Sport

Bluebirds end season with narrow defeat to Cardif

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2022

HAVERFORDWEST County were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Cardiff Metropolitan yesterday, as the JD Cymru Premier season drew to a close in front of a big crowd at the Ogi Bridge Meadow.

Over 700 people were in attendance on a sunny afternoon in Haverfordwest, and they may have thought the Bluebirds were on the way to victory when Ben Fawcett gave County the lead just after the half hour mark.

However, two goals in three minutes shortly before half-time from Joe Evans and Kyle McCarthy saw the Archers – who were being managed by Christian Edwards for the final time in regular league action – turn the game around, and they held on to claim the victory which clinches seventh place.

The result means the Bluebirds have to settle for 10th place, which ultimately marks a successful season with Nicky Hayen’s side securing their place in the top-flight for next season.

Hayen made two changes to the team from Monday’s defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads, with Kyle Patten and Jordan Davies returning to the starting lineup in place of Ryan George and Ricky Watts.

And County made a positive start to the game, with Jack Wilson fizzing a ball across the face of goal which somehow managed to miss everyone, before Fawcett’s strike from just outside the area was well saved by Alex Lang.

Davies was next to go close when his shot from inside the area went just wide of the right post after the strike was played in by Henry Jones.

The Bluebirds defence had to be alert to block Eliot Evans’ volley from the edge of the area, before Davies had a second opportunity which he blazed over the crossbar.

Hayen’s side were ahead just a minute later though, when a pinpoint pass upfield by Jazz Richards fell into the path of Fawcett, who took a touch to control before sliding the ball past Lang for his eighth league goal of the season.

The lead would only last four minutes, however, when Eliot Evans’ corner picked out namesake Joe, who headed into the net to bring the visitors level.

And the comeback was complete with four minutes to go before half-time when McCarthy tried his luck from distance and unleashed an unstoppable effort which flew into the top left corner – leaving goalkeeper Lee Idzi with no chance.

Keen to turn the game back in their favour and send the supporters home happy ahead of next season, County were the team in the ascendency in the second-half.

Davies put the ball into the net just after the hour mark, but the linesman’s flag went up for a tight offside as the scoreline remained 2-1.

The on-loan forward went close with less than 20 minutes remaining when the ball bobbled around inside the penalty area before falling into his path, and he tried an overhead kick which went agonisingly over the bar.

Hayen’s side kept the pressure on as they searched for an equaliser in the closing stages, with Davies poking an effort just wide and Henry Jones’ shot from 30 yards out just going over the bar.

With five minutes added on at the end of the 90 minutes, there was still time for the hosts to find a dramatic late equaliser, and those in attendance must have thought it was about to come when Davies’ cross from the left picked out Henry Jones inside the area, but his header from a few yards out came back off the bar.

This was to be the final action of a gripping contest in front of the Sgorio cameras, as the Students held on for victory to rubber stamp their place in seventh.

Related Topics:Football Haverfordwest JD Cymru Premier pembrokeshire

Up Next

Emlyn score ten tries in win over Pembroke

Don't Miss

Division 5 Cup: Prendergast Villa to face Tenby seconds in final

Sport

From Cymru Premier to Champions League: The rise of Nicky Hayen

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2025

Herald Sport

AT the time, it seemed an unexpected appointment for semi-professional Haverfordwest County. Now, just three years later, the man who arrived in west Wales on New Year’s Eve 2021 has taken Club Brugge to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Nicky Hayen, the first Belgian to manage in the Cymru Premier, is now one of the most sought-after managers in Europe. Having guided his side past Europa League holders Atalanta in the play-offs, his rapid ascent has caught the attention of the footballing world.

Some pundits have even suggested the 44-year-old could be in line for the Liverpool job when Arne Slot departs.

Few of the 273 fans at Bridge Meadow Stadium for Hayen’s biggest home victory – a 6-1 win over Cefn Druids – could have imagined that their manager would soon be preparing for Champions League clashes against Aston Villa.

But for Haverfordwest chairman Rob Edwards, who remains in regular contact with Hayen, his rise comes as no surprise.

Work ethic and early impressions

“The guy was a workaholic,” Edwards said. “He lived in my house while in Wales, and I’d wake up at 8:00am to find him watching match footage. When I went to bed at 11:00pm, he was still at it.”

A former defender with more than 400 appearances in Belgium and the Netherlands, Hayen arrived in Haverfordwest via coaching roles in Belgium and Saudi Arabia. His time as technical director and interim manager at Waasland-Beveren ended in relegation during the Covid-affected season.

Introduced to Edwards through a mutual contact in Belgium, Hayen impressed the Haverfordwest board with his detailed analysis and tactical vision.

“We just wanted to listen to every word he said,” Edwards recalled. “We knew he was the right person for the job and did everything we could to bring him in.”

