Haverfordwest County secured their place in the Cymru Premier’s top six following a 1-0 success over bottom-of-the-table Aberystwyth Town.

The Bluebirds ran out narrow winners upon their return to the Bridge Meadow, playing in front of a four-figure crowd, having spent months away at nearby rivals Carmarthen Town. Dan Hawkins scored the game’s only goal just six minutes before the half-time whistle, netting the first goal on the new artificial surface.

Wearing their 125th Anniversary kit to coincide with their return to their spiritual home the Bluebirds made early inroads, Rhys Abbruzzese and Jacob Owen running hard from wide, with Owen and fellow midfielder Corey Shephard close to the target with shots from outside the area.

Visiting goalkeeper Dave Jones making an outstanding save from Kyle McCarthy and then again on 15 minutes from a powerful Ben Fawcett header.

The hosts dominated the possession and territory without creating further penetrating efforts until the 35 minute when Aberystwyth midfielder John Owen picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul on a marauding Abbruzzese. Shephard’s free kick from 20 yards hit the bar and Dan Hawkins was on hand to head the ball into the empty net.

The visitors found it hard to establish themselves in front of the 1,486 spectators, Shephard and Abbruzzese’s constant arrows thrust towards the Seasiders goal, relief found through the half-time whistle of referee Ben Williams.

Hawkins had a chance immediately after the restart, his heade isr not powerful enough to beat Jones. Fawcett having a ferocious drive deflected for a corner close to the hour mark.

Midfield maestro Shephard enjoyed the freedom of the pitch, covering all areas, his passing crisp and accurate combining well with his skipper Dylan Rees.

A double substitution within 20 minutes saw Ben Ahumn replace Owen and Harri John come on for goal scorer Hawkins, a minute later John Evans was replaced by Gwydion Dafis for Aberystwyth.

A second substitute came from Antonio Corbesrio as Thomas Mason replaced the injured Frankie Ealing for Aberystwyth, with 10 minutes to play, after man of the match Shephard had a shot inches wide of the post. Greg Walters replaced Rees with less than 10 minutes to play and made an immediate impact in the midfield with his ball-winning tackles and runs into the 18-yard box.

The Seasiders created a half chance when Davies’s shot was cleared for a corner as the clock drifted towards 90 minutes and Flint came close with the header from the set piece, referee Williams waving down a penalty call on Flint in injury time, the final action seeing Louis Bradford cautioned for a foul on Walters.

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Haverfordwest County

Jones Z, Abbruzzese, Rees (C) (Walters 83), Jenkins, Shephard, Fawcett, Hawkins (John, 70), Jones A, McCarthy, Kenniford (Ahumn, 70), Owen J.

Unused substitutes: Knott, John D, Watts, Tabone

Aberystwyth Town

Jones, Bradford, Ealing (Mason, 80), Thorn (C), Evans (Dafis, 71), Flint, Owen, Hartley, Davies, Huxley, Patterson.

Unused substitutes: Osment, Davies.

Referee Ben Williams. Assistant Referees Ian Bird & James Shiels. 4th Official Ryan Kenny.

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)