An early second half goal condemned Haverfordwest County to a 1-0 defeat in their UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round first leg away at Macedonian side KF Shkëndija.
Adenis Shala scored the only goal of the game for the hosts, but Haverfordwest will feel there is still plenty to play for in the second leg at the Cardiff City Stadium next week.
Former Welsh international Jazz Richards captained the Bluebirds on their return to Europe after 19 years, while there were competitive debuts for new signings Tyrese Owen, Kai Whitmore and Martell Taylor-Crossdale.
It was a slow start to the game as the temperature climbed over 30 degrees Celsius in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, but the hosts began to create a few opportunities and Haverfordwest’s play-off hero Zac Jones was needed to keep the score goalless at the break.
The game’s decisive moment came just two minutes into the second half when Kosovan winger Shala lashed in from close range following a cross from compatriot Ardian Limani.
Shkëndija continued to threaten and look for a second goal, but a mixture of strong defending and impressive goalkeeping from Haverfordwest kept the tie alive before it heads to Cardiff.
Jones twice denied dangerous playmaker Endrit Krasniqi, while Cymru C international Lee Jenkins proved his worth in the backline with a couple of important blocks.
The winner of the tie will face the winner of the tie between B36 Tórshavn from the Faroe Islands and Estonia’s Paide Linnameeskond in the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round. The first leg of that clash finished goalless on Wednesday.
