Havnar Bóltfelag 1-0 Newtown: Advantage to Tórshavn in Conference League qualifier
Newtown goalkeeper Dave Jones appeals to the linesman. Penybont v Newtown in the JD Cymru Premier at Bryntirion Park on the 6th April 2022. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Newtown valiantly fought to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier with Havnar Bóltfelag.
Bartal Wardum’s 65th minute header scored the only goal of the game for the Faroese outfit who had dominated for most parts of the game.
The Robins did threaten more in the second-half and caused problems from corner kicks and throw-ins but couldn’t breach Teitur Gestsson’s goal.
Chris Hughes’ side have given themselves a fighting chance of progression as they now make the 900-mile trip back to mid Wales to regroup ahead of the rematch next Thursday at Park Hall.
The hosts started on the front foot and were allowed to dominate possession in the early proceedings as Newtown opted not to press their opponents.
In a difficult few minutes, Dave Jones was forced into action twice. Daniel Johansen on the box hit a curling shot that the goalkeeper palmed away and from the resulting corner, he punched clear in a crowded penalty box.
Newtown’s defensive work was almost undone on the counter-attack as the home side broke but Jones did well to block Paetur Petersen’s low snuck shot.
There was more to deal with for the ten-men who were all behind the ball and acting as the second last line od defence, Ryan Sears made an important block to deny Ári Jónsson with a shot in the box.
Callum Roberts’ name was taken into the referee’s notebook as he let slip on Paetur Petersen making for a troubling position for a free-kick. Jones continued to earn the plaudits by deflecting the ball away from danger.
Jones’ was keen to protect his goal and coped well enough with Adrian Justinussen’s left-sided effort that dipped at the last moment.
Bóltfelag appealed for a penalty when Craig Williams and Jake Walker both slid in but the referee deemed their last-ditch tackle a fair one.
Newtown started the second half brightly and were able to finally cause problems in the HB box. A few long throw-ins from Ryan Sears caused some half opportunities but neither could make the opening.
After a quiet first period, their domestic top scorer Stefan Radosavljević began to cause problems for the defence. He first drove a shot just past the goal with Jones rooted, before a troubling cross that was waiting for a connection.
Jones continued to impress in between the sticks and made his best save when he was alert to Heðin Hansen’s point-blank header.
Newtown from a three-pass move carved their first opportunity but Louis Robles couldn’t get the right power away on his shot.
Bóltfelag broke the deadlock with 25 minutes left on the clock through Wardum. A corner kick was delivered in and in the crowded box the defender flicked it over Jones who had come off of his line.
A second goal looked likelier than an equaliser and on a number of occasions, Shane Sutton had to deal with some troubling through balls, ushering his opponents away from the ball.
As the game entered its final stages, Newtown caused some problems with George Hughes’ shot being blocked on the line before Henry Cowans saw his header cleared away.
As three minutes of additional time were shown, HB almost doubled their advantage when Dan í Soylu broke down his flank but he curled his shot round the post after breaking away.
Newtown finished the match strongly by being physical from corner kicks but could not get that goal to level up the tie.
Havnar Bóltfelag: Teitur Gestsson, Hedin Hansen, Hordur Askham, Daniel Johansen, Adrian Justinussen, Dan i Soylu, Paetur Petersen (Aki Samuelsen, 61), Bartal Wardum, Stefan Radosavljevic, Ari Mohr Jonsson, Hanus Sorensen.
Goals: Bartal Wardum 65’
Newtown: David Jones, Callum Roberts, Shane Sutton, Ryan Sears, Craig Williams, Mathew Jones (Henry Cowans, 78), George Hughes, Nick Rushton (Zele Ismail, 78), Jake Walker, Louis Robles, Aaron Williams (Lifumpa Mwande, 78)
Yellow Cards: Callum Roberts 30, Jake Walker 68’
