ABERYSTWYTH Town manager Gavin Allen could take the positives from their first pre-season friendly at Park Avenue, despite losing 2-1 to Haverfordwest County behind closed doors on Saturday.

Two first half goals in as many minutes from the Bluebirds’ Danny Williams and Kurtis Rees ultimately condemned Aber to defeat in their first warm-up match, ahead of the start of their new Cymru Premier League campaign on 12 September.

Defender Lee Jenkins halved the deficit for the Seasiders, but Allen’s youthful squad produced an energetic performance in spells over the 90 minutes, with the promise of plenty more to come.

“We’re not far off, to be honest,” Allen told the club’s media team. “We were missing two experienced individuals today. But you can see the age group of players already; we’ve got legs, we’ve got youth - it’s just that bit of experience and knowledge that will benefit many of the young lads when we have a full squad.

“We have two games to go before the season starts, but you could see today that when we got the passing and tempo going, we looked strong,” he added.

With football returning to the Ceredigion coast for the first time in nearly six months, Aberystwyth lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, offering new manager Allen a chance to assess a new system and the new-look squad.

The Seasiders started the game looking to assert their dominance in possession, and came close to an early advantage. Jack Rimmer’s cross-field ball from just inside his half caught out the defence, but his pass was unable to meet the marauding run of Harri Rowe at the far post.

This seemed to spur the visitors into action as they missed three good opportunities in succession. Firstly, when Danny Williams’ looping header was glanced over the bar, then Connor Roberts produced a smart save at his near post to deny Miles John, before the Aberystwyth stopper tipped over a flick on from Sean Pemberton.

The Bluebirds did break the deadlock on the half hour mark. A free-kick inside the Aber half from Kieran Lewis was met by the head of the ever dangerous Williams, whose header looped over the head of the helpless Roberts.

Less than 60 seconds later, the Bluebirds doubled their advantage. The hosts had lost possession inside their own half, which allowed a swift break down the right-hand side. Kurtis Rees was the grateful recipient to the cross at the front post, bundling home from close range.

The sharp wake-up call was what Aber needed as they finished the half stronger, carving out two quality chances, but they were unable to trouble the away goal. Lee Jenkins met a corner at the far post, but couldn’t direct his header goalward, before Jamie Veale played a perfectly weighted through ball into the box, finding Rowe on the left side, who was unable to keep his strike below the bar.

A raft of changes at the break didn’t dampen the momentum built towards the end of the first stanza. A shift in formation and a higher pressing game saw Aber take the game to Haverfordwest from the outset, and they were rewarded early on for their persistence. Two chances fell to Trialist B, before defender Jenkins headed in Veale’s corner on the six yard box to halve the Seasiders’ deficit.

Despite the early promise, Aber failed to assert their dominance into any real chances of note. The lively Jonathan Evans fired a free-kick under the wall, forcing a sprawling save to the keeper’s right, whilst Trialist C saw a shot fall tamely into the arms of Steve Hall. At the other end, Roberts had denied the visitors a third with a smart save over his crossbar.

The game had provided the management with a chance to assess their options moving forward, as well as giving the squad much-needed minutes on the field. >An improved second half performance will give everyone cause for optimism as thoughts now turn to the rest of pre-season, ahead of the anticipated return to Cymru Premier action on 12 September.

Aberystwyth will start their campaign against Cardiff Met at Park Avenue, before travelling to Penybont on 15 September and greeting ex-Seasider Wes Baynes’ Flint Town United on 18 September.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN (starting line-up): C Roberts, J Rimmer, Trialist A, L Jenkins, Trialist B, H Rowe, R Davies, J Veale, M Jones, G Harry, O Jones. Subs: A Pennock, I Hughes, J Evans, Trialist C, Trialist D, M Williams, R Ricketts.

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY (starting line-up): S Hall, M John, S Pemberton, AmJones, R Watts, C Keetch, C Shephard, K Lewis, K Rees, D Williams, J Wilson. Substitutes: Griffiths, Britton, Fawcett, Devonald.