By James Dow

Ahead of this evening’s UEFA Youth League first round first leg with FK Budućnost Podgorica at the Ogi Bridge Meadow, we’ve taken a look back at the game that sealed our place in the competition for the very first time!

Prior to the match

The young Bluebirds had already made history a month earlier by lifting the FAW Youth Cup, and Ceri Phillips’ side were now aiming to complete a league and cup double — and, in doing so, qualify for the UEFA Youth League for the first time in the club’s history.

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They had secured the FAW National Academi Development League South title, with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Carmarthen Town, edging Cardiff Metropolitan to the crown on goal difference. In the northern section, The New Saints claimed the title in dominant fashion, finishing 13 points clear of Connah’s Quay Nomads after winning 22 of their 28 matches, losing just twice.

That set the stage for a monumental play-off-final at Colliers Park in Wrexham, where the Bluebirds would seek revenge against the Saints following a 4-1 defeat in the previous season’s final.

Match summary

The Bluebirds made the worst possible start in the match, going two goals behind after only 11 minutes courtesy of Hadif Hizamshol and Jake Morris.

One quality Ceri Phillips’ side had shown throughout the season was their resilience and fight, and the Bluebirds demonstrated it again by pulling a goal back five minutes before half-time through captain Dan John.

As the game neared its conclusion, the young Bluebirds showed their never-say-die attitude once more, with Ashley Watkins scoring the equaliser to send the final to a penalty shoot-out.

The Saints stepped up first, but opening goal scorer Hizamshol saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Corey Mathias, handing the Bluebirds an early advantage in the shoot-out.

Osian James would then go on to score his penalty to make it 1-0 to the Bluebirds, with the Saints then missing their second penalty taken by Alfred Cartwright.

Luc Owen’s effort from 12 yards was saved by Saints goalkeeper Rhys Jones to keep the score at 1-0.

Mathias produced another big save to deny George Handley, before captain Dan John converted his spot-kick to make it 2-0 to the Bluebirds and give his side a commanding advantage.

TNS converted their fourth penalty through Prince Agyemang, before Watkins’ miss for the Bluebirds handed the Saints a way back into the shoot-out.

It would be delight for the Bluebirds however, after Saints captain Harry Clayton missed his penalty, giving the Bluebirds a 2-1 victory in the shoot-out.

This was a historic moment for the club, who for the first time had won the FAW National Academi League South, FAW Youth Cup, and National Academi Development League play-off-final, securing the Bluebirds’ place in Europe and getting the chance to represent Wales in this season’s competition.

Haverfordwest County: Corey Mathias, Will Hughes, Jey Uddin, Owain Davies, Cameron Cridland, Ashley Watkins, Jack Nicholas (Dylan McGuire 82′), Luc Owen, Osian James, Sammie Vaughan-Harries (Kyle O’Sullivan 70′), Dan John

Substitutes not used: Eddie Sanders, Rhys Lewis

Key player

Captain Dan John enjoyed a remarkable season for the young Bluebirds, scoring 42 goals in all competitions for the Development side. He also featured eight times for the first team last season, and was named on the bench for the play-off final victory against Caernarfon Town, which came just over 24 hours after the youth side’s own play-off final triumph at Colliers Park.

John had been with the club since a young age, alongside his brother Harri, though he also had a brief loan spell at JD Cymru South side Ammanford, making 12 appearances and registering an assist in a 3-1 win over Taffs Well.

This summer, the forward departed the Bluebirds to join Cardiff Metropolitan, where he continues his education. However, he was quickly loaned back to Ammanford, where he has made a flying start — scoring three goals and providing two assists in his first six league games, as well as finding the net in the Welsh Blood Service League Cup.