Saints Grind Out A Narrow Victory On A Tough Afternoon In Haverfordwest

Match Report

Goals: J. Williams (43)
Yellow cards: Redmond (27), Bradford (75), Limbrick (90+4)
Substitutions: Cieslewicz for Redmond (33), Holland for Baker (74), Ebbe for J. Williams (80)

Match report by Sam Wood
Lead Image: Brian Jones

The New Saints battled to a hard-fought 1-0 win on a tough afternoon at the Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Jordan Williams’ 43rd minute header was enough to make the difference against Haverfordwest County, as Anthony Limbrick’s side maintained their perfect start to the JD Cymru Premier season.

Next up for The Saints is a first vs second clash, as they welcome Flint Town United to Park Hall on Tuesday night.

It was a good start by the home side, and Paul Harrison was called into action inside the opening minute, as he put up a strong hand to push wide Jack Wilson’s header.

At the other end, Louis Robles thought he’d beaten the defence with a well-timed run, only to see the flag go up as he closed down on goal.

Harrison was involved again in minute 14, denying Alhagi Touray Sisay from close range on that occasion to preserve his clean sheet.

Jordan Williams was the next player to try his luck, but his ambitious effort from distance went sailing over the crossbar in the 19th minute.

Just 60 seconds later though, Limbrick’s side almost broke the deadlock. Louis Robles’ cross across the box reached Ash Baker at the back post, and although the defender connected with the ball, he couldn’t keep the shot on target.

Blaine Hudson glanced a header wide in minute 26, before Declan McManus went close with a lobbed effort, as The Saints started to get closer.

And the opening goal finally arrived just two minutes before the break, as Jordan Williams grabbed his third of the season. From a corner, the number 17 found space inside the box, and left Lee Idzi rooted to the spot, as he glanced the ball into the far corner of the net. 1-0.

The second-half continued in the same scrappy fashion as the first, and a free-kick from Elliot Scotcher called Harrison into action two minutes after the restart.

Then it was Wilson’s turn to again cause problems, but he couldn’t get his shot away under pressure inside the area.

The Bluebirds continued to cause problems for The Saints, and both Sisay and Kieran Lewis went close to grabbing the equaliser.

But Limbrick’s team looked lively themselves, and Chris Marriott struck the crossbar from a free-kick in the 66th minute, after Williams had been fouled on the edge of the box.

And with seven minutes of normal time remaining, substitute, Dean Ebbe, would have put the game out of sight, were it not for a sensational stop by Idzi.

The Haverfordwest goalkeeper pulled off a point-blank save to deny the Irish striker, keeping his side’s chances alive as stoppage time approached.

The final few minutes were nervy for The New Saints, but the side in green and white did enough to hold on for the win to maintain their 100% start to the season, and set up a first vs second clash against Flint Town United on Tuesday.