Key talking points as Haverfordwest County draw with Cefn Druids
Cefn Druids may rue their inability to kill off the game
A solitary Joe Faux effort was cancelled out by a late equaliser from Elliot Scotcher. The Ancients had several opportunities to score, goalkeeper Wojciech Gajda on fine form for the Bluebirds, but the reason Cefn Druids are rock bottom maybe down to their lack of goals, just nine from their twelve games so far.
As good as Bruno Lopes side played, their continental mantra won’t be enough to keep them from relegation to the Cymru North if they can’t find the net more regularly. Scoring late in the game has become a useful habit for Haverfordwest County this season, as they have secured more points than any other team in the league thanks to their willingness to keep going until the final whistle.
The old adage attributed to South African golfer Bobby Locke ‘Drive for show; putt for dough’ is a useful comparison to yesterday, as bottom of the table
Cefn Druids dominated all aspects of the game at the Bridge Meadow apart from the one statistic that counted; Haverfordwest scored the same number of goals and shared the points. A striker capable of scoring regularly is a must for Lopes side.
A feisty ‘Battle of the Bridge Meadow’
If you look at the statistics post match, nine yellow cards were given by referee Bryn Markham-Jones, plus a caution to home manager Wayne Jones for his vociferous opinion of the delaying tactics, alongside a red card for visiting full back Josh Green.
Statistics don’t lie, do they? In truth it was a tame affair, with one caution for dissent (Mike Jones) and one for an over zealous celebration when Haverfordwest equalised (Scott Tancock), the others deemed to be unsporting behaviour. None of the cautions were for crunching tackles and four could have been avoided if the player concerned chose to, but once the referee had laid down his tolerance marker by booking Phil Mooney in the first half, he couldn’t go back. Markham-Jones was consistent and fair; he was close to play and communicated well throughout the game, his performance not one to have impacted on the outcome of the game. However, the cards shown to players may well be more than a passing impasse as games come thick and fast and suspensions may play a part in those games, for both managers.
Can Haverfordwest keep hold of their loan players?
Teenage goalkeeper Matt Turner, from Leeds United must be content at present to covering for a now fully fit Wojciech Gajda and if he continues his loan spell post January, both he and his parent club would want a guarantee of regular game time.
Similarly, Cardiff City striker Danny Williams, who has scored seven goals so far this season is due to return to the Championship Club in January and despite his tender years he has become an invaluable name on the team sheet for his manager. The Bluebirds also have experienced goal scorer Mark Jones in their ranks on loan from Championship South side Briton Ferry Llansawel, but with those leagues due to start after Christmas the ace marksman will in all probability depart to link up once again with Carl Shaw’s squad.
If all three depart, new Chairman Rob Edwards will be heavily involved in attracting new faces to the Pembrokeshire club, not any easy option as potential players have to travel by a raft of Cymru League clubs, before putting pen to paper. Money will be sticking point; so, might be the position the Bluebirds find themselves in come the end of phase one and the midseason splitting of the league.
Is sixth place the new relegation safety zone this season in the Cymru Premier?
Haverfordwest’s point yesterday may prove key as since its inception in 2014/15 the minimum number of points a side needs to reach the Phase 2 Championship group, is twenty eight, which Carmarthen Town did in 2016/17. Sixth place guarantees a windfall from the FAW in monetary terms as well as the opportunity of a tilt at a European spot for next season, but most importantly, it ensures Cymru Premier football for another year.
Barry Town United, two places and four points above sixth place Haverfordwest visit the Bridge Meadow next, having won 2-1 at Jenner Park in September, a game which the Bluebirds felt they could have had more from. Apart from the leagues top three, fifteen points cover fourth place to bottom of the table Cefn Druids with just a handful of games remaining before the twenty -two game split occurs. Expect some twists and turns as the games come thick and fast and the pressure for a sixth place or above finish intensifies.
(Featured Image: Matthew Kelly)
