Date Competition Opposition Venue Result Scorers 22.08 LoW Total Network Sol. H 1-3 Walker 29.08 LoW Afan Lido A 2-0 Rickard, Gay 01.09 GLoWCprem Afan Lido H 2-2 Gay, ? 09.09 LoW Rhayader Town A 2-2 Gay, Mainwaring 12.09 LoW Newtown H 2-0 A.Jones, Timothy 15.09 GLoWCprem-rep Afan Lido A 1-0 Gay 19.09 LoW Inter Cabletel H 0-1 23.09 GLoWC1 Carmarthen Town A 2-1 A.Jones, Gay 26.09 LoW Bangor City H 0-0 03.10 LoW Cwmbran Town A 0-4 10.10 LoW Holywell Town H 7-2 Gay 3, A.Jones, Rickard, George, R.Evans 17.10 WC2 Bridgend Town H 6-0 24.10 LoW Conwy United A 2-0 Rickard, Burrows 31.10 LoW Rhyl H 5-2 Gay 4, RickardPrior to last Saturday's round of fixtures, Haverfordwest were lying fourth in the League of Wales, with 17 points from their first 10 LoW matches. Currently, the West Walian club have former Maesteg boss Mike Ellery as manager, with former Barry and Cardiff manager, Eddie May, as Director of Football.
Despite that, the season didn't begin in a perfect fashion, as Total Network Solutions won 3-1 at Bridge Meadow on the opening day. Paul Walker's 31st minute goal was the consolation goal for Haverfordwest. That was an equaliser, but two second half-goals from the Llansantffraid club saw them take all three points.
As a result of their position in last year's League of Wales, Haverfordwest were forced to compete in the preliminary round of this year's Gilbert League of Wales Cup, when they entertained Afan Lido at home. In a 2-2 draw with the Port Talbot club, Richard Gay scored one of the goals, as the Bluebirds twice went ahead. However, the Lido came back into the game, and earnt a replay.
Firstly, though, the two sides met again in a League of Wales match at the Afan Lido Sports Ground in Aberafan. This time, though, Haverfordwest went for the jugular, and two first-half goals killed off their opponents. Jamie Rickard netted after 15 minutes, with Richard Gay scoring ten minutes later to earn Haverfordwest's first LoW points of the season.
A visit to Rhayader's Weirglodd saw the Bluebirds earn another point. Richard Gay scored a 30th minute goal, while Carl Mainwaring scored after 50 minutes in the 2-2 draw.
Back at Bridge Meadow, though, Haverfordwest began to show signs that they were a force to be reckoned with, as they defeated Newtown 2-0. Andy Jones scored the opening goal after 15 minutes, with Billy Timothy adding the killer second goal after 61 minutes.
That was followed by victory in the League of Wales Cup replay. At Afan Lido, the game went to extra time, remaining goalless until the 108th minute, when Richard Gay scored the crucial winning goal.
Unfortunately, that wasn't continued the following weekend, when Inter Cabletel won their first away match of the season at Haverfordwest's expense.
Better was to follow, though, with a visit to local rivals Carmarthen Town in the first round proper of the League of Wales Cup. Despite a goal from ex-Bluebird, Paul Burrows, Haverfordwest kept themselves in the game, Andy Jones having opened the scoring and Richard Gay netting in the 64th minute to earn them tonight's match here at Jenner Park.
However, back at Bridge Meadow, Haverfordwest were part of a goalless draw with a Bangor City side, who had seen their manager resign the week before. More disappointing was a heavy away defeat at Cwmbran Town, with the Crows winning 4-0 over the Bluebirds.
Results were to improve though, beginning with a 7-2 thrashing of Holywell Town. Holywell, did, in fact, take the lead in the 2nd minute, but Richard Gay struck back only a minute later. Andy Jones put Haverfordwest in the lead after 20 minutes, with Jamie Rickard adding to it after 32 minutes. Holywell did pull a goal back, but that wasn't enough to stop a rampant Haverfordwest. Mickey George scored after 49 minutes, while in the final ten minutes, Gay scored twice and Richard Evans also found the net.
That astounding goalscoring form continued the following week with a 6-0 thumping of CC Sports League side, Bridgend Town. Admittedly, the feeder league side did not help themselves, with the sending off of former Barry player, Phil Williams, but it was a nevertheless impressive performance from the Bridge Meadow side, and yet another cup which has seen them draw Barry in the next round.
The goalrush temporarily halted at Conwy's Morfa ground, where the Bluebirds won 2-0 with a 30th minute goal from Jamie Rickard being bolstered by David Burrows's 71st minute strike.
However, at home to Rhyl, Richard Gay again found himself amongst the goals in a 5-2 victory over the North Walians. Rhyl had taken the lead, but Gay struck back in the 14th minute. Rickard then put Haverfordwest ahead after 32 minutes, although Rhyl equalised with a penalty soon after the break. Three goals in nine minutes settled the game in Haverfordwest's favour though, Gay scoring after 53, 57 and 62 minutes.
The Bluebirds traveled to Connah's Quay last weekend, after the matchday magazine went to print. A good result will have maintained not only their League of Wales position, but also their form and confidence, and they'll be looking to get a result tonight, as well as in our two other upcoming matches.
name Full Appearances Sub Apps Goals BARNSLEY, Adrian 1 1 0 BURROWS, David 2 0 1 CEGIELSKI, Jan 0 4 0 DAVIES, Chris 1 5 0 ELLERY, Mike 0 2 0 EVANS, Phil 10 0 0 EVANS, Richard 3 0 1 FREDERICKSON, Neil 9 0 0 GAY, Richard 10 0 9 GEORGE, Mickey 9 1 1 JONES, Andy 7 0 2 JONES, Jason 8 1 0 JONES, John 2 0 0 KISSICK, Lee 4 1 0 MAINWARING, Carl 3 0 1 MOLYNEUX, Richard 3 7 0 OTTEN, Marc 4 2 0 REES, Gavin 8 0 0 RICKARD, Jamie 9 0 4 SCOTT, Morrys 4 3 0 TIMOTHY, Billy 5 2 1 WALKER, Paul 8 1 1
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Haverfordwest County, 10.11.98, Gilbert LoW Cup Rd.2
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