru Premier on Friday night.

A well-taken header by Lewis Harling and an audacious lob from Kane Owen in each half sentenced the Bluebirds to defeat on a rainswept evening at the SDM Glass Stadium.

After a draw and a defeat in their opening two games, Pennock is looking for a positive response when they host Caernarfon at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium this weekend.

 "Up until the goal, I thought we were the better side, but Penybont are a very good team, they finished third last year, they've improved the side again and have got far more experience than we have," said Pennock.

"In the second half, I thought they controlled the game, they played to the conditions much better. I thought we had the best two chances of the game, but we didn't take them and they took theirs.

"They were disappointing goals to concede, both of them, but it was a good game for us to have tonight.

"I think one or two people in that dressing room need to realise how tough this division is, and just because we have a couple of good games in Europe, it doesn't mean that you are just going to win games in the Cymru Premier."

The Bluebirds had their chances, with Martell Taylor-Crossdale going around Bont keeper Alex Harris, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Dan Jefferies.

At the other end, Keyon Reffell struck a low shot narrowly wide, and the breakthrough came on 37 minutes with an excellent header by Harling which flew into the top corner

Daniel Hawkins missed a good chance to level matters at the back post before half time, but there was no way back as Penybont stamped their authority in the second period.

The points were sealed 10 minutes from time when keeper Zac Jones punched clear, only for Owen to find the back of the net with an excellent lob, and it was now game over.

Substitute Harri John forced a brilliant save from Harris, and Ben Fawcett also saw a header tipped over the bar, but Penybont made it two wins from two league matches. 

PENYBONT: Alex Harris, Mark Little, Kane Owen (Captain), Ashley Evans (68’ Shaun MacDonald), Daniel Jefferies, Mael Davies (86’ Ryan Reynolds), Lewis Harling, Chris Venables (86’ Daniel Griffiths), Henry Jones (60’ Gabriel Kircough), Billy Borge, Keyon Reffell. Substitutes not used: Alex Pennock, Lewys Wate, Eduardo Bregua.

HAVERFORDWEST: Zac Jones, Jack Wilson (45’ Ricky Watts),  Luke Tabone (Captain), Lee Jenkins, Oscar Borg, Rhys Abbruzzese, Tyrese Owen, Kai Whitmore, Ben Fawcett, Daniel Hawkins, Martell Taylor-Crossdale (77’ Harri John). Substitutes not used: Ifan Knott, Williams-Lowe, Iori Humphreys, Lucas Davies, Daniel John.