Newtown v Haverfordwest County: Kick-off time and build-up to ECL Playoff Final
Newtown, Wales 13 March 2021. JD Cymru Premier Match between Newtown AFC and Cardiff Metropolitan University. © Will Cheshire
Newtown face Haverfordwest County tomorrow evening at Latham Park in the Europa Conference League play-off final, as the two sides face off for the chance of European football next season.
The winner of the final will enter the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League next season, something Newtown experienced earlier this season.
The view from Haverfordwest County
Despite finishing bottom of the pile in the playoffs for the Europa Conference League, a piece of brilliance from Zac Jones means the Bluebirds are 90 minutes away from a place in the qualifying stages of the Europa Conference League.
A 0-0 draw with Cardiff Met University meant that the game went all the way to penalties, with Jones saving the first two penalties for Haverfordwest, which would eventually be enough to see them through to the Play-off final to face Newtown.
Ahead of today’s game, Haverfordwest boss Tony Pennock spoke to the press. and spoke about some of the issues that his side have had this season:
“It’s another game of football that’s the way I look at it,” he said
“It’s been tougher than I anticipated, on and off the pitch.
“We were disappointed we didn’t finish top 6 but that was our own doing. We weren’t consistent enough in the first phase.
“We’ve managed to get a few bodies back which has been a massive help for us, getting a bit more experience in the team.
“It’s a really big game.”
The view from Newtown
For Newtown, it is a chance to repeat their experience at the start of this season.
The Robins qualified for the Europa Conference League last season and beat HB Torshavn in the first qualifying round on penalties.
They would eventually be knocked out by Spartak Trnava in the next stage, but it was an experience that the Newtown camp will never forget.
Newtown captain Craig Williams spoke to the press ahead of the game:
“It’s a big opportunity for us,” he said.
“We’ve trained well this week, it’s an important game for us tomorrow.
“It’s massive for the club. We’re not the biggest club in the league by any means. In terms of the revenue it creates, it helps everyone out massively.
“For the players, it’s a huge honour (to play in Europe).
“To be there three years on the bounce would be amazing.
In an exclusive interview, Newtown midfielder Matty Jones also spoke about his experience in Europe last season:
“Playing in the Faroe Islands was brilliant,” he said
“It’s a special place. Just different to anything I’ve seen before.”
Jones missed the first penalty in the shootout against Torshavn, however, Newtown went on to win the tie to progress to the second qualifying round.
“It was horrible. I think I scored 8 in 8 for Aber last season, so I was gutted.
“It was relief after that. To go out and play in Slovakia was brilliant.
Ahead of the game against Haverfordwest, Jones reiterated the need to focus on the job at hand:
“It’s important to go in open-minded. We are above them in the top 6 but it’s a final and they’re a good side. They finished top of the bottom 6, so fair play to them.
“The experience last year was so good. This year if we win I can say I was a part of us getting there. We all want to win.”
Match Details:
The clash will be held at Latham Park, home of Newtown AFC, with the Robins being the side who finished higher up in the Cymru Premier.
The game kicks off at 17:15 BST.
