Sport

Youth defeated in friendly

Published

9 years ago

May 19, 2017

Haverfordwest County Youth XI 1

Swansea City XI 5

THIS end-of-season fixture, played in bright sunshine but a stiff breeze, was keenly but fairly contested and gave real pleasure to a large crowd on Saturday (May 12).

An accomplished Swans’ side totally deserved their win, but were pushed to the end by a determined and resilient Blues outfit.

The young Swans’ obvious class showed from the start. Their touch was good and they looked very well drilled.

The Blues dug in very well in defence and were always looking to break, but made little headway in the first half hour. Swans’ striker Brad Gibbons set up the first real chance to either side on the 17th minute when his shot rasped against the bar.

He then slipped in a brace of goals in the 22nd and 25th minutes after latching on to chances and scoring from close range, with keeper Jack Ackerman having no chance with either. Ackerman in fact had a good game, but surprising amount of his workload involved fielding a few back passes forced under pressure and he did this coolly and well.

From the half-hour mark onwards the Blues started to exert a little pressure of their own. Their first corner came in the 36th minute, but Fraser Findlay’s well-flighted in-swinger went just an inch or two over the angle of bar and post.

A neat flick-on by Jack Wilson saw Colin Fawcett caught just offside, and another fine Fawcett – Wilson link saw Jake Merry’s final shot being saved at the foot of the post.

Early in the second half, Fawcett, who was wearing 9 but was lying back in the centre of midfield and breaking from there, went on a 50-yard run from deep in his own half.

But in the next ten minutes the Swans were awarded two penalties, the first for what looked a rather innocuous challenge, with the second looking altogether harder. The first was hammered in by Swans’ keeper Scott Reid, the second by Will Rickard.

The Blues were now pressing really hard to get back into the game. The threat was coming often, but not always, down the right, with Fawcett linking well with sub right winger Dany Raicu.

In the 70th minute, a sweeping move instigated by these two ended with Ewan Payne shooting against the post. Two minutes later a similar move set up Jack Wilson who cracked in the consolation goal.

A neat Swans move sent in Evan Jones for their fifth but it was the Bluebirds (helped admittedly by several substitutions) who seemed to finish the stronger, and who were able to keep pushing their opponents to the final whistle.

County: Jack Ackermann; Jimmy Wilkes, Fraser Findlay, Alaric Jones, Morgan Richards, Matty Delaney, Jack Wilson, Jake Merry, Ben Fawcett, Joe Griffiths, Ewan Payne. Subs: Kieran Allen, Joe Pritchard, Dany Raicu.

Sport

Haverfordwest County Under-13 girls shine at final FAW festival

Published

2 days ago

April 5, 2026

Herald Sport

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC Women and Girls have praised their under-13s after another strong showing at the third and final FAW Festival of the season.

The young Bluebirds travelled to Colliers Park in Wrexham on Saturday (Apr 4), where they once again impressed with their performances.

Club officials said the girls had performed fantastically well throughout the season, adding that everyone at Haverfordwest County was incredibly proud of their efforts.

The squad for the day was Libby O, Ela I, Ines M, Mila E, Scarlett C, Rachel B, Lydia H, Lilly M, Zara E, Leila P and Lillie EJ.

Well done girls.

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Friendly League week 22 results

Published

2 days ago

April 5, 2026

Herald Sport

RESULTS from week 22 of the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association Friendly League have been confirmed, with Badgers recording a comprehensive 10-0 win over Lamphey and St Twynnells edging past Cosheston 6-4.

An earlier fixture also saw Cosheston claim a 10-0 victory over Reynalton.

Several matches were postponed during the week, including Kilgetty v Carew, Llanteg v St Twynnells and Hundleton v East Williamston.

St Johns had the bye.

Latest results:
Cosheston 4 St Twynnells 6
Badgers 10 Lamphey 0
Cosheston 10 Reynalton 0

League table after week 22:
East Williamston — Played 19, Won 13, Drawn 0, Lost 6, Shot difference 169, Points 126
St Johns — Played 20, Won 12, Drawn 1, Lost 7, Shot difference 132, Points 118
Reynalton — Played 20, Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 10, Shot difference 24, Points 99
St Twynnells — Played 19, Won 10, Drawn 2, Lost 7, Shot difference 9, Points 99
Carew — Played 19, Won 10, Drawn 0, Lost 9, Shot difference -12, Points 98
Hundleton — Played 19, Won 10, Drawn 1, Lost 8, Shot difference -7, Points 97
Llanteg — Played 18, Won 10, Drawn 0, Lost 8, Shot difference -16, Points 95
Badgers — Played 20, Won 7, Drawn 1, Lost 12, Shot difference -104, Points 89
Cosheston — Played 19, Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 10, Shot difference -39, Points 88
Lamphey — Played 20, Won 9, Drawn 0, Lost 11, Shot difference -71, Points 80
Kilgetty — Played 19, Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 12, Shot difference -85, Points 73

League officials have reminded clubs that all outstanding matches must be completed by midnight on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Sport

Amman United Youth suffer agonising semi-final defeat

Published

2 days ago

April 5, 2026

Herald Sport

Cup final dream slips away as Newcastle Emlyn battle back to seal 20-19 win in windy Carmarthenshire Cup clash

AMMAN UNITED YOUTH saw their Carmarthenshire Cup final hopes ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday (Apr 4) as Newcastle Emlyn snatched a 20-19 victory in a dramatic semi-final.

Played in difficult, windy conditions, the contest was fiercely competitive throughout, with Amman left to rue a series of handling errors that allowed the visitors back into the game.

Newcastle Emlyn made the stronger start, taking an early 3-0 lead through a penalty and then missing a chance to add to their tally.

Amman responded well and took control of the first half. Captain Ceian Lewis crossed following a well-worked catch-and-drive to put his side 5-3 in front. Toby Slater then produced an excellent touchline conversion in tough conditions to extend the lead to 7-3.

Amman continued to build momentum when Harvey Duncan made a sharp break down the wing to score their second try. Slater was again on target with an impressive conversion in the wind, giving his side a 14-3 lead at the break.

But the game turned soon after the restart. A costly Amman mistake allowed Newcastle Emlyn back into the contest, with the visitors scoring in the corner before adding the conversion to close the gap to 14-10.

Amman appeared to have steadied themselves when Kelston Fairhurst powered over from another catch-and-drive, stretching the lead to 19-10.

However, Newcastle Emlyn refused to give in. Strong forward play brought them another try, and the conversion cut the deficit to just two points at 19-17 as the pressure mounted in the closing stages.

The decisive moment came in the final five minutes when another Amman handling error handed Emlyn a crucial opportunity. The visitors worked their way into range and slotted a late penalty to edge ahead 20-19.

Amman had one final chance to rescue the game and opted for a catch-and-drive from a late penalty, having already found success with that tactic earlier in the match. This time, though, Newcastle Emlyn held firm to deny them and secure their place in the final.

It was a bitter end for Amman United Youth, who had looked in control at half-time, but Newcastle Emlyn showed resilience and composure when it mattered most.