LIVE FOOTBALL | Cardiff Met v Haverfordwest County | JD Cymru Premier play-off semi-final
Cardiff Met (4th) v Haverfordwest County (7th) | Saturday – 17:15 (S4C)
Whilst the experienced old heads of Bala Town and Newtown would have expected a European spot at the start of the campaign, not many would have predicted that Cardiff Met and Haverfordwest County would be in the draw in Geneva.
Cardiff Met finished 7th last season, and after the departure of long-term manager Dr Christian Edwards over the summer there were doubts that the Archers could still compete amongst the elite in Wales.
But under newly appointed boss Ryan Jenkins, and with Edwards returning to his post after the split, Cardiff Met have secured their highest ever finish (4th), and on paper they will be favourites to win the play-offs to reach Europe for the first time in three years.
Haverfordwest County ended last season just one place above the relegation zone, but the club have been busy improving on and off the pitch and the results are clear to see as the Bluebirds have finished 7th, which is their highest position since 2008/09, and will compete in the play-offs for the first time ever.
The Pembrokeshire bunch have only qualified for Europe once in the past, as they lost 4-1 on aggregate to Icelandic side Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar after finishing 3rd in 2003/04.
Tony Pennock’s team will take confidence from the fact that the 7th placed finishers have won three out of the 11 previous play-off competitions – and it’s their three challengers this year who were triumphant on those occasions (Bala Town 12/13, Cardiff Met 18/19, Newtown 20/21).
If ‘momentum’ is the key, then Haverfordwest County certainly have it on their side as they’re unbeaten in their last seven outings (won five, drawn two).
But history backs the Archers as Cardiff Met have won four of their previous five meetings with the Bluebirds.
