Brave Bluebirds' Euro dreams put on ice (From Western Telegraph)

Brave Bluebirds' Euro dreams put on ice

THE Bluebirds had their European wings well and truly clipped in two devastating second half minutes on a rainy windswept night in the land of the midnight sun last week.

The small but hardy travelling support had dared to dream of glory when Tim Hicks levelled the aggregate scores midway through the first half. But the euphoria was short-lived, as County failed to heed the oldest clich in football and conceded within seconds of going in front.

Then came the heartbreak as a howler from goalkeeper Lee Kendall allowed the Icelandic league leaders to extend their advantage. Less than 90 seconds later, a third goal meant the Bluebird's first ever foray into continental football was as good as over.

Player-manager Deryn Brace was quick to defend Kendall, whose sterling performance a fortnight earlier had meant the Bluebirds embarked on a 13-hour odyssey to the very edge of the Arctic Circle knowing they were not just making up UEFA Cup numbers.

"Lee Kendall sets himself very, very high standards and he will be disappointed by the goal," said Brace, "but you cannot take anything away from his performance, because tonight, as in the first leg, he made three or four world class saves."

Indeed, the former Wales Under 21's performance at Cardiff appeared to have sown a seed of doubt in Icelandic minds as time and again during the opening period Hafnarfjordur, already ten games into their domestic campaign, put gilt-edged chances high or wide instead of testing the ex-Ninian Park man.

It was Kendall who turned provider on 19 minutes when a long freekick from inside County's half found Hicks eight yards from goal. Last season's top scorer earned himself a yard of space with a deft turn before drilling a low effort beyond the right hand of the Hafnarfjordur keeper.

That old clich states that you are at your most susceptible in the minutes after scoring, and so it proved on Thursday. Following the restart, the Icelanders earned themselves a freekick on the right flank and Atli Bjornsson found Allan Borgvardt 12 yards out.

The Bluebirds failed to close down the man who scored the only goal in Cardiff and Kendall was left with no chance by the full-time professional's confident finish.

Despite constant pressure, County reached the break with honours even and they re-entered the fray knowing another score would swing the advantage their way on the away goals rule. Refreshed, they produced their best 15 minutes of football, playing short crisp passes and finding the space in midfield which had eluded them before the break.

Hafnarfjordur coach Olafur Johannesson sensed he had a game on his hands and switched the dangerous Emil Hallfredsson from his natural wide left position to the opposite flank. The tricky winger had been well shackled by Dylan Blain in the opening period and the ploy produced almost immediate dividends. The youngster cut inside Wayne Jones at left back and drilled a fearsome 20-yard effort goalward with his left foot. Kendall was at his shot-stopping best to deny the swirling drive with a magnificent one-handed parry over the bar.

The home side realised Hallfredsson was the key man and fed him whenever possible. But even the 800-strong local support, which disgraced itself by verbally abusing Haverfordwest's travelling faithful, could not have expected what was to follow.

The winger appeared to have wasted a golden opportunity with a weak and aimless cut-back from the right. Surprised by the poor delivery, the otherwise faultless Kendall went down late and somehow allowed the ball to squirm under his body into the gaping net.

Renewed, Hafnarfjordur stormed forward after the restart and a game of penalty box pinball ended with the ball at Baldur Bett's feet 18 yards from goal. The stranded Kendall could do little but pick the ball out of the net following a cracking drive from the son of former Scottish international Jim Bett.

In that moment the Bluebirds' European dreams evaporated like the steam emanating from the nearby Blue Lagoon, where the travelling faithful eased their weary bodies in the hours before kick-off. With 20 minutes still to play, the tie was all but over and thoughts began to turn to the exhausting journey home and the season yet to come.

Final score: FH Hafnarfjordur 3 Haverfordwest County 1 (4-1 on aggregate)