Haverfordwest County’s memorable European run came to an agonising end as they lost 3-2 on aggregate to B36 Torshavn.
Trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg, County levelled the tie in 90 minutes at the Cardiff City Stadium thanks to a second half goal from Ben Fawcett, before a controversial penalty was converted by Jann Benjaminsen in extra-time to send the Faroese side through.
The visitors had the first chance of the game as Taufee Skandari slipped through Hannes Agnarsson, but Zac Jones was equal to it in the Haverfordwest goal. They threatened again shortly after as Jann Benjaminsen’s corner was glanced just wide by Andrass Johansen.
B36’s dominance in possession nullified any chance for County to gain a foothold in the game, which they desperately needed to do. The hosts’ first sight at goal came on 29 minutes as a much needed break up the field led to a corner that fell to Kai Whitmore who fired over.
Rhys Abbruzzese then denied B36 a certain goal, as a corner pinballed in the box before finding the feet of Agnarsson who thundered his shot off the defender on the line.
The introduction of Jack Wilson for the injured Jazz Richards on 35 minutes made every throw in like a corner for County. One found its way back out to Wilson, who delivered a sumptuous ball in for Abbruzzese to square, but Martell Taylor-Crossdale could only flick his header just wide.
Haverfordwest started the second half far brighter but could only muster a Ben Fawcett shot that flew wide of the upright.
Their pressure paid off in the 66th minute when a Dan Hawkins free-kick was headed across goal by Ricky Watts for Fawcett to tap home and level the tie on aggregate and send the Bluebirds fans into raptures.
It took B36 until the 80th minute to threaten again through Agnarsson’s shot that curled just wide. That was the last chance of note as the game went to extra time.
B36 were awarded a penalty eight minutes into extra time as the referee deemed that Fawcett had handled Eli Nielsen’s goalbound effort. Benjaminsen converted to hand the Faroese team control of the tie.
With the second half of extra time to save their European campaign, County played with no fear but they could not find the crucial goal to send the game to penalties.
