Flint came away from their longest trip in the league with a valuable point thanks to Bobby Beaumont’s first goal for the club, as he headed the equaliser just before the break.
Up until that point, the Silkmen had offered little in the way of a goal threat, save for an early effort by Jayden Major, who raced onto a ball down the left flank, collected in and cut inside, driving past ex-Welsh international Jazz Richards. He then struck a wicked shot from the angle of the 18 yard box that just went over the bar.
After that point, it was the home side that dominated the chances. Rhys Abbruzzese, in particular was causing problems with his incisive running into the heart of the Flint defence. The Bluebirds took the lead on 23 minutes following a free kick that was delivered from the left. Beaumont appeared to get his feet in a tangle as he attempted to clear the ball, and instead of directing it to safety he merely presented it to Haverforwest skipper Dylan Rees, who duly accepted the invitation and poked it home.
County continued to pile on the pressure and Ben Fawcett headed narrowly wide from a good delivery on the left. Abbruzzese then tested Harry Allen with a long range drive, but the Flint keeper dealt with it comfortably.
As the half started drawing to a close, Flint upped their game and forced some corners. In a warming of what was to follow, a corner swung in from the left picked out Beaumont just beyond the far post. With home keeper Zac Jones flailing around in no-man’s land, Beaumont directed his header goalwards, only for Jack Wilson to head it clear just in front of the goal line and save his keeper’s blushes. But from their next corner, the Silkmen struck the equaliser. This time it was from the right side, and Tyler Garratt supplied the delivery onto the head of Beaumont who again was lurking on the far post, and he made no mistake, planting his header into the net, and redeeming himself for his earlier defensive faux pas. With just two minutes to go to the break, it was also great timing to grab a goal back.
But Haverfordwest were not fazed by this setback, and started the second period strongly. Another surging run by Abbruzzese set up Jamie Veale with a shot from a central position about 12 yards out. But Allen produced a great save with his legs to deny the former Aberystwyth man.
The Bluebirds’ creator in chief, Abbruzzese then decided to try his luck from range, and hit a sweet shot that just fizzed wide of the Flint post.
Lee Fowler then decided to introduce some of his young talent from the bench, with Harley Brindley-Peagram, Omar Ibrahim and Ben Hughes were brought on, along with Larnell Cole. The trio of youngsters in particular made their mark, and brought a fresh dimension to Flint’s attacking play.
With two minutes remaining, the Silkmen had a chance to snatch all three points. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro hooked the ball into the mixer, where Brandon Diau and Harry Owen both challenged for it. Diau seemed to be pulled from behind as he went for the ball, but any penalty calls went unheeded. The ball then broke to Brindley-Peagram, whose header from 15 yards out just cleared the bar.
Line Ups :
Haverfordwest County – Z. Jones, J. Richards, R. Abbruzzese, E. Scotcher, D. Rees (c), J. Veale, L. Jenkins, H. John (C. Shephard 75), B. Fawcett (I. Watkins 84), J. Wilson (R. George 75), J. Davies. Unused Subs – L. Idzi (GK), D. James, L. Davies, I. Humphreys
Flint Town United – H. Allen, J. Carroll (O. Ibrahim 67), T. Garratt, B. Diau, H. Owen, D. Harrison, B. Beaumont, J. Owen (c) (B. Hughes 71), J. Hindle (H. Brindley-Peagram 61), J-L Akpa-Akpro, J. Major (L. Cole 71). Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), E. Akobeto, M. Roberts
Flint MOM – Omar Ibrahim (showed great intensity when he was introduced and was a great example to his teammates with his application)
