Haverfordwest County AFC

Bluebirds robbed of a draw

Western Telegraph, January 31,2001

BARRY TOWN 3 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY 2

THE Blues made their visit to league leaders Barry Town on Saturday, and after leading twice, made the home side chase for most of the game.
The game started with The Bluebirds taking the offensive from the start, and seemed in a determined mood, not letting the home side settle into their slick brand of football, and spreading the ball wide for Ramasut and Rickard to cause concern to the home defence.
The tackles were coming thick and fast from both sides, not unfairly it must be said, but the referee chose to yellow card Luke Statton of Barry in the 11th minute and Derek Brazil in the 15th, followed by Rickard in the 17th. Mike Flynn of Barry was also booked by the official. The Blues were playing some attractive football, and in the 23rd minute, took the lead after some great passing movements, involving Rickard and Paul Burrows, who found Ramasut, and he struck the ball from about 25 yards to the keepers left by the upright to score a great goal. This silenced the baying home crowd, who are not used to seeing their side outplayed.
However Barry exerted some extreme pressure to try and equalise, only to find the Blues defence at its resilient best, Micky George, Brazil and young Andrew Hughes were outstanding to deny Moralee, French and company. The equaliser which came in the 32nd minute came from a terrific shot by right back Terry Evans from way outside the area, Miles got his hand to it, but it flew into the net.

The second half started at the same fast pace, chances falling to both sides but in the 55th minute after some continued pressure by the blues, Paul Burrows scored with a header from close in, to restore the lead. The Blues defended strongly and held out until the 73rd minute when Jamie Moralee equalised with a great header. The Bluebirds came back and had a few chances, substitutions were made by both sides. Chris Fry and Matthew Price coming on for the blues, and trying their best to score but couldn’t find the back of the net.

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY: Ben Miles, David Burrows, Jamie Rickard, Micky George, Andrew Hughes, Derek Brazil, Lee Jones. Chris Pridham, Paul Burrows, Tom Ramasut, Carl Mainwaring, Chris Fry (80), Matthew Price (80), Dylan Blain.

Barry Town 3 Haverfordwest 2

Ashley, LOW Mailing List

It was a highly charged game at Jenner Park, this afternoon, with two red cards, and numerous bookings. Haverfordwest, had done well in recent weeks, with away wins over Aberystwyth and Carmarthen, and it looked as though they were going to claim another scalp, with a curling ball along the ground, by Ramasut(23), which curved around Tony Tucker, in the Barry goal.

Barry were suffering a hangover from the Swansea game, midweek, and seemed to be unable to get out of second gear. Barry had a goal disallowed, but gained in confidence, and equalised, through a sublime Terry Evans, top corner shot in the 32nd minute. The ball looked to have been tipped over, by Ben Miles in the Bluebirds goal, but came down behind him, it took the Barry fans a few seconds to realise it was in.

Burrows scored Haverfordwest's second, in the 55th minutes, as the Barry defence seemed content to just stand and watch, the head tennis that was going on in their box, with Burrows rising from the melee, to give Tucker no chance. Barry pushed and pushed for the equaliser, which came in the 73rd minute from Moralee.

Haverfordwest were put on the back peg, and Barry could have had a hatful, if it were not for the acrobatic Ben Miles. John French scored the winner with five minutes to go. Gavin Beddard came on, and had a good chance with a 1on 1 with the goalie, who managed to deflect both attempts. The ball was cleared downfield, but the referee stopped play, for an off the ball incident, which ended in a free for all punch up, in which John French, and the Bald Haverfordwest no.7, were sent off.

Haverfordwest performed like a Jeckyll and Hyde team, very fast and dangerous going forward, playing good football, but they were also guilty at times of kicking and wrestling, everything that moved, in a style not seen since the demise of Ebbw Vale. They played for time, every opportunity they could, players were going down, and having to receive medical treatment from the physio, but Barry managed to rise above these negative spoiling tactics, to gain another 3 points.