On the last day of the season in the Cymru Premiership most of the attention was focused on the bottom of the table and who would survive the threat of relegation. At the other end of the table there was also an intriguing battle for places. The News Saints and Connah’s Quay had already wrapped up first and second respectively but third place, and European football was still in the balance for two sides, Penybont and Cardiff Metropolitan University FC. If The New Saints win in the final of the Welsh Cup, as they have done 8 times before, third place will automatically earn European football and will not have to play in the Europa Conference League Playoffs.
Finishing in third place was an extremely desirable thing for the outfit from Bridgend, it would be their highest ever finish in the club’s short history after being founded in 2013 and their best chance to clinch European football for the first time too.
Penybont’s results after the League split meant that third place looked like a certainty but after a six-point deduction relating to a breach in the league’s substitutes rules, their healthy gap between them and Cardiff Met had been completely removed. Going into the final match of the season both sides were level on points. To secure third place Penybont knew what they had to do. Their goal difference was far better than the side from Cardiff so a win would be all that they needed to get it. If Met lost, any result would be enough, a draw would mean Penybont would have to either equal or better them.
Penybont faced off against Newtown at home on April 22nd going all out for a win, the taste of European football on their lips.
The match didn’t get off to the best start for Rhys Griffith’s men however, Zeli Ismail fired Newtown into the lead in the 16th minute with a great goal. The ball was headed out of the area after a Newtown freekick, it arced slowly in the air and was met by Ismail. He volleyed the ball from the edge of the box with his left foot, the shot flew low past all the players in the box and into the bottom right corner of the Penybont goal.
Josh Yorwerth thought he had equalised not long after as he smartly headed in at the near post from a Kane Owen freekick, but it was quickly ruled out for what looked like a foul on the Newtown goalkeeper.
Half time was quite sombre at the SDM Glass stadium. Cardiff Met were up 2-0 at the Cyncoed Campus- as it stood they would be getting third place and Penybont would be missing out.
It was not until the 62nd minute that Penybont found their equaliser. Keyon Reffell managed to flick the ball home from close range. A Kane Owen corner caused a commotion in the Newtown box and the ball fell to Reffell who was able to poke the ball past Newtown ‘keeper Dave Jones using the underside of his boot- he stuck out his right foot behind him and it was just enough to send the ball into the roof of the net.
A glimmer of hope, which was magnified a few minutes later with the news from Cardiff that Met had had a player sent off. Perhaps the fortunes were turning in the favour of the side from Bridgend.
Penybont then switched gears. Belief grew and they pushed for a winner. Dave Jones denied Penybont a second when he pulled out a fantastic fingertip save and tipped the ball over the crossbar from a Sam Snaith header.
In the 84th minute the chance that Penybont pushed for arrived and it certainly wasn’t missed. Another Kane Owen corner was emphatically met by Josh Yorwerth at the near post. His chance in the first half was disallowed but Yorwerth made his second count in almost identical circumstances.
Leading 2-1, all Penybont had to do was finish out the match, no other results mattered. They had battled hard and didn’t let up. They saw out the match without much real danger coming their way and celebrated joyously.
The side from Bridgend had confirmed their best league finish ever. It’s back to looking to other sides’ results for the Bont as all eyes will be on the Welsh Cup final in Bangor on the 30th. If TNS win, Penybont’s hard work all season will be rewarded with a matchup in the Europa Conference League. It may be the first time Penybont fans will be cheering on the side from Oswestry, but who can blame them- it would be a fantastic achievement to culminate an equally fantastic season.
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