HAVERFORDWEST County still have a chance of finishing in second place which could mean automatic qualification for Europe.

The Bluebirds picked up a point against Bala Town after a hard fought encounter at Maes Tegid on Saturday which could have gone either way.

It ended goalless with keeper Zac Jones producing the goods again with another clean sheet which guaranteed him the Golden Glove award for the most shutouts this season.

With four games to go and second placed Penybont up next for the Bluebirds, Tony Pennock’s charges could close the gap to make things interesting.

Pennock said: “Coming to Bala and getting a point is always a good point for me. It’s a tough place to come and for us after last week’s performance and result at TNS it was important that we were a lot more solid again today.”

He added: “Until it’s mathematically impossible (to qualify) you always want to try to achieve it.

“A 10-point gap going into phase two was always going to be difficult.

“Them getting the late winner last week (Penybont at Bala) was a tough one. If they hadn’t then it might have been a bit different going into next week’s game.

“They can afford to drop quite a number of points before we can get past them.

“Third place would be fantastic if we can achieve that this season. It’s the first time we’ve been in the top six in phase two.

“We’ve got four tough games left still to achieve third place.”

It was a close opening 45 minutes at Maes Tegid with neither team getting the upper hand.

The hosts’ Joe Malkin offered Bala’s best chance of a goal with several attempts from distance whilst County top scorer Ben Ahmun tested home keeper Joel Torrance with a fierce strike from a tight angle.

The visitors offered more of a threat in the second half with Owain Jones curling an effort wide, Ahmun heading over the bar and Greg Walters testing Torrance.

Bala finished strongly with decent efforts by Callum Edwards and Malkin but the draw was probably the fair result.

Haverfordwest’s remaining games: Penybont (h) 21/03; Caernarfon Town (h) 29/03; Cardiff Met (a) 11/04; TNS (h) 19/04.