Haverfordwest County qualified for the UEFA Conference League after winning 3-1 against Caernarfon Town in the JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off final.
Ben Ahmun scored twice, either side of Dan Hawkins’ goal, to secure European football for the Bluebirds for the second time in three years. Louis Lloyd pulled one back for the Cofis in stoppage time but it was no more than a consolation.
In the end it was a case of Haverfordwest being more clinical their opponents in front of the highest JD Cymru Premier crowd of the season with 1,717 in attendance at the Ogi Bridge Meadow.
The Bluebirds started on the front foot and forced Caernarfon’s defence in to work early on with Blaine Hudson needing to block Rhys Abbruzzese’s shot after running at defence unchallenged.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 17th minute through top scorer Ahmun who was in the right place at the right time. Corey Shephard weaved in to the box and his far-sided shot fell to the path of the striker who was unmarked and he tucked his shot underneath Ben Hughes.
Haverfordwest nearly doubled their advantage immediately after scoring. Shephard broke up a Caernarfon attack, threaded a ball to Jacob Owen who put a ball across to Dan Hawkins who had a low effort saved.
Hawkins wouldn’t be denied shortly after the half hour mark however as he struck to double Haverfordwest’s advantage. Abbruzzese played a good through ball which was flicked on by Owain Jones in to the path of Hawkins who scored with a clinical finish at the near post.
The visitors had their first real chance of note as they went in search of an equaliser. Josh Lock won possession just inside the box but Kyle McCarthy made a telling block to stop his shot from going on target.
Caernarfon re-emerged from half-time with a spring in their step following the introduction of Jake Canavan and Daniel Gosset. They went near to reducing the deficit with Adam Davies hitting the post after getting his shot away through a sea of bodies.
Tony Pennock opted to bring on Ben Fawcett and he had a positive impact. The striker created a chance for Ahmun who went just wide and then played through Shephard who was denied in a one-on-one.
The game began to peter out until Ahmun added some life back in to it with his second and Haverfordwest’s third to all but clinch the victory. Greg Walters played a delicate through ball to him and he showed his composure to score.
After a raft of changes and with four minutes of additional time shown, Caernarfon pulled a goal back. Lloyd was found on the far right-hand side and he was able to sneak his effort underneath Zac Jones.
A Jake Canavan ball caused some problems for the Haverfordwest with substitute Iori Humphreys almost heading the ball in to his own net but instead it went wide.
Haverfordwest from there were able to prevent any further blemishes and shortly after celebrated as the full-time whistle sounded, confirming their participation in Europe next season.
“I’m so chuffed, the boys were excellent today,” Tony Pennock told Sgorio after the game. “Credit to Caernarfon, they’ve had a long season and maybe it was just one game too many for them in the end.
“I always thought the boys were looking really fresh the last three weeks and they had an appetite for today’s game. It’s [European qualification] twice in three years and a fantastic sell out crowd, so I’m extremely proud of everyone at the club.
“For us as a club, our attendances have been going up every year since I’ve been here and that’s because of what the boys produce on a Saturday or Friday night. People want to come and watch them play. The lads deserve everything they get, they’re a fantastic group of people.
“We’re better prepared going into Europe this time than we were two years ago. We learnt a lot from that experience as a club, players and staff. I’m looking forward to a trip to Geneva with the chairman – it was a good one last time and I’ll make sure it is again this time!”
