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Trethomas Bluebirds almost landed an historic double against Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County, but fell just short in a penalty shootout.

The two sides have a surprising history, with Trethomas getting the better of County in a Welsh Cup game two years ago.

Despite their best efforts, Trethomas couldn’t replicate the result when the pair met in Carmarthen on Saturday October 19 in the same competition.

Having survived for 90 minutes and had chances themselves to win it, the visitors just missed out and lost 5-3 on penalties.

Kick-off

Missing no less than six starters through injury and suspension, Trethomas knew they would be in for a long afternoon against a side one division above them.

The first thing you noticed from the sideline was the sheer size of the County players. Set pieces were going to be a problem, made clear by a string of four corners for the hosts inside the opening few minutes.

One player who wasn’t so tall but still had a huge impact was County fullback Rhys Abbruzzese. His touch and speed from a standing start was hard to match down the left.

The Bluebirds still stuck to their guns in terms of getting high-up the pitch and pressing when they had the chance.

A good interception from Alfie Jones in midfield allowed the defender to break past two before crossing to Gareth Tedstone in the middle. The keeper got there just ahead of the striker however.

Clearly well prepared for the match ahead of them, the makeshift defensive unit and backup goalkeeper for the visitors were brilliant from minute one.

It wasn’t just them who were putting a shift in though, Tedstone found himself making a tackle in the right-back position before threading a ball through to Jack Jones down the right in acres of space.

The winger cut the ball back across the box before it was cleared just wide of the post by a County defender.

Straight back up the other end though and it was the hosts who had the best chance of the match when Ricky Watts’ pass through to Harri John split the Bluebirds defenders.

John looked certain to score, but put his effort narrowly wide to the relief of the Cymru South league leaders.

The game settled after this, with the Bluebirds coping well with any half threats posed by the hosts, which usually consisted of lobbed passes in behind the defence, regularly thumped away by the likes of Alfie Jones and Joseph Cashman.

Trethomas still had to ride their luck at times though, a clearance off the line by captain Ryan Bolter was crucial, before a follow-up shot by Abbruzzese clipped the bar.

The remainder of the half was fairly back and forth, with the Bluebirds having chances of their own through a couple of set pieces.

It was beginning to feel like one of those games where if the visitors could keep it at 0-0 and frustrate their Cymru Premier opposition, they could nick something at the end.

Second-half

The Bluebirds started the second-half with plenty of energy despite having worked so hard in the first 45 minutes.

Their job was in theory made easier when County captain Dylan Rees was shown a second yellow after a strong tackle on Ethan Edwards.

Edwards looked out of it with a hip injury, but in the spirit of the day, he refused to be taken off and limped back onto the pitch.

Despite the red card, the flow of the game didn’t really change. Haverfordwest were still fairly comfortable in possession but not in threatening areas, while the Bluebirds did their best to counter.

The back four were still holding-up superbly after 75 minutes, but the hosts were making it so easy for them with the attempted balls in behind, there must have been a handful of moments where they’d string together more than five passes in the final third.

With 80 minutes played it was Trethomas who looked more likely to grab a winner. Some lovely feet from midfielder Thomas Gameson eventually saw the ball shuffled wide to Jack Jones who cut back on his favoured left foot.

He couldn’t quite get a clean shot away though and the defender slid in to block and clear.

The chances kept coming; substitute Harvey Selway’s snapshot down the right fizzed just wide of the near post.

The best chance of the match for Trethomas however fell to Edwards with just a few minutes remaining.

Receiving the ball in the box, he had time to pick his spot but was at full stretch. The winger could only manage a stab with the outside of his foot, which was saved brilliantly down low by Ifan Knott.

The game looked certain to head to penalties before another goal line scramble, this time in the Trethomas box, nearly meant heartbreak. It was cleared away for the final time by Bolter though and referee Jordan Harman blew his whistle.

Penalties

Always a bit of a lottery, Haverfordwest were clinical from the spot. Player-coach Adam Raymond, Lee Baldock, and James Young all scored their goals, but a save to Kallum Thomas’ effort meant the hosts survived a scare and progressed to the next round of the Welsh Cup.

It was still a great occasion for the club as a whole, who brought along their U16s on the team bus up, alongside some Bluebirds faithfuls who all seemed to enjoy themselves.

Credit to the players and coaching staff for making a game of it however. If someone didn’t know the two sides were a division apart, they wouldn’t have been able to tell.

Reaction

After the match, Caerphilly Observer spoke to Trethomas Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford. He said: “I thought we were excellent. We carried out the gameplan and the boys put everything into it.

“On a massive pitch against a tier one side who are second in the league, I thought we were outstanding and had a chance to pinch it at the end.”

Asked about his defensive unit who worked tirelessly throughout the match, Dunford said: “It suited the personnel we put out there today and individually they were brilliant. It shows how much depth we have as a squad.”

Dunford continued: “Across the board you’d have to say there wasn’t much between the two sides today. I spoke to their manager (Tony Pennock) after the game and he said ‘I don’t want to ever have to play you guys again’.”