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BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Haverfordwest can progress in Europe
Tony Pennock says Haverfordwest County have shown they have enough quality to turn around their Uefa Conference League tie against trail the Maltese side 2-1 heading into Thursday's first qualifying round second leg at Parc y Scarlets (18:00 BST).The Cymru Premier club took the lead in Malta last week and were only beaten by a debatable second-half Pennock says his team of part-time players should have belief going into the return fixture."It's going to be a tough one - Floriana are a good side and we have got to turn round a deficit," said the Haverfordwest boss."But we go into the game with a lot of confidence because we competed well with them in the first leg."We went into that game not really knowing what we were up against, whereas now we know a bit more about the opposition. The boys should definitely take confidence from the first game." This is just the third European campaign in the history of Haverfordwest, whose one previous victory in continental competition came when they fought back after losing the away leg to beat Shkendija on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium two years money in the Conference League is significant for the Bluebirds, who have earned around £280,000 for reaching this stage and will bank around £170,000 more should they reach the next winners will quickly be back in continental action, with a second qualifying round first leg tie to come away to Kosovan side Ballkani on Tuesday, 22 July."We had a crowd of more than 2,000 last time up in Cardiff, which is a lot further from Haverfordwest than Llanelli, so hopefully there will be another good turnout for this one," Pennock said."I am guessing there will be a good walk-up crowd on the night, and that's important for the boys."
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Haverfordwest 'better prepared' for European bid
Haverfordwest County begin their second Uefa Conference League adventure in three seasons against Floriana on Tuesday (18:30 BST) with boss Tony Pennock confident the Bluebirds are better prepared for the competition this time claimed a memorable victory over North Macedonia's Shkendija in 2023-24, when they were playing in Europe for the first time in 22 years on, Pennock believes Haverfordwest have a greater chance of making a mark in the Conference League thanks to increased experience and depth in his men are in Malta for their first qualifying round first leg at the Centenary Stadium before the return fixture at Parc y Scarlets on Thursday, 17 July."We are better prepared than last time," Pennock said. "A lot of our players were involved two years ago so they have that experience, and we are coming into this on the back of a really good season in the Cymru Premier."As a club, too, we knew all the things we needed to have in place for Europe, whereas that was all new for us two years ago."In 2024, Haverfordwest claimed the first European win in their history as they overcame Shkendija on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium, before losing out to B36 Torshavn in the second qualifying round. This year, a meeting with Kosovan side Ballkani is the prize on offer as Haverfordwest take on Floriana, who finished third in the Maltese league last money in the competition is significant for Haverfordwest, who have earned around £280,000 for reaching this stage and will be around £170,000 more should they progress."Nobody can hide away from the fact that getting into Europe is financially rewarding, although you can get ties where a lot of the money goes on sorting out the trip and everything that goes with it," Pennock said."In fairness, the chairman has given us what we want in terms of flights and hotels to give us the best opportunity to get through."Haverfordwest, who finished third in the Welsh top flight last season, will start as underdogs against Floriana – but that is not a concern for Pennock."They are a seeded team and we are not, but two years ago Shkendija were a high-seeded team and we got through that," he added."The big thing going away from home first is to make sure we are still in the tie going into the second leg, which hopefully will be a good occasion that everybody enjoys."Haverfordwest's home leg is to be held at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli because their Bridge Meadow home does not meet Uefa standards for European games.
