Newtown battle in vain as Haverfordwest ease to victory

The home side dictated much of the game and enjoyed the greater share of possession only to be punished as County made their few efforts count.

The result means the Robins will compete in the play-off conference for the remainder of the season.

Jordan Evans curled a free-kick wide from the edge of the area inside the opening five minutes while Alex Fletcher's left wing free-kick also flashed wide five minutes later.

The home side continued to dominate with Lufimpa Mwandwe's left wing cross tipped onto the bar by County goalkeeper Matthew Turner with Nick Rushton's scrambled rebounded effort going wide.

It took County until the 23rd minute to muster their first opening with Trystan Jones' right wing cross steered wide on the near post by Kieran Lewis.

Action from Newtown's clash with Haverfordwest County. Picture by H18-PDW Photography.

However two minutes later and County led with Corey Shepherd's throughball releasing Cameron Keetch on the left to cut a pass into the path of Lewis to slot home from close range.

Shepherd tried his luck from 40 yards after half and hour only for his speculative effort to dip over the bar with goalkeeper Dave Jones scrambling.

Newtown regained their momentum by the end of the half with Evans' shot deflected wide before Jack Kelly released Mwandwe down the left to force a fine save from Turner.

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It was a similar story in the second-half with the home side having the majority of possession but failing to create any clear openings with County content to soak up the pressure.

Turner was called into action to turn Jake Phillips' right wing cross around the post on 54 minutes as the Robins looked to get back on terms.

Instead they found themselves two goals down just a minute later.

Shepherd squared for Keetch to unleash an unstoppable drive beyond Jones from the edge of the area to leave the home side chasing a two goal deficit.

Newtown continued to battle but chances continued to be in scarce supply.

Action from Newtown's clash with Haverfordwest County. Picture by H18-PDW Photography.

On 75 minutes substitute Jamie Breese muscled his way to regaining possession and squaring for Nick Rushton whose 16 yard shot squirmed wide of the woodwork.

Shane Sutton fired over the bar following a 77th minute corner and two minutes later the ex-Telford defender was in action at the other end to put pressure on Ben Fawcett who blazed over the bar after breaching the home defence.

Referee Aaron Jones had a good game but on 87 minutes a dangerous challenge on Mwandwe by Trystan Jones on the left wing failed to yield a greater punishment than a free-kick.

County added salt to the wounds in injury time with Shepherd's long ball releasing Marcus Griffiths to round Jones and slot into an empty net for his side's third goal of the afternoon.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, Phillips, Kelly, Mills-Evans, Rushton, Evans, Hughes, Letford, Sutton, Fletcher, Mwandwe. Subs: Steventon, McAllister, O'Neill, Breese, Davies, Edwards, A Jones.

HAVERFORDWEST: Turner, T Jones, A Jones, Tancock, Watts, Shepherd, Keetch, Scotcher, Lewis, Richards, Williams. Subs: Gajda, Pemberton, Fawcett, Griffiths, Rees.