Haverfordwest County go in to Caernarfon Town opener with optimism
Haverfordwest County begin their Welsh Premier campaign with a trip to the Oval to take on Caernarfon Town with manager Wayne Jones optimistic as he hopes to build upon their season last year.
“We achieved our aims last year which was to stay up and this year we want to aim for a top six spot and enjoy a cup run. We’ve identified that we needed to bring in experienced players and we’ve done that, also adding more height into the team” said Jones, who is happy with the group of players he has, although talks to sign another striker, continue. “I think we are going to be a little better offensively and I’d like to think we will be better defensively, which should put us in a better position in the league table.
During pre season the Bluebirds have been hampered with some injuries but the addition of Kyle Patton, Dylan Rees, goalkeeper Lee Idzi who has over 400 top flight appearances and a fit again former Wales international Jazz Richards mean they head into their opening fixture remaining true to the managers mantra of being a possession based team.
“The footballers in midfield like to use the ball, in and out of possession and that doesn’t change” Jones continued, “we are doing things right; it’s a case of delivering now.” Gary Richards has been appointed on a full time basis by the Club, as head of coaching whilst also sitting in the dugout alongside Jones, which the manager highlights as being “a very shrewd appointment. He’s got great ideas, a great footballing philosophy, knowledge and insight and I’m learning off him everyday.”
Their only competitive game thus far for the Pembrokeshire side was a 3-0 success in the Nathanial MG Cup at home to unbeaten Cymru South table topper Goytre United last Saturday, Jones acknowledging he has done his preparation on the opposition ahead of the live televised game, which also sees the return of spectators to Cymru Premier grounds after an eighteen month absence. “They have pace in their side, through the likes of Mike Hayes and Darren Thomas alongside the ariel threat from set plays and from Steve Evans,” the veteran former TNS defender onboard as Huw Griffiths assistant manager.
“We’ll be ready for it. We have prepared well and will train Saturday morning” the Bluebirds using The Rock, home ground of Cefn Druids for a final run out ahead of the late afternoon kick off. “We have a couple of injuries and absentees” emphasised Jones, his final line up not yet decided upon ahead of fitness tests, although young defender Alaric Jones will be missing through suspension having accumulated ten yellow cards last season.
Caernarfon Town host Haverfordwest County in a 5:15pm kick off, the game to be refereed by the experienced Lee Evans.
“We achieved our aims last year which was to stay up and this year we want to aim for a top six spot and enjoy a cup run. We’ve identified that we needed to bring in experienced players and we’ve done that, also adding more height into the team” said Jones, who is happy with the group of players he has, although talks to sign another striker, continue. “I think we are going to be a little better offensively and I’d like to think we will be better defensively, which should put us in a better position in the league table.
During pre season the Bluebirds have been hampered with some injuries but the addition of Kyle Patton, Dylan Rees, goalkeeper Lee Idzi who has over 400 top flight appearances and a fit again former Wales international Jazz Richards mean they head into their opening fixture remaining true to the managers mantra of being a possession based team.
“The footballers in midfield like to use the ball, in and out of possession and that doesn’t change” Jones continued, “we are doing things right; it’s a case of delivering now.” Gary Richards has been appointed on a full time basis by the Club, as head of coaching whilst also sitting in the dugout alongside Jones, which the manager highlights as being “a very shrewd appointment. He’s got great ideas, a great footballing philosophy, knowledge and insight and I’m learning off him everyday.”
Their only competitive game thus far for the Pembrokeshire side was a 3-0 success in the Nathanial MG Cup at home to unbeaten Cymru South table topper Goytre United last Saturday, Jones acknowledging he has done his preparation on the opposition ahead of the live televised game, which also sees the return of spectators to Cymru Premier grounds after an eighteen month absence. “They have pace in their side, through the likes of Mike Hayes and Darren Thomas alongside the ariel threat from set plays and from Steve Evans,” the veteran former TNS defender onboard as Huw Griffiths assistant manager.
“We’ll be ready for it. We have prepared well and will train Saturday morning” the Bluebirds using The Rock, home ground of Cefn Druids for a final run out ahead of the late afternoon kick off. “We have a couple of injuries and absentees” emphasised Jones, his final line up not yet decided upon ahead of fitness tests, although young defender Alaric Jones will be missing through suspension having accumulated ten yellow cards last season.
Caernarfon Town host Haverfordwest County in a 5:15pm kick off, the game to be refereed by the experienced Lee Evans.
