Penybont 3-2 Haverfordwest County: Ryan Reynolds’ Hollywood strike helps Bont to victory
Rhys Kavanagh of Penybont in action against Dylan Rees of Haverfordwest. Penybont v Haverfordwest County in the JD Cymru Premier at Bryntirion Park on the 30th August 2022.
Haverfordwest County suffered their first defeat of the season, as they went down 3-2 against Penybont.
In what was an entertaining game, Ben Fawcett’s overhead kick cancelled out Rhys Kavanagh’s opener as the sides went in level at half time. But second-half goals from Keyon Reffell and Ryan Reynolds steered Penybont on course for victory. Iori Humphreys got a goal two minutes from time for County, but it wasn’t enough.
The result sees Penybont go to fourth place, while Haverfordwest drop down to fifth.
It was a quiet start to the game with chances at a premium. However, 15 minutes in, the game was bought to life.
A cross field ball found Nathan Wood, and his cute touch set captain Kane Owen down the wing. Owen’s cross evaded all the County defence and found its way to Rhys Kavanagh. The former Barry man took a touch and toe-poked it past Zac Jones, to take his tally up to four for the season, and put Penybont ahead.
However, Haverfordwest refused to lie down and found their equaliser three minutes later. After Kelland Absalom tipped round a free kick from Ioan Evans, he failed to collect from a corner leaving a scramble in the Penybont box. It was Ben Fawcett who reacted quickest, and he produced an overhead kick that landed in the back of the net, and we were level once again.
Haverfordwest then had a period of dominance but the host’s dealt with it well. In fact, it was Penybont who had the best chance of the half following the goals. Keyon Reffell’s powerful effort was tipped over superbly by Jones.
A worry for County would be the fact Jazz Richards was forced off. Penybont also suffered an injury, as goal scorer Kavanagh was forced off, but we will wait to see the extent of those injuries after the game.
Whatever Rhys Griffiths told his team at halftime clearly had an impact, as they regained the lead four minutes into the second half.
A clearance from Absalom found Wood, and he proceeded to take on defender after defender as he marched his way into the box. His shot hit the post but standing in the right place at the right time was Reffell, who converted from one yard out to make it 2-1.
Bont controlled the game after the goal, but the Bluebirds had a magnificent chance to equalise on the hour mark. A cross from Rhys Abbruzzese was inch perfect and landed on the head of Jack Wilson, but he managed to head wide, and they remained one goal behind.
On the 70th minute, another chance fell to County. Absalom made a rash decision to come out early, and his failed punch left an empty net, but Lee Jenkins couldn’t put the ball into an empty net.
And the visitors were made to pay for it two minutes later. Reffell kept the ball in play well and passed it back to Ryan Reynolds. It looked like a cross from Reynolds, but it deflected off Abbruzzese, and it somehow managed to loop over Jones and into the net, to make it 3-1.
When the game looked like it was going to fizzle out, County injected some tension for the final minutes. A long throw by Wilson wasn’t cleared by Penybont, and lurking at the back post was Iori Humphreys, who swung his foot at the ball and squeezed it past Absalom, and the deficit was reduced to one.
But it wasn’t to be for County as Penybont held out to secure all three points.
Penybont will travel to face Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday, while Haverfordwest head back west to take on Newtown.
Player of the Match: Nathan Wood
An honourable mention to Keyon Reffell but Wood was outstanding today. His direct running, his movement, and his passing was superb today, and her certainly deserved to be on the winning team
Penybont: Kelland Absalom (GK), Mark Little, Kane Owen ©, Dan Jefferies, Nathan Wood, Kai Whitmore, Keyon Reffell, Billy Borge, Rhys Kavanagh (Mael Davies, 26’), Ryan Reynolds, Tom Tweedy (Luke Sylvester, 79’)
Unused Subs: Alex Pennock (GK), Rhys Griffiths, Jak Carson
Goals: Rhys Kavanagh (15’), Keyon Reffell (49’), Ryan Reynolds (72’)
Yellow Cards: Billy Borge (16’)
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones (GK), Jazz Richards (Iori Humphreys, 22’), Rhys Abbruzzese (Dan James, 83’), Dylan Rees ©, Ben Fawcett, Jordan Davies, Jamie Veale, Lee Jenkins, Ryan George, Jack Wilson, Ioan Evans
Unused Subs: Lucas Davies, Harri John, Callum Shirt
Goals: Ben Fawcett (18’), Iori Humphreys (88’)
Yellow Cards: Lee Jenkins (39’)
