Penybont midfielder Owen Pritchard believes victory in Saturday’s JD Cymru Premier European Play-Off Final would be the club’s biggest achievement yet as they prepare to face Haverfordwest County (KO 17:25).
Rhys Griffiths’ side welcome the Bluebirds to the DragonBet Stadium for the 2025/26 season curtain closer, buoyed by a dramatic penalty shootout win over Colwyn Bay in last weekend’s semi-final.
Penybont may have secured a top-six finish in Phase One, but their form collapsed after the turn of the year, with the club still searching for a first win in 90 minutes since New Year’s Day. Yet their resilience resurfaced when it mattered most. After a tense goalless draw against Colwyn Bay, a steely display from the penalty spot has left them just one game away from securing European football for a second consecutive season.
“Before the Colwyn Bay game, Griff spoke in the media about us being the underdogs, but it wasn’t something we had talked about in the changing room,” explained Pritchard. “As we hadn’t performed well in Phase Two, it felt like the pressure was off us and I was really proud of the way we played – to show so much courage and bravery.
“Since getting that win, the boys have been buzzing. We watched the Haverfordwest game together and to qualify for a third time in four years would mean so much and would just show how far we’ve come as a club.
“The club has come on year-on-year since coming up from the Cymru South, and each year we’ve progressed on the year before. Obviously, this year has been difficult and after the season we’ve had, it could actually mean more than when we finished runners-up.”
Despite their barren stretch in Phase One, Penybont did record two victories over Haverfordwest before the split, with both teams well-versed in facing one another.
“They’ll be just as up for the game as we are – I thought they played really well on Saturday,” Pritchard added. “I didn’t play in the first two games against them this season, so it’ll be a new challenge for me, but we know their players, we’ve played them numerous times, so it won’t be too unusual.
“I can’t wait, the boys can’t wait. It’s been a bit of a rocky campaign but I’m buzzing. The talk all the way through the second phase of the season has been focusing on the Play-Offs.
“Obviously when you finish in the top-six, you have the assurance of having a play-off game to come and regardless of results, you know you’re in the Play-Offs – and we know just one game can change the outcome of the entire season for the club.”
