Haverfordwest County 0
Aberystwyth Town 1

Aber deserved the three points as their attacking was always slightly more incisive, but in the end the heavy snow-storm which hit the Bridge Meadow early in the first half was too much for both sides.

Derek Brazil had shuffled his pack for this game, slotting Damon Searle in just in front of a back three, a position where Damon always seems happier. He then played Ricky Watts and Kristian Griffiths as wide midfield players, and, although neither is an out-and-out winger, each contributed enough in a wide role to suggest that this new formation might make for more variety in attack.

For the first half-hour, much of the Blues attacking was purposeful without ever getting through to the core of the Aber defence. The closest they came was when Aber’s Gareth Hughes stabbed a ball just wide of his own post, when harried by Watts and Steffan Williams.

The most vigorous attack of all saw Jack Christopher and Paul Michael flying to meet the same right-wing cross, Michael plunging on in vain into the back of the net and Christopher (after colliding with goalkeeper Cann) laid out with the shoulder injury which was to compound his miserable season and take him off the pitch at half-time. The Seasiders had slightly fewer moves in this half, but looked rather more dangerous when they did attack. There was still an element of fortune about their one goal. As on Boxing Day, it was scored when effervescent midfielder Luke Sherbon met a cross from the right, but this time, Lee Idzi slipped and the ball was in.

By the time the second half had started, the conditions were making quick, dangerous football almost impossible.

Neither Williams nor Robbie Walters, who had come on for the injured Christopher, was able to make any headway against big centre back Aneurin Thomas, and the Blues couldn’t find any way through on the flanks either. Aber could do little better against a defence in which Jamie Grimes, Kyle Graves and Terry Evans stayed cool and composed to the end. Their only real chance fell to sub Cledan Davies but he screwed his shot across the face of Idzi’s goal.

On Saturday, January 8th, the Blues entertain Prestatyn Town. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Haverfordwest County: Lee Idzi, Terry Evans, Damon Searle, Jamie Grimes, Kyle Graves, Kristian Griffiths, Ricky Watts, Jamie Bradford (Nicky Woodrow 55’), Steffan Williams, Jack Christopher (Robbie Walters 46’), Paul Michael (Rob Morgan 85’) Sub not used: Craig George.

Aberystwyth Town: Steve Cann, Steve Bowen, Gareth Hughes, Aneurin Thomas, Sion James, Luke Sherbon, Geoff Kellaway (Cledan Davies 59’), Bari Morgan, Graham Evans (Joel Richardson 88’), Luke Bowen, Glyndwr Hughes (Rob Evans 85’). Subs not used: Christian Edwards, Tom Bowen.