Ashely Morris hoping to use past glories to guide Penybont to Europe
Penybont goalkeeper Ashley Morris with a goal line save late in the second half. Penybont v Connahs Quay at Bryntirion Park in the JD Cymru Premier on the 13th March 2021.Lewis Mitchell/Penybont FC
After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Cymru Premier in 2019/20, Penybont’s fortunes have switched this season.
They will compete in a play-off semi-final against Newtown on Sunday afternoon, with a shot at qualification to the UEFA Europa Conference League on the cards.
At the heart of the change has been goalkeeper Ashley Morris. The 36-year-old signed for Penybont in January 2020, a few months before the league was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bont conceded 48 goals in 25 games before the league was called off last season. This season, however, they’ve conceded 40 in 32.
“I think we’ve achieved what we set out to achieve,’’ claimed Morris.
‘’We set out to achieve top six and if anything, I think we deserve to be the fourth best team in the league with the way we’ve performed. We’ve got a good, technical side, but we can mix it up as well.’’
Morris is no stranger to a play-off. He earned qualification to the Europa League with Llanelli in 2011/12 and with Bala Town in 2012/13.
“This Penybont side is young. We have got a mix of experienced players as well, but I can’t see why we can’t achieve what I achieved at Bala and Llanelli and hopefully, under the guidance of Rhys [Griffiths], maybe we can get there in the next couple of years,’’ Morris continued.
“Me and Ash [Evans] won it at Llanelli. He’s been in two play-off finals himself, so he’s experienced, as well as Lewis Harling and the management team.
‘’To be honest, I don’t think it comes down to experience for these one-off games, especially with no crowds turning up. I think it’s just who turns up on the day and I think we’re very capable of going through.’’
Penybont face tough opposition in Newtown who finished in the bottom six but have won seven of their last 10 games.
“I think I’d rather finish in the top six with the way we’ve done it. Don’t get me wrong, even though Newtown have gone on a good run, I think they were a lot of points off seventh when we started back.
‘’We’ve had some good results in the top six like Connah’s Quay away, beat Barry twice and Caernarfon, so we haven’t done too badly ourselves.
“We’re high in confidence and think we can match the top teams in the league, so I would prefer to do it the way we’ve done it, to be honest.
“They’re [Newtown] always going to be dangerous. They play good football. They like to pass it around and they have some good players as well so we can’t look past Newtown, but obviously, if we play well ourselves and play like we’re capable of, we should be okay.‘’
“I don’t think anyone’s favourites going into this one, it’s a one-off game. Anything can happen. They’re in a good run of form since the split, but I think it’s an even game. We’ll have confidence that we can go through.”
