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 Floriana.
Haverfordwest trail the Maltese side 2-1 heading into Thursday's first qualifying round second leg at Parc y Scarlets (18:00 BST).
Advertisement
The Cymru Premier club took the lead in Malta last week and were only beaten by a debatable second-half penalty.
And 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."
Advertisement
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 ago.
Prize 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 round.
Thursday's 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.
Advertisement
"I am guessing there will be a good walk-up crowd on the night, and that's important for the boys."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Jared Goff underrated? Lions embracing their ‘not too flashy' QB as offense shifts out of Ben Johnson's hands
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Amon-Ra St. Brown understands the public perception. The wide receiver doesn't agree with it, but he doesn't expect it to change. Jared Goff, the 2016 first overall draft pick whom the Los Angeles Rams would later trade to the Detroit Lions, is underrated. St. Brown believes it. 'I think he's been underrated his whole career and I don't think that'll ever go away,' St. Brown told Yahoo Sports from training camp practice. 'You look at a guy like Josh Allen: He's big, can run, crazy arm strength. You look at a guy like Lamar [Jackson]: fast, one of the best running quarterbacks you've ever seen, does stuff on the field that only he can do. 'You look at Patrick Mahomes: His arm angles, the throws he makes, just unconventional, his ability to win big games.' And Goff? 'You look at a guy like Jared, I mean he's not too flashy,' St. Brown says of his quarterback. 'But he's consistent.' [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Goff's consistency led the Lions to a 15-2, best-in-NFC record last season. The Lions hope Goff's consistency will help them transition from Ben Johnson, their offensive coordinator and play-caller the prior three seasons, to now-OC John Morton. They'll hope Goff can maintain consistency even as the quarterback and his linemen re-divide protection calls in the wake of four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow's retirement. Last year, Goff's consistency proved potent. While he may not have dominated highlight reels to pace Jackson, Allen or Mahomes, Goff did put up numbers that were both his career-best marks and also challenged his counterparts for best in the league. Only Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow topped Goff's 4,629 passing yards, and only Jackson surpassed his 111.8 passer rating. Goff's 37 total touchdown passes ranked fourth overall, while his 54.7% success rate (a metric that awards players who on first down gain at least 40% of yards to go; on second at least 60%; and on third and fourth 100%) was best in the league. 'The game has slowed down for him, from a protection standpoint,' Morton told Yahoo Sports. 'Being in Year 3 in the offense, you should be hitting on all cylinders, and that's what he was doing last year.' Under Morton, the goal is to recapture that magic. Morton returns to the staff he served on in 2022 looking to accentuate his players' matchups and skill sets, with extra emphasis on teaching the offense from the quarterback's perspective. Morton wants all of his offensive players to learn the quarterback responsibilities even if they won't all have to act on that knowledge. He wants skill players to understand when they're facing man defense and when it's zone; when to anticipate one high safety and when it's two. 'Not every receiver can do that, but the great ones I've been around — they see it just like the quarterback,' Morton said. 'The game slows down for them and they play free.' That quarterback perspective, paired with technician-level routes, have helped make St. Brown 'trustworthy' to Goff, Morton said. [Get more Lions news: Detroit team feed] Morton is implementing his wrinkles into the game plan while offensive line coach Hank Fraley continues to carry run game coordinator responsibilities. How will the two backgrounds mesh? 'In Johnny's background, he likes to throw the ball,' left tackle Taylor Decker told Yahoo Sports. 'That's kind of what the league has been going toward recently. But us, the Lions, we run the ball a lot. We run the ball a lot on third down, third-and-long. We go for it on fourth down a lot. So we have that luxury. 'I think the bulk of what you're going to see that's different with him is his pass-game route concepts. But still there are things that we've been good at here.' Things at which the Lions have been good and Goff has been good. Lions teammates and coaches look at Goff and, in some ways, believe in him for the same reasons others don't. That unassuming, unflappable, not-spectacular-to-a-point-that's-almost-spectacular quarterback of theirs? 'He is a superstar, but he's not a diva,' Decker said. 'And I say that endearingly, in a positive light: He's just like a regular guy.' And one destined, the Lions believe, to be perpetually underrated. A club that leans into its underdog mentality wouldn't have it any other way. 'I feel like he's always going to be underrated no matter what he does,' St. Brown said. 'Even if he wins the Super Bowl MVP, there's still going to be people saying stuff. 'I think that's what gets him going. And I love that for him.'
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sula embarrassment: rivals mock knockouts on social media 😂
Vasco and Bahia were eliminated from the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday (22). In the case of the Cruzmaltina team, the fall was somewhat predictable after the thrashing suffered in the first leg. Meanwhile, the team led by Rogério Ceni once again failed to score and also said goodbye to the tournament. The rivals in particular took the opportunity to have fun with the situation. Check out some of the reactions to the eliminations of the two teams: Collection of embarrassments? The level is different... Proceeds?! The gringos don't give a break They joined Cruzeiro, Corinthians and Vitória It was almost, huh! It was only Vasco in possession of the ball It's tough... But there are hopes! 👿👿👿👿👿 This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 ARISSON MARINHO - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The number of football-related Crystal Palace fan arrests last season
19 football-related arrests were recorded involving Crystal Palace supporters during the 2024 to 2025 domestic football season, according to new figures released by the Home Office. The arrests were among 1,932 reported across England and Wales during the season – an 11 per cent decrease compared to the previous year. The season, which ran from July 2024 to May 2025, saw incidents recorded at 1,583 matches, an 18 per cent increase in reported incidents year-on-year. Crystal Palace fans were arrested for a range of offences, with the most common being public disorder and possession of Class A drugs. The full list of offences linked to Palace supporters includes: One for violent disorder Five for public disorder One for entering the pitch Two for alcohol offences Two for possession of pyrotechnics One for breach of a banning order Seven for possession of Class A drugs The Home Office said the most common arrest types nationally were public disorder (32 per cent), violent disorder (22 per cent), and possession of Class A drugs (19 per cent). The offence category involving Class A drugs was made a Schedule 1 offence in November 2022, and arrests linked to this offence type have more than doubled since the 2022 to 2023 season. Alcohol-related offences continue to decline, now making up just 8 per cent of all football-related arrests – a notable drop from 34 per cent during the 2010 to 2011 season. Meanwhile, pitch incursions have also fallen to their lowest levels in years, accounting for just 3 per cent of arrests this season. In total, 1,803 of the 1,932 football-related arrests during the season involved fans from clubs in the top six tiers of English football. Crystal Palace, who compete in the Premier League, saw fewer arrests than some top-flight rivals but remain part of wider concerns around fan behaviour and safety. The Home Office and football authorities continue to work closely with clubs and police forces to tackle anti-social behaviour and ensure matches remain safe for all supporters. The News Shopper has contacted Crystal Palace for comment.