Glentoran 1-1 The New Saints: Leo Smith strike cancelled out by Jamie McDonagh
The New Saints will return to Park Hall with their tie with Glentoran evenly balanced after a 1-1 draw away at The Oval in the Europa Conference League.
Leo Smith put the Welsh side ahead in the first half with a moment of magic before substitute Jamie McDonagh equalised late in the second half after rounding Harrison in the TNS goal.
The Oswestry side were the only team to avoid defeat in Europe this evening after defeats for both Bala and Newtown.
Glentoran wanted an early penalty after Rhys Marshall put the ball into the box and claimed that Keston Davies had handled the ball.
Paul Harrison was then called into action in the TNS goal on 5 minutes as Conor McMenamin got into the box but from a tight angle fired in a low shot that was saved.
On 13 minutes the New Saints took the lead with a wonderful goal from Smith as he went on a mazy run driving beyond the Glentoran defence before slotting beyond Dayle Coleing in the home sides goal.
The New Saints then created another opening from a free-kick as Adrian Cieślewicz was brought down by Marcus Kane who saw yellow for the challenge before the free-kick which was only cleared to the edge of the area found Cieślewicz who got the shot in but it was dealt with by Coleing.
Patrick Mcclean then came to Glentoran’s rescue as Declan Mcmanus was played on in goal on his competitive debut for TNS but before he could get a shot away he was denied by a perfectly-timed tackle.
On 38 minutes Cieślewicz saw yellow for a hard challenge on McMenamin over the halfway line that brought the Glentoran support alive.
On the stroke of half-time Glentoran had a glorious chance to equalise as Robbie McDaid was played in one on one but he lacked composure and dragged his shot wide when he should have scored.
Mick McDermott’s side had the opening chance of the second half as McMenamin got a cross into the box for Marshall who headed over the top of the crossbar.
Coleing then made a good save on 60 minutes as Cieślewicz cut inside off the flank before getting his effort away on goal but the keeper did well to spring across his goal and make the stop.
Anthony Limbrick then shuffled the pack as Ben Clark came off to replaced by Jordan Williams who was also making his competitive debut for the club.
Harrison made an excellent save to keep out Andrew Mitchell who came on for Rory Donnelly as he met a corner before his header was pushed away by the TNS keeper.
However, ten minutes later, Glentoran did equalise as McDonagh was played in on goal before taking the ball around Harrison and slotting the ball into the back of the empty net sending the Oval into rapturous noise.
Harrison was called into action once more in the 90th minute as McMenamin was played in before his low shot towards the near post was saved by the feet of the keeper sending it out for a corner.
With four added minutes indicated Marshall had a big opportunity from the resulting corner as he got up before sending his header just wide of the target, unable to secure a first-leg victory.
Glentoran: Dayle Coleing, Patrick Mcclean,Luke McCullough, Caolan Marron, Marcus Kane, Conor McMenamin, Gael Bigirimana, Mal Smith (Jamie McDonagh, 73), Rhys Marshall, Rory Donnelly (Andrew Mitchell, 73), Robbie McDaid
The New Saints: Paul Harrison, Dean Ebbe, Jon Routledge, Ryan Astles, Keston Davies, Declan McManus, Adrian Cieślewicz (Beau Cornish, 90), Ben Clark (Jordan Williams, 73), Leo Smith, Keston Davies, Morgan Daykin.
