ABERYSTWYTH Town remain in the hunt for a play-off place after they kept their focus to claim a crucial 3-1 win over already relegated Haverfordwest at Park Avenue on Friday night.

In-form man of the match Craig Williams had opened the scoring for the Seasiders with a sublime lob over keeper Craig Morris on 10 minutes, but Haverfordwest were well up for this match, and replied through Luke Borelli just six minutes later.

The Seasiders improved after the half-time break, and it was Williams who created the chance for Chris Venables to lob Aber back in front on the hour.

Big striker Rhys Griffiths then sealed the win when his header deflected off Sean Pemberton to complete the scoring from a Williams corner kick after 71 minutes.

On a drizzly night a decent turnout of 404 ensured a lively Friday night atmosphere at Park Avenue, and it was the Bluebirds who created the first chance when Borelli’s ball in from the left fell to stand-in centre forward Sean Pemberton, who could only tap it back to Aber keeper Mike Lewis.

Another Borelli cross was gathered by Lewis, but then came the first moment of real quality from the hosts.

Geoff Kellaway picked out Craig Williams on the left with a superb diagonal ball, and he hit a sumptuous first time lob over Morris to open the Seasiders’ account.

Venables tried another lob minutes later, but then the visitors equalised when the impressive Greg Walters laid the ball on to Borelli, and he fired it into the net.

Haverfordwest did not look like a side struggling at the bottom of the table as Pemberton headed wide and Borelli had an effort saved.

At the other end, again, Kellaway too had a flick kept out, and then Ross Stephens picked out Venables at the back post with a brilliant chip, but the top scorer headed inches wide.

It was a bright start to the second half by the visitors, with Pemberton having a low shot saved, before also heading wide, but then the game turned on the hour.

The irrepressible Williams cut inside from the left after a positive run and his low shot brought a save from Morris, which rebounded to Venables in the penalty box, and he managed to hook the ball over the goalkeeper to score with an instinctive lob.

Aber stepped up and a deft touch from Rhys Griffiths released speedster Kellaway in on goal, and his shot was parried inches wide of the far post by keeper Morris.

Then the killer third came when Williams’ corner from the left was flighted perfectly for Griffiths to direct a strong header goalbound, and it was deflected into the net off Pemberton’s head.

Aber still had more defending to do as Haverfordwest refused to surrender, with Stephens, Lee Surman and Antonio Corbisiero making some crucial blocks.

Walters curled an effort wide, but late on Aber sub Liam Jaques set up Williams for another blocked effort, before the final whistle blew.

ABER: M Lewis, A Corbisiero, C Davies, R Stephens, S Jones, L Surman (K Owen 73), G Kellaway (J Rimmer 89), C Venables, C Williams, S James, R Griffiths (L Jaques 90'). Subs: W Thomas, T Jones, N Blake.

HAVERFORDWEST: C Morris, R Watts (K Speake 8), S Williams (J Bertorelli 84), S Rodon, D Griffiths, 21. T Wellington, N Palmer, G Walters, D Carroll (K Howard 87), S Pemberton, L Borrelli.

Attendance: 404. Ref: A Jones.