HAVERFORDWEST County made history by lifting the FAW Youth Cup for the first time on Sunday.

The young Bluebirds beat Caernarfon Town 2-1 after an absorbing tie at Aberystwyth’s Park Avenue.

Coach Ceri Phillips said: “I’m delighted. We rode our luck a little bit at times but I think sometimes you need that in big games. Credit to Caernarfon, they caused us a lot of problems, but the boys fronted up and I’m really proud of what they achieved.

“This is a great experience for the boys to be exposed to, it’s great for their development and it will make them better footballers.”

Club captain and top scorer Dan John was delighted with the win: “We trained really hard in the week and Caernarfon are no pushovers, so to beat them, outwork them and soak up all the pressure they put on us in the second half was huge.”

John, who has scored 39 goals in all competitions to date this season, added: “Everyone is shattered, everyone gave 100% and that’s all we asked for. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone.

“When you play with people who you’re willing to sacrifice for and suffer with, it makes it so much more important.

Everyone was willing to fight for each other today and that was the main message at the start.”

Played in front of a bumper crowd, all the goals were scored during an entertaining first half.

The Bluebirds made a bright start and took the lead just before the quarter hour mark when 17-year-old Dylan Maguire headed home Ashley Watkins’ free kick.

But the Canaries his back moments later, skipper Osian Evans with a smart half volley that gave County keeper Corey Mathias no chance.

Haverfordwest nudged ahead again on the stroke of half time, Sammie Vaughan-Harries scoring with the last kick of the half.

Caernarfon piled on the pressure after the break as they pushed for an equaliser but Haverfordwest defended resolutely to seal victory.