Does marquee signing of Kaid Mohamed provide added pressure on Haverfordwest to achieve promotion?
After announcing the signing of former Football League player Kaid Mohamed last week, has the pressure now increased on Haverfordwest County to gain promotion to the Welsh Premier League?
The Bluebirds signalled their intent before the season began, when they announced the signing of former Swansea City striker Lee Trundle.
The arrival of former Cheltenham Town forward Mohamed will give Wayne Jones’ side added firepower up front.
The Pembrokeshire-based side are the current top scorers in the Welsh Football League Division One, netting 28 goals in their 10 league games to date.
The 2018/19 season is the Bluebirds’ third away from the Welsh Premier League, which they were relegated from in 2015/16.
Haverfordwest are competing with sides such as Penybont, Afan Lido and Cambrian & Clydach Vale for promotion, and may feel an added pressure considering the pedigree of certain individuals within the club.
Manager Jones has had experience of success in Division One, when he guided the Bluebirds to promotion in the 2014/15 season; during his first spell in charge at the Bridge Meadow.
Talented players such as Danny Williams, Elliot Scotcher and the highly-experienced Trundle are all capable of making the step up to the top flight.
The Bluebirds have managed the pressure reasonably well in their opening 10 league games, winning 7. However their form against the teams in and around them will need to improve if they’re to go up.
Defeats to Camrbian & Clydach, Cwmamman United and Cwmbran Celtic will need to be avenged in the second half of the season, and the addition of a player such as Mohamed should go a long way towards improving their prospects of doing so.
Before the arrival of Mohamed, who played 65 times for Bath City, it’s reasonable to say that Haverfordwest had the strongest squad in Division One. They can surely now lay claim to that feat.
While securing the signature of a player like 34-year-old Mohamed is a positive, it will also mean that Jones’ team become a bigger target; and sides will look to raise their game when facing the Town.
Their next test as they approach the half way point of the season is a trip to Leckwith Stadium to face Pontypridd Town on Saturday (December 15).
Gavin Beddard’s side are battling at the foot of the table, and will be looking towards their home form to be the catalyst in moving them away from the drop zone.
(Featured video: Bristol Rovers TV)
