Haverfordwest progressed to Europe on Sunday (May 18) when they beat Caernarfon Town 3-1 at the Bridge Meadow in the Cymru premier play-off game, in front of a capacity crowd basking in the Pembrokeshire sunshine.
The first attacking opportunity came the way of Bluebirds striker Ben Ahmun, who gained a yard behind the Caernarfon defence from a measured through ball from Greg Walters, towering defender Blaine Hudson equal in his speed to clear the danger. For the opening quarter of an hour both sides embroiled in an arm wrestle to gain the key battle grounds, perhaps with so much at stake, understandably cautious not to make an error.
For the Bluebirds, Corey Shephard and Greg Walters were instrumental in delivering the quarterback passes, one such play seeing full back Rhys Abbruzzese striking goalwards from 20 yards, which was deflected clear, pressure applied with a brace of corner kicks into the danger zone.
New Zealand born goalkeeper Zac Jones was an imposing guardian figure with the Castle standing tall behind his goal at the Town end, his distribution the start points for offensive play in a calm and secure manner, Kyle McCarthy coming deep to retrieve the ball and smoothly linking with Shephard and Walters alongside Dan Hawkins to ensure the game was played in the visitor's half.
The opening goal came through a daring run from Shephard where he was like a knife through butter, playing the perfect pass onto a plate for Ahumn to cooly place his shot from eight yards beyond a despairing Ben Hughes. The crowd at the sunblasted Bridge Meadow had been whipped to a frenzy by the pre match shenanigans of Tom, Stewart and Alex erupted like a volcano to acclaim the goal and they were still on their feet celebrating when Hawkins had another chance a minute later after Shephard again was the fulcrum, Hughes saving low to his right.
Captain Dylan Rees voice was assured despite the crescendo of noise and his delivery to Ahumn on 22 minutes saw Owain Jones pick up the pieces, a penalty call from the 1717 crowd waved away by referee Bryn Markham-Jones who deemed the Canaries captain Ryan Sears challenge to be a fair one. It was one way traffic towards the Hospital end, Hawkins and Abbruzzese linking assuredly alongside the dynamos in midfield who had taken a stranglehold on the game.
Rees was strong once again in his challenge on Adam Davies on the half way line, teeing up Abbruzzese who delivered a ball across to Jones on the right wing but his first time volley didn't trouble Hughes. The Bluebirds were focused and assured, delivering the game plan set out by manager Tony Pennock with poise, both in possession and when they set up to defend a high line, local youngster Jacob Owen showing a range of passing as he found space on the right, his cross on the half hour cleared, marauding centre half Lee Jenkins flaming red hair appearing across every inch of the amphitheatre as he drove his side forward.
The caldron was simmering and the Cleddau Casuals drumming up the vocal support which inspired their heroes, Hawkins doubling the lead as Abbruzzese placed another sumptuous through ball into the inside left channel and Hawkins cooly let it run across his body to clip a right foot shot with the outside of his foot into the bottom left corner of Hughes net.
As expected, the testosterone rose after the second goal, with Sears and Walters exchanging pleasantries, Markam-Jones on hand to defuse with words of solace and a smile, tools which Pedr McMullen would have used himself, the minute silence before kick-off for the Referee of Wales association stalwart, a fitting tribute.
Josh Lock had Caernarfon's first goal bound effort on 35 minutes when the ball ran free in the home penalty box, McCarthy in the right place as a strong wall of security to deflect clear, Davies then drawing a foul from Rees two minutes later, Matty Jones the free kick artistry for the visitors but his palette failed to draw any colour to the canvas for his side from 25 yards out.
The final five minutes saw Jones and Hawkins active in subtly controlling the game deep in the Caernarfon territory, Hughes brave and strong in his challenges to ensure his side were no further adrift than 2-0 at half time, his opposition number Jones himself again calmy the standard bearer in his own penalty box as two minutes of added time was indicated.
At half time the Haverfordwest County Development side were paraded around the ground after receiving their medals and the FAW trophy after they overcame TNS at Colliers Park yesterday to secure their own place in Europe next season, Ashleigh Watkins the hero with a ninety-fifth minute equaliser for the young Bluebirds which saw the penalty success.
Caernarfon manager Richard Davies made two substitutions to start the second period, Sam Downey replaced by Daniel Gossett and Blaine Hudson by Jake Canavan, Caernarfon now playing with a back three.
