Jones looking for a reaction to midweek performance at Flint

Ahead of today’s game v Flint Town United at the Essity Stadium, Haverfordwest County Manager Wayne Jones was in a forthright and positive mood despite the midweek reverse at the hands of Penybont.

“Tuesday was the night after the Lord Mayors Show; we were buzzing coming back from Saturday.

“I questioned how we approached the game, it just wasn’t right.  There wasn’t that spark there, a very poor performance throughout and we are looking to react to that and we will” said Jones.

He’s been a manager who has rotated his squad in the congested opening period of games and expects the new faces in the squad to ‘raise spirit and morale in the camp. 

“It’s about opportunities and the players, whatever game time they are given, have to take those opportunities at this level.”

Jones has identified areas where his side will be looking to improve as “it’s a worry with the goals we are conceding and how we react. 

“If we can prevent (how we are conceding goals) we will be more equipped to keep clean sheets, but at the moment it’s not the case.”

The Bluebirds made the trip North and stayed overnight in preparation for an encounter on a surface renowned for holding water and being heavy. 

“We’re prepared for a battle” said Jones, “which means it won’t be pretty and it won’t be the case of using the ball as what we normally intend to do.  It’s about who wants it more will win the game.

“I’m mindful of the discipline but we have to match them and having done our homework and we know their threats and we are working on our own frailties.” 

Jones isn’t interested in any or other results, his focus on “us; what we can put on the board after twenty-two games. 

“Points will take care of themselves.  There’s no pressure whatsoever on the team and a win (today) could possibly push us up to seventh.

“It’s a long hard season in this league and if you win two games on the bounce you are up or down the league and there will be peeks and troughs along the way, which I’m prepared for.

“We are a learning, young group and things are exciting. We are enjoying it.”

The match kicks off at 2:30pm, refereed by Cheryl Foster, a former Welsh international women’s footballer who scored 9 goals in 63 appearances over a 14 year period, before she took up the whistle in 2013. 

She became a FIFA badge holder three years later and a Cymru Premier referee in 2018, where she has officiated 15 top-flight fixtures. She is currently a Women’s Elie Category list referee for UEFA.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)