Penybont host Haverfordwest County in the JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off Final at the DragonBet Stadium on Saturday 2 May (KO 17:25).
With the league’s top two, The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads, and JD Welsh Cup winners Caernarfon Town already qualified for Europe, Bont and the Bluebirds will battle it out to be Wales’ fourth and final representative on the continent in 2026/27.
Here is all the pre-match insight ahead of a huge game.
Penybont v Haverfordwest County
The season so far
After finishing second in the league last season, Penybont started the new campaign in impressive form and sat second in the table in October – only three points behind leaders The New Saints – after winning eight of their opening 12 matches.
However, their form has dropped off dramatically since then and they won only three of their final 20 league games of the regular season. Hit hard by the departures of James Crole and Gabe Kircough in January, Bont have not won a game in 90 minutes since beating Llanelli Town on New Year’s Day. They failed to win in Phase Two, picking up just three points and scoring only three goals in 10 matches to finish in sixth place.
Rhys Griffiths’ side travelled to Colwyn Bay in the European Play-Off Semi-Final as self-described ‘outsiders’, but progressed to the Final on penalties – scoring all five of their efforts from the spot – following a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes.
In contrast to Penybont, Haverfordwest – who finished third last season – struggled at the start of the campaign and found themselves bottom of the JD Cymru Premier table at the end of September after winning only one of their first eight matches.
While the Bluebirds recovered well and moved away from relegation danger, they could not climb into the top half so had to settle for a spot in the Play-Off Conference in Phase Two. It was then that they clicked firmly into gear, winning eight of their 10 matches after the split – keeping clean sheets in all of those victories – to claim seventh place.
Head-to-head
Penybont have won 12 of the previous 18 meetings between the two sides, with Haverfordwest triumphing on just three occasions – and only once at the DragonBet Stadium in a Nathaniel MG Cup clash in 2015.
Bont are unbeaten in their last nine encounters since October 2023, claiming 1-0 and 2-1 victories in the Phase One fixtures against the Bluebirds this season.
Play-Off record
While Penybont have qualified for Europe on two previous occasions, this has never been through the Play-Offs.
This is Bont’s first home game in the Play-Offs since their defeat to Newtown in the Semi-Finals in 2020/21. Their only other experience prior to this season came in 2023/24, when they got revenge over the Robins with a 5-0 win at Latham Park before being beaten by Caernarfon Town in the Final.
Haverfordwest County have established a reputation as Play-Off specialists, having qualified for Europe through this route in both 2023 and 2025.
The Bluebirds have never lost a Play-Off match, winning three of their previous four ties in penalty shootouts away from home – the other was their 3-1 home victory over Caernarfon Town in last season’s Play-Off Final.
Players to watch
Clayton Green – Penybont
With Penybont’s attacking threat limited since James Crole’s departure in January, Rhys Griffiths will be urging his side to stay solid defensively on Saturday. Experienced midfielder Clayton Green is crucial to that, expertly protecting the backline while keep his side ticking over.
The 32-year-old has only missed one league game this season (due to suspension), with only Mael Davies and Nathan Wood clocking up more minutes in the Bont squad. Green also held his nerve to coolly score the winning penalty in the shootout against Colwyn Bay last weekend.
Dan Hawkins – Haverfordwest County
Scorer of the second goal in Haverfordwest County’s Play-Off Final win over Caernarfon Town a year ago, Dan Hawkins has enjoyed another memorable season – only Ben Ahmun (18) and Corey Shephard (10) have scored more goals than his tally of eight in the Bluebirds’ squad this term.
The 25-year-old finds himself in impressive form heading into the Final, having scored his first senior hat-trick against Llanelli Town on the final day of the regular league season before providing the assist for Greg Walters’ goal against Barry Town United last weekend.
Managers’ thoughts
Rhys Griffiths, Penybont: “I think as a team, although our performances don’t deserve to win the Play-Offs, we have resilience and togetherness and we’ve just kept going through it all, so maybe we deserve something to celebrate.”
Tony Pennock, Haverfordwest County: “It’ll be a tough game, they’ve beaten us twice already this season. We’ll go there, away from home, as underdogs. We were bottom of the league in the first week of October and now we’re in the Play-Off Final, so it’s credit to everyone at the club, staff and players, to have turned it around.”
Match Officials
Referee: John Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Johnathon Bebee-Bryant
Assistant Referee 2: Harry Hendricks
Fourth Official: Ryan Kenny
Ticket information
Penybont are offering adult early bird tickets online for just £5, up until midnight on Thursday 30 April. After that point, tickets will cost £10 online and on the gate on matchday. Children and Penybont season ticket holders have free entry.
TV coverage
The game will be live on S4C from 5pm on Saturday, with commentary available in both in English and in Welsh. You can also watch on BBC iPlayer, S4C Clic and the Sgorio YouTube channel.
Penybont vs Haverfordwest County
You can also keep up to date with the game on the Cymru Football app which is available on both iOS and Android.
