HAVERFORDWEST County missed out on European qualification after a 2-0 defeat to Penybont in Saturday’s play-off final at the Dragonbet Stadium.

The Bluebirds were below their usual standards in what proved a tight but ultimately decisive contest, with goals from Chris Venables and Mael Davies sending the hosts into Europe for the third time in their history.

A disappointed County manager Steve Pennock told Sgorio after the match: “It’s probably our most poor performance since the turn of the season.

“But we knew it was going to be tough, Penybont are a very good side. Congratulations to them.

“That’s their third European qualification in four years, they’ve been consistent and they are there or there abouts all the time.

“We just didn’t get going today. We started ok, I don’t want to go on about decisions but the goal is offside. I can’t understand why the linesman’s on that side of the pitch and he can’t see it.

“But we didn’t really threaten, we hit the post first half from a cross but we huffed and puffed but just couldn’t get into the game really.”

Despite the result, Haverfordwest can reflect positively on another strong campaign, reaching a third European play-off final in four years after recovering from a slow start to the season.

They began brightly, creating the first opportunity when Greg Walters headed narrowly over from a a well-worked corner routine.

However, Penybont struck on 10 minutes, with 40-year-old Venables finishing sharply after meeting Ethan Cann’s downward header — although the striker appeared to be in an offside position.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, Venables heading over from a Nathan Wood cross before Owen Pritchard struck the foot of the post after latching onto a through ball by Woods.

County threatened at the other end, with Dan Hawkins firing a low drive that skimmed just past the upright before Kyle Kenniford’s free kick from the left evaded everyone in the box and struck the far post.

Haverfordwest continued to enjoy more possession after the break but struggled to create clear openings. Corey Shephard tried his luck from distance, his effort drifting just over the bar.

The game swung firmly in Penybont’s favour on 63 minutes when Mael Davies curled a cross-shot from wide on the left into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Ifan Knott helpless. The skipper later admitted he had been aiming to deliver the ball into a dangerous area rather than shoot but luckily the ball found the back of the net.

County pushed for a way back into the contest and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Ben Ah-mun — who recently signed a one-year contract extension — was dragged down in the box, but appeals were waved away.

Substitute Will Hughes fired over in a late attempt, but Penybont remained resolute, seeing out the victory to the delight of the home crowd.

Their manager Rhys Griffiths said: “It’s been an emotional season for so many individuals within our changing room. Not just me but lots of different people for different reasons.

“The resilience we’ve shown to come through. I just think from a football perspective did we deserve to go through? Maybe not. But from a human perspective we did.”