Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Haverfordwest County AFC thrashed Llanelli Town 8-0 in their final pre-season friendly at Bridge Meadow Stadium, leading 6-0 at half-time. Dan Hawkins scored twice in the first half.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Haverfordwest were 3-0 up inside 24 minutes. The opening goal arrived in the 15th minute, quickly followed by a second three minutes later. Dan Hawkins made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute, and a fourth followed in the 24th minute before the half-hour mark.
Hawkins scored his second of the afternoon in the 40th minute to make it 5-0, and Greg Walters added a sixth in the 42nd minute to send the hosts into the break with a commanding 6-0 lead.
Haverfordwest picked up where they left off after the restart. The seventh goal arrived in the 49th minute, and the scoring was completed in the 87th minute with the eighth goal of the afternoon.
The turning point
There was no single turning point — the match was decided inside the opening 24 minutes. Haverfordwest's fourth goal, making it 4-0 before the half-hour mark, effectively ended the contest as a competitive fixture. Llanelli, playing a tier below in the Cymru South, were unable to cope with the pace and movement of the Cymru Premier side from the first whistle.
Key performers
Dan Hawkins (Haverfordwest County): The forward scored twice in the first half (22', 40') and was a constant threat. Hawkins was Haverfordwest's top scorer in the 2025-26 league season and carried that form into pre-season.
Greg Walters (Haverfordwest County): The midfielder scored Haverfordwest's sixth goal (42') just before half-time and was influential in the build-up play throughout.
Lewis Rees (Haverfordwest County): The newly-signed striker, announced in June 2026, marked his first start for the club with a goal — a statement of intent ahead of the new season.
By the numbers — interpreted
An 8-0 scoreline (6-0 at half-time) tells a story of complete dominance. Haverfordwest scored eight goals from eight different goal minutes across the 90, with the damage concentrated in two bursts: four goals in the opening 24 minutes and two more before the break. The 49th-minute goal showed Haverfordwest did not take their foot off the pedal after the interval. The Cymru South side managed just one shot on the Haverfordwest goal in the second half, per the available data.
What it means
The 8-0 win capped a mixed pre-season for Haverfordwest. The Bluebirds won four of six friendlies (7-0 vs Trethomas Bluebirds, 0-4 vs Hamilton Academical, 0-0 vs Aberystwyth Town, 1-0 vs Gloucester City, 2-1 vs Caerau Ely, 8-0 vs Llanelli Town) — with the heavy defeat to Hamilton a concern, but the two closing wins suggesting momentum heading into the season.
Llanelli Town, who finished their 2025-26 campaign in the Cymru South, used the friendly as a test against higher-level opposition. The Reds will be hoping for a stronger start to their league season.
Next fixtures:
- Haverfordwest County: Cymru Premier MD1 vs Airbus UK Broughton (H) — 1 August 2026 (lost 0-1)
- Llanelli Town: Cymru South season opener — TBC
Verdict
Haverfordwest's 8-0 thrashing of tier-two opponents should be read in context: the gulf between the Cymru Premier and Cymru South is significant, and the scoreline reflected that. For Tony Pennock's side, it was a confidence-boosting send-off before the season opener. The real test came a week later against Airbus UK Broughton, where the Bluebirds fell to a 1-0 home defeat. Finishing in pre-season does not always carry over into league football.
Rivalry since 2019
Haverfordwest County AFC vs llanelli AFC Head to Head Results· 8
Haverfordwest County AFC and llanelli AFC have met 8 times — Haverfordwest County AFC won 5, llanelli AFC won 3, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2019. Haverfordwest County AFC leads the head-to-head with 5 victories from 8 meetings. A combined 22 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.75 per match (15 for the home side, 7 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (13%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 4 games (50%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Haverfordwest County AFC are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–0 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Aug 2026