The second period started in a similar vein to the opening half, both teams wary of making a mistake which could impact on the game, the Bluebirds once again content to play the game in the right areas of the pitch, Walters getting the better of Paulo Mendes after 50 minutes which characterised his sides desire to not relinquish their lead, Ahumn an isolated leader of the line as Hawkins and Jones sat deeper but encouraged as the crowd, the maximum allowed at the Bridge Meadow stadium, cheered his every touch.
Jones made an outstanding save with one hand to keep out Louis Lloyd on 52 minutes after some pandemonium in his six yard area, the post also having a part to play, Ben Fawcett replacing Jones ten minutes into the half, which saw him Playing closer to Ahumn, Pennock astute in this thinking that defence starts from the front.
Centre half Phil Mooney and Sears were dominant figures at this stage, Haverfordwest pressing the ball to nullify once again the visitor's outlet in midfield. Young and old had bought into the atmosphere with surreal echo of 'Haverfordwest' ringing loudly in the early evening, akin to the sound of the Church bells at St Davids Church, Prendergast which loomed over the ground from behind the television gantry.
As the game entered its final half an hour, Morgan Owen became the third player withdrawn by Caernarfon, Joe Faux his like for like replacement on the right of their defensive formation. Jones, now sporting a black cap to deflect the sun in his lime green 'number 1' jersey continued to deliver the pin point balls to start his sides attack, Fawcett a livewire as the ball was fizzed across the deck as the County Town side proved their mantra of 'playing for Pembrokeshire'.
Walters and McCarthy showed a telling composure on 70 minutes to set Fawcett to run at a retreating Canaries defence, the Hakin terrier putting the ball into the stride of Shephard and his shot drew an outstanding save from Hughes, one which kept his sides hopes alive, Lock replaced by Darren Thomas and Pennock switching Hawkins, who had run himself into the ground, with Kyle Kenniford, the crowd hugely appreciative of the goal scorers efforts as he made the walk from the centre circle to rapturous acclaim.
Lloyd made good ground for Caernarfon, his final all not reaching Davies as Rees once again was on sentry duty as the game entered its final fifteen minutes, as 'Haverfordwest is he Best' sang loudly, Jones alert to leave his penalty box to clear danger, the effort from Thomas from 20 yards firing harmlessly over his bar from the resultant play from the throw in, an indication of how few opportunities his side had been given in the game.
The flags adorning the ground railings had an antipodean flag fluttering proudly for Jones, the 'Kiwi King' organised his defensive wall which saw a potentially dangerous opportunity for a free kick wasted by Lloyd, Matty Jones then replaced by Matty Hill, who had an early opportunity to deliver a cross into the box, McCarthy a towering presence to head clear.
The game was put to bed and the passage into Europe secured with five minutes to play, Ahmun striking a right foot shot beyond Hughes from the edge of the 18 yard box, Walters again the conductor with the pass, as he orchestrated pandemonium amongst the baying throng, Ahumn taking the plaudits for his two goals, the industry of Walters and man of the match Shephard not to be overlooked.
Iori Humphries replaced Jacob Owen, Walters was replaced by Harri John and Ahumn by Bluebird icon Ricky Watts, in a triple substitution by the beaming Pennock, just before 4 minutes were indicated for added time by fourth official John Jones.
Lloyd pulled back a goal, albeit a consolation with a minute remaining as he tucked away a speculative ball across the box from a tight angle, the final moments played out with Haverfordwest holding possession, a mantra for the game which has ensured Haverfordwest are on their European Tour, once more!
Haverfordwest County
Zak Jones; Rhys Abbruzzese; Dylan Rees ©️; Lee Jenkins; Corey Shephard; Dan Hawkins (73; Kyle Kenniford); Kyle McCarthy; Greg Walters (88; Harri John); Owain Jones (56; Ben Fawcett); Jacob Owen (88; Iori Humphreys); Ben Ahmun (88; Ricky Watts).
Substitutes not used
Ifan Knott; Daniel John.
Caernarfon Town
Ben Hughes; Morgan Owen (62; Joe Faux); Matty Jones (82; Matty Hill); Phillips Mooney; Adam Davies; Louis Lloyd; Blaine Hudson (46; Jake Canavan); Sam Downey (46; Sam Downey); Paulo Mendes; Josh Lock (71; Darren Thomas); Ryan Sears ©️.
Substitutes not used
Hari Thomas; Osian Evans.
Match Photos by Ethan Ellis
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