JD Cymru Premier European play-off final | Match preview

This season’s JD Cymru Premier European play-off final takes place between Newtown and Haverfordwest County at Latham Park on Saturday 13 May, kick-off 5:15pm.

The winner will qualify for the first qualifying round of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Here is everything you need to know.

The season so far

After winning only two of their first nine league matches of the season, Newtown recovered well to pick up seven victories from eight games in November and December – a run which helped them to secure sixth place at the end of phase one.

Chris Hughes’ side did not move from that spot throughout phase two, winning only two of their 10 matches in the Championship Conference – both against Bala Town. They defeated the Lakesiders again in the play-off semi-final as Aaron Williams and Zeli Ismail both scored twice in a 4-2 victory at Maes Tegid.

Haverfordwest booked their place in the play-offs by finishing top of the bottom half. After a seventh-place finish in phase one, Tony Pennock’s team held on to that position in phase two by winning six of their 10 matches to finish six points clear of eighth-place Pontypridd United.

Goalkeeper Zac Jones was the hero in the Bluebirds’ semi-final victory over Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus, as he saved Eliot Evans’ penalty in normal time to see the game end 0-0. He then kept out two more spot-kicks in the shootout before Elliot Dugan sent Haverfordwest through.

Head-to-head

Newtown won both of the matches between the two clubs in phase one this season. Aaron Williams’ struck an 86^th-minute winner as Chris Hughes’ side triumphed 3-2 at Bridge Meadow in September, before Nigel Aris and Rhys Hesden netted in a 2-0 victory at Latham Park in December.

Since Haverfordwest’s promotion back to the JD Cymru Premier in 2020, the Bluebirds have won two meetings, the Robins have won four times and there have been two draws.

European record

Newtown are targeting a third successive season in European competition, while last summer they won a European tie for only the second time in their history by overcoming Faroe Islands side HB Torshavn on a penalty shootout in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round.

The Robins have had five previous European campaigns in total, qualifying through the JD Cymru Premier play-offs in 2015 and 2021.

Haverfordwest have never competed in the JD Cymru Premier play-offs before this season, with their only previous European expedition coming in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round in 2004 when they were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Icelandic outfit Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar.

Players to watch

Aaron Williams – Newtown

Williams is Newtown’s top scorer this season, but he was on a seven-game goal drought going into the play-off semi-final against Bala. Luckily for the Robins, he found his shooting boots again to score a brace to help his side progress.

Since the 29-year-old moved to Latham Park in the summer of 2021, only TNS forward Declan McManus has scored more goals in the JD Cymru Premier. Williams netted a brace against Haverfordwest in phase one, so the Bluebirds will be wary of his threat.

Jordan Davies – Haverfordwest County

One of the players in Haverfordwest’s squad with European experience, Davies played in the Champions League and Europa Conference League qualifiers during his time at Connah’s Quay Nomads.

The 27-year-old has lit up the Bluebirds’ attack since moving Bridge Meadow and he was the top scoring Welshman in the JD Cymru Premier this season with 14 goals – including four in his last four matches of the regular campaign.

The view from both camps

Zeli Ismail, Newtown: “I am fully expecting Haverfordwest to come at us, but we will do the same. We certainly won’t sit off them. I remember from phase one that they are quite a technical side who like to keep the ball, which is the same as us so it will be a good battle.

“It would be a massive achievement to qualify. We were disappointed in finishing sixth but to win the play-offs would put that right and show massive character from the lads.”

Zac Jones, Haverfordwest County: “We know it is going to be a tough game because they have a lot of good players, but we are carrying some good momentum at the moment and the boys are full of confidence. We are fully ready for the test.

“Winning would be amazing for everyone at the club – the fans, the staff, the players. There are a lot of players in this team who haven’t played in Europe and it has been a long time since this club was in Europe so it is a great opportunity for us.”