Haverfordwest County AFC manager Tony Pennock believes it’s important that the Bluebirds take pride from their performance in the 2-1 defeat to The New Saints on Sunday, as the Town’s nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end.

County had led through Ben Fawcett’s well-taken goal in the first half, but the hosts responded through Josh Pask and Ash Baker to edge a highly competitive encounter in Oswestry.

The result could well have been different on another day had the Bluebirds made the most of a very positive period of play in the first half, but the overwhelming feeling was still one of positivity after another strong 90-minute display from the Town.

Here’s what the manager had to say in full after the game:

On the result

We had opportunities first half, but, first and foremost, I can’t ask any more of the boys. I thought they were brilliant today. We’re disappointed with the two goals we’ve conceded because they’re definitely preventable, but when you’re leaving TNS disappointed, it shows how far we’ve come as a team. It’s a disappointed dressing room in there, but at the same time they’ve got to take pride in that performance because I thought we were excellent today.

TNS had a couple of chances themselves before we got the first goal, we’ve got to remember that as well. But when you get opportunities against TNS, you have to take them, and unfortunately , Connor [Roberts] has made a great save off Fawcey when he’s through at 1-0. It’s all ifs, buts and maybes, but like I said the most important thing is we remember how well we’ve played today, what we’re capable of, and we know that because we’ve been good all season. Three defeats in 16 games shows how far we’ve come as a club, so we’ll be disappointed probably for the rest of today, and then we have to move on first thing tomorrow morning and think about Ammanford away in the Welsh Cup next Saturday.

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On our approach to the game

Different teams play against TNS different ways. Some sit back and try to frustrate them. It’s not something we want to do as a team, we want to play our normal game and yes, we know we’re going to have spells without the ball against TNS because they’re such good players and they look after the ball extremely well and move it very quickly. So you have to be disciplined and in shape, and we were, but also we know that we’ve got people who can get up the pitch quickly and with Fawcey and Ben [Ahmun] today, we showed that, and we scored a good goal by doing that.

It’s one of our strengths. It’s something we work on a lot and it certainly worked first half today because we had a number of chances from doing that. Second half, they had a bit more of the game and they’ve brought fresh legs on as well, which we knew they would at some stage because they’ve had a lot of games recently. But when our subs came on as well, I thought they added to us and gave us a different dimension, and we didn’t stop trying to get back in the game. It’s a credit to the lads and how far they’ve come and how hard they’re working, and how much it means that we want to get in the top six this year.

On Ben Fawcett’s goal

It’s a great finish. It’s a good ball in from Sheppy. Greg’s played the ball down the line, and a great ball by Sheppy, and Ben’s between the posts. That’s all we ask our strikers, when the ball gets in the box, they have to be between the posts. If they’re not, then we’ll ask questions of them, and if the cross is not coming in to where they are, then we ask questions of the boys. We should be putting the crosses in, but he took his goal really well. Like I say, on another day he might have got another one or two but it happens I guess for strikers, but the most important thing is he scored again today. That breeds confidence and they work great without the ball as well, every one of them, Ben Fawcett and Ben Ahmun, they led the line really well for us and gave us a platform to get up the pitch, which is important, especially when you have spells without the ball.

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On our defence

That’s the first time we’ve conceded more than one goal all season. That’s just testament to how hard the boys are working. Every single one of them. Like I’ve said before, the squad is massively important to us, and they know their jobs when we haven’t got the ball and it starts from the front. Whichever formation we play in, they know they all have to defend the goal, and they’ve done that really well today. We’re disappointed with the two goals we have conceded, but all season so far, we’ve got to give the boys credit. For that to be the first time we’ve conceded more than once so far this season, it’s fantastic, and it’s something that is a massive plus for us this season.

On the JD Welsh Cup

It’s a break from the league, so it’s something to look forward to. The Welsh Cup, we haven’t had great success in the Cup for a number of years. It’s something that we want to improve on, and next Saturday, I know how tough it’s going to be. Ammanford are a good side. I watched them Friday night and we played them in pre-season as well. We’ve done our homework on Ammanford, and they will have on us as well, so we know we’re in for a tough test on Saturday.