Bluebirds are Euro bound after beating Cofis in final
JD Cymru Premier 24/25 European Play Off Final:
Haverfordwest County 3 – Caernarfon Town 1
Haverfordwest County defeated Caernarfon Town to win the European Play-Off Final at a sun-kissed Ogi Bridge Meadow in front of the biggest crowd of the season, which was televised live by Sgorio.
Haverfordwest County finished the season in a record-breaking third position in the table whilst the visitors were fourth as they beat Cardiff Met on penalties last week to reach this final.
This is the second time in three seasons that the Bluebirds have qualified for Europe, and on this display they thoroughly deserved victory over The Cofis, who didn’t really test Bluebirds’ goalkeeper Zac Jones too much on a hot afternoon, until the last moments when the result was already decided.
The Bluebirds led 2-0 at half time as Ben Ahmun and Dan Hawkins both found the back of the net, which inevitably put the Cofis under pressure. Five minutes from full time Ahmun showed great composure to add his side’s third and it was the striker’s second of the game for a man of the match performance, although Corey Sheppard received the verdict from the S4C experts..
Tony Pennock’s men came out of the blocks the quicker and were rewarded with the opener on 17 minutes when Corey Shephard’s (making his 100th appearance for Bluebirds) shot across the face of goal was turned home underneath the body of keeper Ben Hughes.
That important goal settled the nerves as the Cofis struggled to get a foothold in the match, and in the 33rd minute the hosts bagged a neat second goal when Abbruzzese threaded a neat through ball to Owen Jones, who exquisitely flicked it into the path of Hawkins,and his first-time wicked low left-footed drive which comfortably beat Hughes at his near post to put The Bluebirds two goals in front.
Josh Lock came close to pulling one back as his shot was blocked on the line, a real let off for The Bluebirds.
Early in the second period the Cofis were unlucky not to pull one back as Adam Davies' close range shot deflected off Jones before it rebounded off the post and was cleared in a goalmouth scramble.
However, the hosts were unlucky not to add a third as substitute Ben Fawcett made an immediate impact when his excellent cross from the right just evaded Ahmun who stretched as the striker just failed to get anything on it. Fawcett was heavily involved thereafter as his pace caused problems for Cofis' tired legs.
Hughes pulled off a stunning save to deny Shephard after Fawcett played the midfielder in with a well-weighted pass. At the other end substitute Daniel Gossett blazed his edge of the area shot well over the crossbar.
The Cofis continued to push forward as Davies beat a defender before unselfishly teing up Thomas, who fired over the bar from the edge of the box.
The Bluebirds put the result beyond doubt as the ultra-busy Gregg Walters timed his through ball to perfection and Ahmun coolly slotted past Hughes, which put the result beyond doubt. The Cofis grabbed a consolation goal scored by Louis Lloyd from an acute angle in stoppage time, but it was a classic case of too little too late.
Club cjhairman Rob Evans looked more than pleased with the result and outstanding manager Tony Pennock told the TV pundits,
"We played really well and were really worth our win as it was evident that we had used our three-week rest to good effect as Caernarvon were battling their way to qualify for this last match of the season.
"We are delighted to qualify for Europe for the second time in three seasons and I feel we will be better prepared this time than before.
"Everyone at the club has been totally focussed so that the commitment has been rerwarded, on and off the field."went
Haverfordwest County: Zac Jones, Rhys Abbruzzese, Dylan Rees (Captain), Lee Jenkins, Corey Shephard, Dan Hawkins (73’ Kyle Kenniford), Kyle McCarthy, Greg Walters (88’ Harri John), Owain Jones (56’ Ben Fawcett), Jacob Owen (88’ Iori Humphreys), Ben Ahmun (88’ Ricky Watts).
Substitutes not used: Ifan Knott, Daniel John.
Caernarfon Town: Ben Hughes, Morgan Owen (62’ Joe Faux), Matty Jones (81’ Matty Hill), Phillip Mooney, Adam Davies, Louis Lloyd, Blaine Hudson (46’ Jake Canavan), Sam Downey (46’ Daniel Gosset), Paulo Mendes, Josh Lock (71’ Darren Thomas), Ryan Sears (Captain).
Substitutes not used: Hari Thomas, Osian Evans.
Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones.
Assistants: Lewiss Edwards & Connor Thomas.
Fourth Official: Nigel Richards.
Attendance: 1,717.