Transforming Haverfordwest

Hayen’s influence was immediate. He took Haverfordwest from second-bottom to the brink of European qualification within six months, introducing a structured, possession-based style rarely seen in the Welsh top flight.

“He didn’t over-coach the players,” Edwards explained. “Instead, he gave them detailed opposition analysis and focused on their welfare. He got the best out of players in a way we didn’t expect.”

Despite the culture shock of moving to a small market town in Pembrokeshire, Hayen embraced his new surroundings.

“There are 14,000 people in Haverfordwest. It’s a beautiful place, but it was all about football for him,” said Edwards. “He is a family man, doesn’t drink, and stays off social media. He just works hard.”

The move to Brugge and European success

Edwards always knew Hayen wouldn’t stay forever. When Club Brugge came calling in 2022, offering him the chance to take charge of their Under-23s, the move was inevitable.

By 2023, he was assistant manager to Scott Parker before stepping in as interim boss when Ronny Deila left in March 2024. With Club Brugge struggling in the league, Hayen led them to nine wins from their last ten matches to clinch the Belgian title.

Former Ajax and Anderlecht striker Jan Mulder predicted in May 2024 that Hayen would soon be on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs.

“Next year, he will play a series of matches in the Champions League, attracting the attention of Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester,” Mulder wrote.

His words have proven accurate. Hayen’s Club Brugge defeated Villa, Sporting, and Sturm Graz in the group stage, while also holding Juventus and Celtic. They then dispatched Atalanta in the play-offs with a commanding 5-2 aggregate win.

What next for Hayen?

Ahead of their Champions League clash with Aston Villa, Hayen spoke about how he continues to draw inspiration from his late mother, who passed away four years ago.

For Edwards, Hayen’s rise is a testament to his relentless dedication.

“Club Brugge have had better squads on paper, but he gets the best out of his players,” he said. “He is fanatical and leads by example. The younger players are thriving under him.”

Hayen’s short time in Wales also laid the foundation for future success at Haverfordwest. Under Tony Pennock, they qualified for Europe in 2023 for the first time in 19 years.

“It’s fantastic for the club to be linked with someone like him,” Edwards said. “And this is just the beginning. If he keeps going, he will be managing at the highest level soon enough.”

With the biggest clubs in Europe watching, Nicky Hayen’s journey from Bridge Meadow to the Champions League knockout stages may only be the start of an even greater story.

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Friendly League catch-up results – Week 2

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2025

Herald Sport

THE LATEST round of catch-up fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association has seen St Twynnells secure a dominant win over Hundleton, while Llanteg and Lamphey battled it out in a close contest.

Results:

St Twynnells 10 – Hundleton 0
Llanteg 7 – Lamphey 3
St Twynnells 8 – Kilgetty 2

Following these matches, the updated league standings are as follows:

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
East Williamston	17	16	0	1	267	135
Carew	16	9	1	6	91	90
St Johns	15	10	0	5	71	88
Cosheston	16	9	0	7	42	84
Hundleton	17	8	0	9	57	83
Reynalton	16	9	0	7	24	83
Llanteg	17	6	1	10	-48	81
Badgers	17	6	1	10	-2	73
St Twynnells	16	5	1	10	-125	66
Lamphey	16	5	0	11	-119	56
Kilgetty	15	4	0	11	-181	51

The competition remains tight as teams continue their push towards the top of the table. More fixtures are scheduled in the coming weeks as the league heads towards its final stages.

Sport

The magic of ‘night golf’ lights up Tenby Golf Club

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2025

Herald Sport

TENBY GOLF CLUB hosted an electrifying Night Golf event on Friday evening in aid of the Paul Sartori Foundation, delivering an evening of excitement, camaraderie, and glowing golf balls lighting up the night sky.

Club Captain Heather Morgan invited Club Night Golf (CNG) to run the event, with George Lever traveling from Surrey to ensure everything went smoothly. Thanks to unseasonably mild and dry weather, the course was transformed into a magical spectacle, with illuminated fairways, greens, and bunkers creating a truly unique playing experience.

The event followed a Texas Scramble format, adding to the fun and challenge as players navigated the course in complete darkness, some with head torches, others lighting up their trolleys, and a few relying on traditional flashlights.

One of the standout performances came from Jemma Nand-Lal, who clinched the Nearest the Pin prize, outshining even the pros. The night’s champions, Bev and Adrian Palmer, Lynne Campbell, and Mandy Jones claimed victory with an impressive five-shot finish.

With no lost players, no injuries, and a clubhouse buzzing with excitement afterward, one question dominated the conversation: “When’s the next one?” Given the overwhelming enthusiasm, a follow-up event seems inevitable.

All proceeds on the night were donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation.