Sport

Late goals see Bluebirds into round three

Published

5 years ago

August 8, 2021

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY booked their place in round three of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Saturday (Aug 7) as they beat Goytre United 3-0 at the Bridge Meadow.

The game was the Bluebirds’ first competitive game of the season, while opponents Goytre held a 100% record from their opening three JD Cymru South games.

With social distancing rules being relaxed there was a good crowd at the Bridge Meadow but they saw a first half that lacked any real chances.

The goals eventually came late on as the Bluebirds were finally rewarded for their dominance.

New signing and captain Dylan Rees was in the starting line up for the home side as was Henry Jones who also signed in the summer.

The first chance of the game fell the way of the hosts as Corey Shephard sent a strong shot just over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Shephard found Jack Wilson in the box but the striker saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. From the resulting corner Dylan Rees was brought down in the box but the referee pointed for a goal kick.

Kieran Lewis then found Wilson but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and Goytre were able to clear.

Daniel Birch then saw a shot blocked for the visitors and the ball fell to Louis Gerrard but his low drive was comfortably gathered by County keeper Wojciech Gajda.

Birch then crossed into the box for Liam Griffiths whose header looped just over the bar with Gajda scrambling to try and reach it.

Dylan Rees and Henry Jones linked up well for the Bluebirds but, as had been the case on a couple of occasions in the first half, the final ball was lacking and Goytre were able to get the ball away.

On the stroke of half time Jones sent a long range effort wide of the posts and the score remained 0-0 when the referee brought the first half to a close.

Both sides knew that the first goal would prove crucial and it was the Bluebirds who were inches away from getting it, ten minutes in to the second half.

Kieran Lewis saw his low shot come back off the post and Goytre breathed a sigh of relief.

With twenty minutes to go the visitors enjoyed a good spell of possession. However, Callum Bateman may have rued his decision to shoot from a free kick in the middle of the half when he could have floated it into the box for a team mate.

Liam Griffiths then saw his effort go over but it wouldn’t have counted had it gone as the flag had gone up for offside.

Louis Gerrard was then played in but Gajda, who had had little to do, came out to clear the ball away.

With fifteen minutes to go the Bluebirds finally got the breakthrough as Shephard’s cross from the right fell kindly for Kieran Lewis and he had time to compose himself before lifting the ball into the net.

Gerrard then had another chance for the visitors as they looked for a late equaliser but his weak shot was easily saved by Gajda.

With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, the Bluebirds broke and Wilson held the ball up well before squaring for sub Mason Jones-Thomas. He then sent a cross into the box and after Wilson left it Henry Jones was on hand to curl the ball back across goal and into the net.

In injury time, Goytre were reduced to ten men as Callum Bateman was shown a second yellow for late tackle.

*Corey Shephard had a good game for the Bluebirds*

There was still time for Jazz Richards to try his luck but when his shot was saved the ball fell to Shephard who fired in to the bottom corner for a deserved goal.

That was the last kick of the game and the Bluebirds will now look forward to the draw for the third round.

The Bluebirds begin their JD Cymru Premier campaign next Saturday (Aug 14) as they travel to Caernarfon Town.

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Sport

Haverfordwest County miss out on Europe after play-off final defeat

Published

23 hours ago

May 2, 2026

Herald Sport

Penybont secured a 2-0 win in Bridgend as the Bluebirds’ long season ended one game short of another European campaign

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY’S hopes of another European adventure were ended on Saturday (May 2) as Penybont claimed a 2-0 victory in the JD Cymru Premier European play-off final.

The Bluebirds travelled to the DragonBet Stadium in Bridgend looking to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Conference League qualifiers, but it was the home side who struck first.

Chris Venables put Penybont ahead inside the opening ten minutes, giving the hosts early control of the contest.

Haverfordwest, who had reached the final after beating Barry Town United on penalties, were unable to find a way back before the interval.

The decisive second goal arrived in the second half when Mael Davies made it 2-0 on 63 minutes.

That proved enough to settle the final, with Penybont seeing out the closing stages to secure European qualification for the third time in four seasons.

For Haverfordwest, the defeat brought an end to what the club described as a “long, rollercoaster ride of a season”.

After the final whistle, Haverfordwest County manager Tony Pennock admitted his side had not performed at the level required.

He said: “It’s probably our most poor performance since the start of the season, really.

“But we knew it was going to be tough. Penybont are a fairly good side. Congratulations to them — third European qualification in four years, so they’ve been consistent and they’re there or thereabouts all the time. You’ve got to give them credit first and foremost.”

Pennock also questioned the opening goal, suggesting Haverfordwest felt there had been an offside in the build-up.

He said: “We just didn’t get going today. I thought we started okay and then, I don’t want to go on about decisions, but the goal is offside.

“I can’t understand why the linesman can’t see it. But we didn’t really threaten.

“We huffed and puffed but just couldn’t get into the game.”

Despite the disappointment, Pennock praised his players for the way they recovered from a difficult start to the campaign.

He said: “I can’t fault them. I keep saying we were bottom of the league in October. Loads of people wrote us off this year.

“We lost players in the summer and all I heard was, ‘you didn’t replace him, you never replaced him’, but we’ve got to a play-off final — third final in four years.

“So we haven’t done too much wrong, really, to get where we are.”

Pennock said the players would learn from the defeat, adding that the club is already preparing for next season.

He said: “There’s always a winner and there’s always a loser. Unfortunately, we’ve come out on the other side today.

“We’ll have a break now in the summer. I’ve been busy recruiting for the last three months, really, with us going hybrid next season, which is exciting times for the club.

“It would have been nice to start the summer off with a European trip, but it’s not to be.

“There are a lot of boys in that room who will be with us next season, and as well as you learn from the experience of winning, you learn from losing as well.

“It’s not a taste that we want to repeat, and we want to give a better account of ourselves in the league next season.”

Pennock also welcomed changes to the Cymru Premier, with the league moving to a 16-team format.

He said: “I’m looking forward to some new clubs. It’s going to be a change and a refreshing change. I think it needed it.

“It will be nice just to play each other twice instead of probably four or five times.

“It has been a long season, and we just look forward to coming back and having another crack next year.”

Posting after the final whistle, Haverfordwest County AFC said: “It’s not to be for the Bluebirds in the play-off final.

“Thank you for your fantastic support today and throughout what has been another long, rollercoaster ride of a season, and we look forward to doing it all again in a few months time.”

The result means Penybont will take Wales’ final European place, while Haverfordwest must now regroup ahead of the new campaign.

Cover pic: Pic by Jamie Edwards/HCFC/FAW

Community

Goodwick grandmother, 97, smashing world records after taking up rowing at 90

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2026

Herald Sport

Val Coleman defies age with medals, records and a message: “Don’t stop moving”

A 97-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire woman who only took up rowing in her nineties is now a world record holder and shows no signs of slowing down.

Val Coleman, from Goodwick, began indoor rowing as part of her recovery after breaking her femur shortly after her 90th birthday.

Now, nearly eight years later, she has broken eight world records and won a string of medals, including 16 golds.

Her latest achievement came this month when she set a new five-kilometre world record in the 95 to 99 age category.

From recovery to records

Val first discovered rowing while watching boats launch at Lower Town Quay in Fishguard.

Her daughter, then captain of Jemima Rowing Club, encouraged her to try a rowing machine.

“She said, ‘I think you’ve got a record there,’ and it went from there really,” Val said.

Despite starting later in life, Val quickly took to the sport and has since built an impressive list of achievements, including World Rowing silver and bronze medals and multiple Welsh titles.

Keeping active key to success

Val credits her longevity and success to staying active.

“I think it’s very important as you get older. You need more exercise, not less,” she said.

In addition to rowing twice a week, she swims or walks daily and attends Pilates classes at her local leisure centre.

“The great thing about rowing is you’re sitting down,” she added. “It’s not as hard on your legs as running.”

A social lifeline

Beyond competition, rowing has brought a strong social element to her life.

“It’s important when you live on your own and you’re getting older,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of new friends.”

Training regularly with her club, Val says she is treated no differently to any other rower.

A lifetime of resilience

A mother of eight, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Val has lived in Pembrokeshire for six decades and spent 20 years in Goodwick.

She retrained as a nurse in her late forties and worked at Withybush Hospital until retirement.

Now, she continues to challenge expectations of ageing, keeping physically active while also reading a daily newspaper and doing crosswords.

“Don’t give up”

Val has a clear message for others.

“Don’t give up when you get to 60 or 70,” she said. “Keep moving.”

And for those thinking of trying something new, her advice is simple.

“Give it a go. If rowing isn’t for you, there’s always something else.”

Sport

Dolphin backs Goodwick United as chip shop celebrates national recognition

Published

6 days ago

April 27, 2026

Herald Sport

LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORTS GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

DOLPHIN Fish & Chips in Goodwick has been praised for its support of the local community after stepping up as a sponsor of Goodwick United.

The popular chip shop, known locally for its haddock and chips, has built a strong reputation in the area, with customers praising its freshly cooked food, generous portions, crispy batter and friendly service.

The business says it has also been recognised among the Top 40 fish and chip businesses in the UK, a national achievement which has helped put the Goodwick takeaway firmly on the map.

As well as serving local customers, Dolphin has now shown its backing for grassroots sport by sponsoring Goodwick United, underlining the close links between local businesses and community football in Pembrokeshire.

The sponsorship has been welcomed as another example of a local business putting something back into the community it serves.

Dolphin offers both sit-in and takeaway options and says it currently holds a 4.6 Google rating.

Photo caption:

Community support: Goodwick United players and manager pictured with Mr Bravaham from Dolphin Fish & Chips, Goodwick