The New Saints maintain their 100% start to the JD Cymru Premier season with a 1-0 victory against Haverfordwest County

Match Report

Goals: Cieslewicz (21)
Yellow cards: Bradley (56), Craig Harrison (67), J. Williams (81)
Substitutions: Hudson for Cieslewicz (66), Wilson for Holden (66), Clark for Bradley (66)

Match report by Sam Wood

The New Saints maintained their 100% start to the JD Cymru Premier season with a 1-0 victory on the road against Haverfordwest County.

Adrian Cieslewicz scored the game’s only goal with 21 minutes on the clock, but in truth, Craig Harrison’s side could’ve run out much more comfortable victors.

Sion Bradley, Jack Bodenham and Leo Smith all had chances to find the net in the opening half, while Cieslewicz had an effort cleared off the line midway through the second.

There were no chances in the early stages, but with 10 minutes on the clock, The Saints had shouts for a penalty when Rory Holden went down under challenge inside the box.

Referee, Jordan Jones, waved play on though, before Jordan Williams sent an eventual effort wide of the post.

Three minutes later, Haverfordwest had a great chance to break the deadlock, but Owain Jones failed to hit the target with a volley from the edge of the six-yard box.

Down the other end, Sion Bradley had the opportunity to hit the target in the 16th minute, but after going one-on-one with Bluebirds’ goalkeeper, Zac Jones, sent a chipped effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Jack Bodenham and Leo Smith both had chances to find the opener as the half progressed, but it was Adrian Cieslewicz who finally did beat the goalkeeper in the 21st minute.

After cutting inside from the left of the area, the Polish winger sent a curling effort in off the far post to give his side a deserved lead in the match.

Goalmouth action calmed down significantly in the latter stages of the opening half, but the home side could’ve hit back courtesy of Lee Jenkins before the interval.

Just four minutes after the restart, Tony Pennock’s side were almost on terms, but a vital piece of defending from Danny Davies, who slid in to divert the ball behind for a corner, prevented Ricky Watts from finding the back of the net.

After being fouled on the edge of the penalty area, Bradley could’ve extended his side’s lead further with a powerful free-kick, but the JD Cymru Premier Player of the Season’s effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Cieslewicz almost grabbed a second of the afternoon, but after receiving the ball from Jordan Williams on the left, saw his curling effort heroically cleared off the line by Kyle McCarthy.

The Saints continued to search for the goal that would’ve given them breathing space throughout the second-half, and in the 65th minute Danny Redmond had an effort blocked inside the box, before Cieslewicz sent the rebound wide.

Bodenham then headed wide from a corner 15 minutes from time, but it was the Bluebirds who could’ve snatched a point in the closing stages.

Volleying wide from the edge of the penalty area however, Jacob Owen’s effort proved little trouble for Roberts in goal, who watched the ball roll harmlessly wide for a goal-kick.

The three points on the road at Richmond Park maintained The Saints’ 100% start to the JD Cymru Premier season, and also saw the defending champions record their 28th consecutive victory in the league.

Craig Harrison’s side will have the chance to extend that streak further at Park Hall next weekend, when Barry Town United make the trip to Oswestry on Saturday.