A 2-0 defeat at home to Haverfordwest, coupled with Aberystwyth’s dramatic equaliser at Pontypridd, deep into added on time, sent Flint into the Cymru Premier relegation placings.
Once the Bluebirds has scored their second goal of the game on 25 minutes, the Silkmen never really looked as though they could force their way back into the game despite their honest endeavour, as a lack of cutting edge once again proved their undoing.
The away side took the lead on 5 minutes. Jordan Davies sprayed a good ball across the pitch to the advancing Rhys Abbruzzese down the left side. His cross found Jack Wilson in the box, but he completely missed his kick and the danger should have been averted. But a poor clearance found Corey Shepherd on the edge of the “D” who shrugged off a challenge and then planted his shot into the corner of the net, as Harry Allen in the Flint goal was unsighted by the players in front of him.
Flint tried to respond, and on 9 minutes, a slick passing move down the left, instigated by Okera Simmonds, eventually led to a chance for Zach Clarke, but his curling shot finished just past the post.
Simmonds then tried his luck with a free kick from 20 yards out, but once again the effort crept just the wrong side of the upright.
On 18 minutes, Harry Owen lofted a ball to the far post, and the ball fell to Brandon Diau, who was unable to connect cleanly, but it then ran on to Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro whose back heeled effort once more finished wide of the post.
You sensed that this wasn’t to be Flint’s day, and sure enough, with their second meaningful attack of the game, Haverfordwest scored their second. Davies was given too much time and space to cut in from the right, and advanced to just inside the area before looking up and curling a shot beyond Allen into the net.
Clarke could have pulled Flint back into the game on 27 minutes when he was released by Diau and found himself in a one on one situation with Bluebirds keeper Zac Jones, but his sidefoot effort was smothered by Jones, who from that point on was rarely troubled again.
The second half was a very much a pedestrian affair, with the visitors content to frustrate the hosts who lacked the necessary guile to break down their defence.
Omar Ibrahim went close with one effort, but that was about as good as it got for the Silkmen in what was rapidly becoming a depressing afternoon despite the sunshine.
Flint’s misery was compounded when Harry Owen was sent off for his second bookable offence on 85 minutes, after bringing down Davies.
Davies almost made it 3-0 for the visitors late on, when he ran through the Flint defence, and fired in on goal, but Allen got a partial block on the effort, before Beaumont raced across to clear the ball from just before the line.
Match Report by Nigel Sheen. Photos by Geoff Quinn (For full album of 150 photos go to www.flickr.com/photos/quinnys/albums )
Line Ups :
Flint Town United – H. Allen, B. Beaumont, T. Garratt, B. Diau, H. Owen, D. Harrison (O. Ibrahim 46), J. Carroll (B. Hughes 46), J. Owen (c), J-L Akpa-Akpro, Z. Clarke, O. Simmonds (A. Mudimu 73). Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), C. Huxley, H. Drazdauskas, M. Roberts
Haverfordwest County – Z. Jones, I. Evans (E. Dugan 85), R. Abbruzzese, O. Borg, L. Jenkins, K. Patten, J. Wilson, C. Shepherd (c), D. Hawkins (J. Leahy 72), J. Veale, J. Davies. Unused Subs – L. Idzi (GK), H. Jones, L. Davies, I. Humphreys, H. John
Flint MOM – Bobby Beaumont (a solid display on a disappointing afternoon for his team)
