The summer of 2015: Welsh clubs’ best performance in European competition
Participation for Cymru Premier clubs in European competition has been a real asset for Wales’ top-flight over the years.
Fixtures against some historic clubs in Europe provide Cymru Premier clubs with boosts in finance and exposure.
Welsh clubs’ success in European competitions has varied over different campaigns, with the summer of 2015 standing out as a positive year for Cymru Premier clubs in Europe.
The New Saints, competing in the Champions League qualifiers, along with Bala Town, Airbus UK Broughton and Newtown playing in the Europa League, all performed on the European stage.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe New Saints
The Saints earned a place in the Champions League qualifiers by clinching the ninth Cymru Premier title in the club’s history in a 3-0 win over Bala Town in March 2015.
B36 Tórshavn, eleven times champions of the Faroe Islands Premier League, were the opponents in the first qualifying round.
Despite going 1-0 down in the seventh minute to Hans Pauli Samuelsen’s goal, a strike from Scott Quigley, who has since won the National League with Barrow, and Michael Wilde’s last-minute winner secured the Saints’ first Champions League away victory.
Craig Harrison said after the game, “We thoroughly deserved the win. It was an open game, a bit too open for my liking sometimes as the away team, but we had another two or three opportunities to maybe score more goals.”
After clinching a victory in the last minute in the away leg, The New Saints dominated the tie at Park Hall, defeating B36 Tórshavn by a scoreline of 4-1.
Michael Wilde, who is now a Cymru Premier winner with Connah’s Quay Nomads, scored a hat-trick for the Saints, while Matty Williams added the fourth.
Embed from Getty ImagesLukas Cieslewicz, brother of The New Saints winger Adrian, scored a consolation for the Faroese side late on.
Having defeated B36 Tórshavn 6-2 on aggregate, the Saints earned a second qualifying round tie with Videoton, now known as Fehérvár FC.
Despite holding their own in the first leg at Park Hall, The New Saints went down to a 1-0 defeat to the Hungarian champions, as Adam Gyurcso found the net in the 77th minute.
The Saints fought heroically away from home in the second leg, with Matty Williams’ goal forcing the tie into extra time.
Adam Gyurcso, the goal-scorer of the first-leg, netted in extra time to knock out The New Saints.
Upon their agonising Champions League exit, Craig Harrison said, “The players were outstanding tonight.
“We worked out where their weaknesses would be and where our strengths would be and the lads were absolutely outstanding, every single one.”
“I think we’ve been very, very unlucky,” he added.
Although the Saints were knocked out in the second qualifying round, their victory over B36 Tórshavn was the third win in a Champions League fixture in the club’s history.
Embed from Getty ImagesBala Town
The Cymru Premier’s runners-up in the 2014-2015 season, Bala Town were another Welsh side to perform in European competition that summer.
The Lakesiders’ opponents in the Europa League first qualifying round were Differdange 03 of the Luxembourg National Division.
In the first leg in Luxembourg, Colin Caton’s side went 3-0 down in the opening 27 minutes, after goals from Omar Er Rafik, Gauthier Caron and Dejvid Sinai.
Striker Ian Sheridan pulled a goal back for the Lakesiders, who went into the second leg with a two-goal deficit to overcome.
Embed from Getty ImagesManager Colin Caton said after the first leg, “We’ve given ourselves an uphill battle now. They started quite brightly but three of our defenders were caught in possession and it cost us dearly.”
“They were just schoolboy errors and it just wasn’t good enough on the night.
“We let ourselves down and we should have been a lot better than that,” he added.
The Lakesiders’ performance in the second leg was much improved, as strikes from Conall Murtagh and Ian Sheridan gave Caton’s men a 2-0 lead with seven minutes to play.
Bala Town were ahead on away goals and looked set to earn a tie with Turkish giants Trabzonspor, with the home leg scheduled to be played at Cardiff City Stadium.
That was until a hammer-blow in the 95th minute, when Omar Er Rafik gave Differdange 03 a 4-3 win on aggregate.
Despite a first qualifying round exit, the Lakesiders put in a very positive performance in the home leg, and were desperately unlucky not to progress.
Embed from Getty ImagesAirbus UK Broughton
Also competing in the Europa League qualifiers in the summer of 2015 were Airbus UK Broughton.
The Wingmakers’ opponents in the first qualifying round were NK Lokomotiva of the Prva NHL, the top flight league in Croatia.
Andy Preece’s side took the lead in the first leg at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium, as Wayne Riley netted the opener.
NK Lokomotiva showed their quality in the second half, with goals from Damir Sovsic, Mirko Maric and Marko Kolar goving the Croatian side a 3-1 lead going into the second leg.
Embed from Getty Images“We were playing a top team from the Croatian Premier League. I’m really proud,” Preece said after his side’s first-leg loss.
In the away fixture in Zagreb, Airbus UK Broughton took the lead through Chris Bydrus, before two Lokomotiva goals from Ivan Fiolic and Damir Sovsic gave the Croatian side the lead on the night.
The Wingmakers showed a great deal of character to level through Andy Jones two minutes later to earn Preece’s side a commendable draw away from home in European competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesNewtown
Wales’ final representatives in the Europa League qualifiers were Newtown, who were making their debut in the competition.
The Robins had earned a place in Europe after winning the Cymru Premier’s European play-off final, defeating Aberystwyth Town 2-1.
Chris Hughes’ side’s opponents were Valletta, 25-time Maltese Premier League Champions who had a rich history in European competition, having faced the likes of Inter Milan, Leeds United, Rangers, Juventus and Porto since their inception in 1943.
A sell-out crowd of 1,420 witnessed the Robins’ Europa League debut at Latham Park.
Newtown’s Luke Boundford headed his side in front in the first half, before his goal was cancelled out in the 75thminute by Brazilian substitute Jhonnattann.
In a dramatic climax, striker Jason Oswell, who has since played for the likes of Stockport County, Morecambe and Wrexham, scored a last-minute winner for the Robins.
Former Newtown attacker Matthew Hearsey, who scored the winning goal in the play-off final against Aberystwyth Town, described the first leg as the “proudest moment of my footballing career.”
In the away fixture in Malta, Newtown again put in an impressive display, with Oswell on the scoresheet once again.
Despite Thierry Fidjeu-Tazemeta’s equaliser for Valletta, Matty Owen netted the winner for the Robins, shortly after having a penalty saved.
Embed from Getty ImagesChris Hughes’ side earned a tie with Danish giants Copenhagen in arguably the biggest fixture in the club’s history.
Newtown fought valiantly over the two legs against Copenhagen, bowing out of their debut Europa League campaign with a respectable 5-1 aggregate loss, as midfielder Tom Goodwin scored a memorable goal in Denmark for the Robins.
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