The 2024/25 season will come to an end on Sunday afternoon when Haverfordwest County take on Caernarfon Town for the last ticket to Europe and a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds.
The regular season has come to an end and both The New Saints and Pen-y-bont have secured their places in Europe, but there is still one spot up for grabs for the play-off winners.
The New Saints have won the championship for the fourth consecutive season, securing a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.
Pen-y-bont finished in second place for the first time ever, and as the Saints completed the treble by beating Connah’s Quay in the Welsh Cup final last Sunday, Pen-y-bont have therefore qualified for Europe for the second time in their history.
For the first time in 21 years, Haverfordwest County have confirmed 3rd place which means that they received a pass into the play-off final where they will host Caernarfon Town.
The Cofis have had to win home fixtures against Barry Town United and Cardiff Met to reach the final, while Haverfordwest County have not played since their last league game against The New Saints over a month ago.
Haverfordwest County (3rd) v Caernarfon Town (4th) | Sunday – 17:10 (S4C)
Haverfordwest County and Caernarfon Town were the last two clubs to win the European play-offs with the Bluebirds winning in 2022/23, and the Cofis triumphant in 2023/24.
Caernarfon Town will be aiming to be the first team to win the play-offs for two successive seasons after the Cofis won the competition last year and qualified for the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds for the first time in their history.
But Haverfordwest County have a 100% record in the play-offs having won their only two previous matches in the competition.
Haverfordwest County are one of four clubs who hold a perfect record in the play-offs, but the other three teams folded shortly after their successes – Neath (2010/11), Llanelli (2011/12), Cefn Druids (2017/18).
Eight out of nine of Caernarfon Town’s previous play-off matches have been played at home, while Haverfordwest County have never hosted a play-off game at Bridge Meadow.
| Season | Round | Haverfordwest | Caernarfon |
| 2018/19 | Semi Final | – | Cfon 2-3 Met |
| 2019/20 | No play-offs | – | – |
| 2020/21 | Semi Final | – | Barry 1-3 Cfon |
| Final | – | Cfon 3-5 Newtown | |
| 2021/22 | Semi Final | – | Cfon 1-0 Met |
| Final | – | Cfon 2-1 Flint | |
| 2022/23 | Semi Final | Met 0-0 Hav (p) | – |
| Final | Newtown 1-1 Hav (p) | ||
| 2023/24 | Semi Final | – | Cfon 2-0 Met |
| Final | – | Cfon 3-1 Pen-y-bont | |
| 2024/25 | Quarter Final | – | Cfon 5-2 Barry |
| Semi Final | – | (p) Cfon 0-0 Met | |
| Final | Hav v Cfon | Hav v Cfon |
Record in the European play-offs:
Haverfordwest County: Play-offs – 1 | Won – 1 (100%)
Games – 2 | Won – 2 (100%)
Caernarfon Town: Play-offs – 4 | Won – 2 (50%)
Games – 9 | Won – 7 (78%)
Although Haverfordwest County have a 100% record, they have never won a game in 90 minutes in the play-offs, beating Cardiff Met and Newtown on penalties in the 2022/23 season.
Tony Pennock’s team went on to beat Shkendija (N. Macedonia) on penalties at Cardiff City Stadium before losing in extra time against B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
Before 2023, Haverfordwest County had only played one European round which was in the summer of 2004 losing both legs against Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar from Iceland.
Despite finishing 3rd in the table this year, Haverfordwest County have only won one of their last nine matches, and we’re yet to see if the month’s rest will have benefited or hindered the Bluebirds’ squad.
In past years, several teams have suffered a drop in their performances after their first experience of European football, but Caernarfon Town have built on their success last year and have finished one position higher this season.
Caernarfon Town managed to beat Crusaders (N. Ireland) on penalties in their first ever European tie in July 2024, before losing heavily against Legia Warsaw (Poland).
Richard Davies’ team have secured 4th place equalling their best season ever in the JD Cymru Premier (4th in 2018/19 and 2021/22).
Caernarfon Town have a strong record in the play-offs having won their last six fixtures in the competition.
The Cofis have played nine play-off games in total, and last weekend was the first time they had to go to penalties after their semi-final against Cardiff Met ended goalless.
Swansea City loanee, Ben Hughes was the hero for Caernarfon Town last weekend with the young goalkeeper saving two of Cardiff Met’s spot kicks.
And it would be no surprise if the final this Sunday was to go to penalties too as the last three meetings between Haverfordwest County and Caernarfon Town have ended in a draw.
Caernarfon Town have not won any of their last seven meetings with Haverfordwest County, and the Cofis have only won one of their last 16 games away from home against the Bluebirds.
12 of those 16 matches ended in a draw, therefore it promises to be a tight and competitive affair in the final game of the season at Bridge Meadow on Sunday.
