Welsh football's 'all or nothing game'
Haverfordwest players celebrate last year's play-off final win over Caernarfon
- Published
The prize on offer for the winners – a six figure sum and a place in next season's Uefa Conference League.
Penybont host Haverfordwest County in Saturday's Cymru Premier European Play-off Final as the Welsh domestic season reaches its climax.
The two clubs have played in the Conference League in two of the last three seasons and are well aware of the rewards that winning on Saturday will bring.
"It's an all or nothing game for both clubs," said Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths of Saturday's game at the DragonBet Stadium.
"If we win our season is a success - if we lose it's a failure."
Opponents Haverfordwest are equally aware of the game's magnitude and what is at stake.
"It'll mean everything if we qualify," captain Dylan Rees said.
"We're expecting a battle – they're pretty physical.
"They've got some fantastic players and they'll be bang up for it, and we're really looking forward to it."
Penybont played out a goalless draw before beating Colwyn Bay 5-3 on penalties in their play-off semi-final
Both sides are no strangers to play-off finals in recent years - though with contrasting fortunes.
Haverfordwest won in 2023 and again last year while Penybont were losing finalists in 2024.
Penybont and Haverfordwest have qualified for the Uefa Conference League in two of the past three seasons – representing Wales in 2023-24 and 2025-26.
"For any club in the league to get to Europe is the ultimate carrot and to help us sustain," Griffiths told BBC Sport Wales.
"The finances for the clubs are pivotal and really important and it takes the pressure off massively - it keeps the wolf from the door kind of thing.
"And for players and managers [European] games are great to be involved in.
"Our first venture was three years ago so as a club we've come from nowhere and we're on the verge of a game that could take us into Europe for a third time in four years."
For Haverfordwest, the prospect of playing in Europe once again is an exciting one after a disappointing first half to the campaign.
"There's a lot of excitement in the group and it's what we set out to achieve at the start of the season," Rees told the Football Association of Wales' Cymru Leagues website.
"We had a bit of a sticky start for various reasons, but it was always the aim.
"We had players coming back from injury which was a big boost, and we started to put a string of performances together and take our rewards from games.
"We started clicking little by little and now we're raring to go."
Penybont's Chris Venables and Ben Ahmun of Haverfordwest County are both Wales C internationals
Last weekend both sides won their respective semi-finals with penalty shoot-out wins away from home - Penybont won at Colwyn Bay while Haverfordwest triumphed away to Barry Town United.
Going into those semi-finals, Bont picked up just three points in the second phase and finished sixth while County claimed seventh place and the final play-off spot after five wins in 10 games.
"It's a 50-50 game and you can make an argument either way," added Griffiths.
"They're in great form and often the team that takes form into the play-offs does well.
"We're not in such great form but we've got a great record against them and we're at home.
"Ultimately it all comes down to who handles it best on the day and will probably come down to a moment or two."
Haverfordwest defender Rees insists Penybont go into the game on Saturday as favourites.
"It's a tricky experience being underdogs but hopefully we can break through again," Rees added.
"Our experience is one of the biggest things we can rely on.
"They're a brilliant side and they've already beaten us twice this year, but we'll go into it and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully that'll be enough to get to Europe."
