Haverfordwest County 2. The New Saints 2.

A spirited and skilful display saw the Bluebirds through to a thoroughly deserved point — and it was very nearly three, until The New Saints’ equaliser deep in injury time.

The degree of heart and skill showed by the whole team illustrated very clearly just how far the side has come in the ten months since they lost 4-0 to TNS last season.

For this was a night on which many of the side’s younger players had to call upon qualities of resilience and coolness not always needed against sides like Airbus and Welshpool.

Goalkeeper Lee Idzi soaked up tremendous pressure from a succession of superbly-flighted corners from the Saints’ Craig Williams and, although he was twice forced to punch clear, he generally did superbly well under a real physical pounding.

Midfielder Paul Michael, who was playing for Risca United just a few months ago, showed that he is now an accomplished Welsh Premier player.

Meanwhile, Nicky Woodrow and Jack Christopher found themselves against a very tough defence, led by the powerful Alex Darlington, and both of them dug in, harried and waited for their moment. They had one chance on goal each and each was beautifully taken.

The Blues started extremely brightly and looked well in contention until the 20th minute when John Toner poached an opportunist goal.

For the next 15 minutes, the Blues defence felt the full weight of a professional side powering forward in the ascendancy, but Idzi, Terry Evans, Craig Hanford, Bobby Briers and Jehu West man-of-the match Lee Jarman defended superbly.

Slowly, the pressure eased and on the stroke of half-time the Blues equalised.

Tom Ramasut floated a free kick in from the left and the ball broke to Woodrow. It was there to be belted, he belted it and the scores were level.

Derek Brazil made a bold start to the second half by bringing on a fired-up Neil Thomas and playing him almost as a third striker.

The second goal though in the 75th minute, was a fine strike from Jack Christopher, who thundered through from just inside the Saints half, in a one-on-two with defender and keeper, before planting a lovely low finish in the bottom corner.

For quarter of an hour more, the Blues defended as stubbornly as ever, and it was a real sickener when, two minutes into injury time, a long throw looped in and Toner was able to pinch the equaliser.

Haverfordwest County: Idzi; Evans, Hanford, Michael, Jarman, Briers (Thomas, 45), Hartley, Ramasut (Gilderdale, 82), Woodrow, Christopher, Pierce (Blain, 77).