Watch: Jake Grech puts Floriana in charge against Haverfordwest County

FLORIANA                     2       

Gamarra 42; Grech 59 pen

HAVERFORDWEST       1       

Ahmun 22

FLORIANA

G. Cioletti, L. Lopez, J. Grech, F. Varela, D. Vella, M. Jah, C. M’Mombwa, G. Gamarra, I. Mendonca, M. Veselji (69 T. Glisovic), A. Garzia.

HAVERFORDWEST

L. Rees, D. Rees, R. Abbruzzese, A. Jones (70 E. Scotcher), R. Watts, C. Shepard, B. Fawcett, D. Hawkins, K. McCarthy, G. Walters, B. Ahmun (77 O. Jones).

Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs (Romania).

Yellow cards: Walters, Veselji, McCarthy, Jones, M’Mombwa, Scotcher.

Floriana came back from a goal down to beat Haverfordwest County of Wales 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.

The two teams shared the exchanges for long stretches but a goal towards the half hour put the Welsh side ahead.

However, the Greens equalised in the dying minutes of the first half, notching the winner towards the hour.

FC Ballkani of Kosovo, who had eliminated Ħamrun Spartans from the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League last season, await the team which emerges as the winner of this two-legged tie, with the second leg scheduled for July 17.

Following a highly-intensive transfer campaign this summer, new Floriana coach Daniel Portela handed five of the club’s new signings a start – goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti, Lucas Lopez, Iago Mendonca, Charles M’Mombwa and Federico Varela along with the returning Mattia Veselji who re-joined the club after a spell in Serbia.

The visitors threatened with a cross from the left by Rhys Abbruzzese with Ricky Watts heading the ball down for Ben Ahmun to hit just wide from close range after six minutes.

Floriana replied with a Jake Grech effort off a Gonzalo Gamarra freekick on 14 minutes which scraped past the post, but the Welsh went close once again with a curling shot from outside the area by Ahmun, which just missed the target.

Haverfordwest County managed to take the lead on 27 minutes. Daniel Hawkins delivered a cross from the right and Ahmun headed home past goalkeeper Cioletti.

On the half hour, Mattia Veselji won possession on the right flank and served Jake Grech who was quick to pass the ball to Dunstan Vella inside the area but the Floriana captain’s attempt ended high.

The Greens levelled matters on 42 minutes.

Varela delivered an inviting cross for Gonzalo Gamarra who headed the ball goalkeeper Luc Rees.

Three minutes in the second half, Greg Walters concluded a good run on the left flank with an angled shot which was blocked by the Floriana custodian.

Floriana turned the score in their favour on 59 minutes.

The referee ordered a penalty as Alaric Jones was adjudged to have pushed Lucas Lopez down inside the area, and from the spot, Jake Grech converted.

This goal enabled the Greens to gain more confidence but towards the end, the visitors started to push for the equaliser.

However, seven minutes from time, Jake Grech had a conclusion from the edge of the area blocked on the goal line following a pass by Varela from the right.

A minute later, a corner by Grech was neutralised by the Haverfordwest goalkeeper.