Monday, 25 March 2013

Haverfordwest suffer promotion blow at hands of Goytre United

Haverfordwest’s possible Welsh Premier League return was derailed slightly on the weekend, while the entire Huws Gray Alliance schedule was wiped out by the north Wales weather.

Haverfordwest, who are chasing the Welsh league Division One title, went down 1-0 at home to relegation-threatened Goytre United in one of the day’s shock results.

An unstoppable Joe Clarke free-kick on 35 minutes won the day for the visitors, who showed guts and determination throughout to limit the title challenger’s chances.

The Bluebirds are now four points behind leaders Taffs Well having played the same number of games and are just one ahead of Monmouth, but the third-placed side have three games in hand.

The result moves United above Bridgend Town and Tata Steel in to 13th in the table. They are now five points clear of basement side Caerleon, although the Gwent club have a game in hand.

Tata Steel fought out a goalless draw at AFC Porth, Christian Orchard missing a penalty for the home side after 38 minutes to help the visitors earn a vital point in their own battle against relegation. That draw moves them three points ahead of Caerleon, whose game at home to Taffs Well was called off.

Barry Town came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Aberdare. The visitors had established a cushion through Lewis Hitchcock and Richard French, kitted out in Barry’s away strip after forgetting their own, but Jordan Cotterall and Lewis Cosslett levelled matters.

Three games also survived in Division Two, including Undy Athletic and Ely Rangers both registering 4-0 away wins at Cardiff Corinthians and Cwmaman Institute respectively.

Cwmaman’s defeat made it 89 goals conceded in 23 games with just 18 finding the back of the opposition's net. They have managed only two draws in what has been a dismal league campaign.

The other match saw Penrhiwceiber Rangers and Briton Ferry Llansawel fight out a 1-1 draw.

The only game to be played in Division Three saw Cardiff Grange Harlequins triumph 2-0 away at Newcastle Emlyn.

In the Huws Gray Alliance, Rhyl were forced to put the champagne on ice as their hopes of wrapping up the title and securing a return to the Welsh Premier League were thwarted by the postponment of their home match against nearest rivals Cefn Druids.

Leading by 15 points with just five matches remaining, the Lilywhites required only a solitary point against the Druids to seal the league title.

But after the club fought to get the game on, the league ordered it to be called off despite the local council and police declaring the roads safe for supporters.

Chairman Paul Higginson said the club was “very disappointed” with the decision, but that they are confident of having the league won by the time of the re-arranged fixture.

“The ground and weather here are fine to play,” he said on the day. “We were advised at about 10.30 that Cefn Druids had applied for a postponement due to being unable to travel.

“We were able to get here but we don’t know the circumstances around Cefn.”

League secretary Chas Rowland explained the decision to call off the fixture was on the grounds of safety, saying: “The roads are treacherous in North Wales and so travelling would have put people’s lives at risk.

“Unfortunately, [an entire league program being called off] isn’t an uncommon thing. It’s happened this season and it certainly happened last season.”

The Rhyl-Cefn Druids fixture was the last to fall on Saturday (March 23) morning.

In the only game played in the Welsh Alliance, Holywell romped to a 10-0 victory at Nefyn United. Ian Griffiths bagged a hat-trick for the Wellmen, with Steve Thomas, Sam Jones, Paul Williams, Graeme Williams, Ashley Durham, Mark Orme and Tony Roebuck getting the others.

The result moves them within three points of league leaders Caernarfon Town, with a game in hand, and this thrashing followed on from a mid-week 7-1 drubbing of Llandudno Junction.

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