Haverfordwest County keep in mix for Cymru Premier top six as ten-man Barry Town beaten
Haverfordwest County players celebrate scoring. Haverfordwest County v Barry Town United at Bridge Meadow Stadium in Cymru Premier on 26th December 2023. Credit: Perry Dobbins.
Haverfordwest County’s strong second-half performance earned them a 2-0 win over Barry Town in the Cymru Premier.
Jordan Cotterill was dismissed after 21 minutes, and the Bluebirds made the most of the man advantage with goals from Dan Hawkins and Martell Taylor-Crossdale in a four-minute salvo. Haverfordwest remain seventh in the Cymru Premier standings but are level on points with Caernarfon Town with two games remaining in Phase One.
Dan Hawkins opened the scoring with a composed left foot drive from 12 yards, giving visiting custodian Luc Rees no chance, the teenager keeper a strong face in the advent of a powerful offensive display from the home side.
Rees also had no chance as birthday boy Martell Taylor-Crossdale had a free header before the hour to put the home side 2-0 ahead and they were relentless as they moved the ball with fluidity. Harri John, Kai Whitmore, and skipper Ricky Watts the trigger points.
Jack Wilson also took up the mantle from the home bench, his side happy to manage possession to ensure they collected the three points in pursuit of a championship play-off place.
The major talking point of a dour first half was the sending off of Cotterill after ten minutes, the midfielder catching his opposite number Kai Whitmore with an over-the-ball, stamp. Referee Bryn Markham-Jones took his time in dismissing Cotterill, issuing yellow cards early in the second half to Barry pair Keenan Patten and Evan Press, alongside the Bluebirds Harri John.
Kai Whitmore was booked soon after the second home goal, a minor blemish in a near-faultless display from the midfielder. Aiden Lewis said one too many words at referee Marham-Jones minutes before the end of the game and Veale also received a caution for the visitors to end a miserable day.
Haverfordwest County
Jones; Richards (Abbruzzese); Watts (c) (Owen); Whitmore; Fawcett (Wilson); Hawkins; John; Jenkins; Dyer (Martell); Borg; Tabone.
Subs not used: Knott; Williams; Humphreys.
Barry Town
Rees; George; Patten (Veale); McDonald (Bright); McLaggon (c) (Snaith); Cotterill; Lewis; Blythe; Davies; Hulbert; Press.
Substitute not used: Tucker; Hugh; Tomlinson; Huggins
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones. Assistants Daniel Beckett and James Shiels. Fourth Official: Teifion Cook
