Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Haverfordwest County beat Caerau Ely 2-1 at Bridge Meadow in pre-season. Lewis Rees (55') and Will Hughes (62') scored before Caerau pulled one back in the 65th minute.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
A goalless first half gave way to a burst of three goals in a 10-minute spell after the interval. Rees opened the scoring in the 55th minute, firing Haverfordwest ahead from close range. Hughes doubled the lead seven minutes later in the 62nd minute, putting the Bluebirds in control.
Caerau Ely pulled one back three minutes after that, scoring in the 65th minute to set up a tense finale. But Haverfordwest held on to secure the win, their fifth pre-season fixture of the 2026-27 campaign.
The turning point
Hughes's goal in the 62nd minute proved the decisive moment. Had Caerau Ely kept the deficit at 1-0, their 65th-minute strike would have been an equaliser. Instead, the second goal gave Haverfordwest a cushion that proved just enough when the visitors responded.
Key performers
Lewis Rees (Haverfordwest County) — Scored the opener in the 55th minute, his first goal of pre-season. The midfielder's timing and movement created the breakthrough Haverfordwest needed after a goalless first half.
Will Hughes (Haverfordwest County) — Grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 62nd minute. His strike gave the Bluebirds breathing room that ultimately decided the match.
Caerau Ely's unamed scorer (65') — The visitors' goal, scored three minutes after Hughes's strike, briefly threatened a comeback and made the final 25 minutes competitive.
By the numbers — interpreted
The match marked Haverfordwest's fifth pre-season outing of the summer, following meetings with Trethomas Bluebirds, Hamilton Academical, Aberystwyth Town and Gloucester City. The Bluebirds have now played two of their three scheduled home friendlies at Bridge Meadow, maintaining a 100% home record in pre-season. Caerau Ely, who play in the JD Cymru South, showed organisation to keep the scoreline respectable and took their goal well.
What it means
Haverfordwest continue their preparations for the 2026-27 JD Cymru Premier season, which will feature an expanded 16-team format for the first time. The Bluebirds finished in the European play-off positions last season and will look to build on that foundation. Tuesday's win was their penultimate friendly before the competitive campaign begins.
Next for Haverfordwest County: vs Llanelli Town (H) — Saturday 25 July 2026, 14:30, Bridge Meadow Stadium (final pre-season friendly)
Next for Caerau Ely: TBC — JD Cymru South season preparations continue
Verdict
A functional pre-season win for Haverfordwest, who created and finished their chances in a decisive second-half spell. The seven-minute gap between their two goals ultimately separated the sides, with Caerau Ely's response arriving too late to change the result. The Bluebirds will want to sharpen their first-half performance before the real business begins.
Rivalry since 2019
Haverfordwest County AFC vs Caerau (Ely) Head to Head Results· 2
Haverfordwest County AFC and Caerau (Ely) have met 2 times — Haverfordwest County AFC won 2, Caerau (Ely) won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2019. Haverfordwest County AFC leads the head-to-head with 2 victories from 2 meetings. A combined 7 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.50 per match (7 for the home side, 0 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (50%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–0 in 2019.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 22 Jul 2026