'Successful couple of weeks' for Welsh sides in Europe

Caernarfon Town's Phil Mooney and Joe Faux celebrate their sides penalty shoot-out win over Crusaders

Former Wales international and Cymru Premier product Owain Tudur Jones believes The New Saints can have an extended run in Europe this season.

Cymru Premier champions Saints beat FK Decic 4-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League second qualifying round and will face Hungary’s Ferencvaros.

Saints have made no secret of their ambition to become the first Welsh side to reach the group stages of a European competition.

“One of the biggest things I always feel is you need luck, you need luck with the draw,” Jones told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“They travel to Hungary and have got a chance

“And what gives them a chance is that they have the insurance policy of falling – even if they lose in the Champions League qualifiers – they drop down to the next stage and then potentially the next stage after that.

“They have a really good chance and are potentially a couple of games away, worse case scenario, of qualifying for the Europa Conference.

“All eyes will be on New Saints to progress, but Caernarfon Town for the excitement and let’s see what the Cofis can do over in Poland.”

Caernarfon Town, appearing in European competition for the first time, beat Northern Ireland’s Crusaders on penalties to advance to the Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

The Canaries will face Polish giant Legia Warsaw, but the away leg will be played behind closed doors.

Legia have been punished by Uefa for the behaviour of fans during their game against Aston Villa in last season's competition.

“What a massive club that is – previous European semi-finalists,” Jones said of Legia.

“But unfortunately that will be played behind closed doors because of the behaviour of their fans last year.

“Obviously it’s a good thing in a way but I think for the atmosphere, you work hard all season to play in Europe and to play against the big clubs and in big stadiums, unbelievable atmospheres.

“They’re going to miss out on that, which is a shame.”

ones, who played in Europe as a teenager for Bangor City, added: “Usually it has ended in disappointment and probably over the years it’s been four, five, sixes out of 10."

Caernarfon Town's Phil Mooney and Joe Faux celebrate their side's penalty shoot-out win over Crusaders

Connah’s Quay Nomads and Bala Town both suffered extra time heartbreak as they exited the Europa Conference League.

Nomads were undone by two late goals – one in normal time and the other in extra time – as they were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by FK Bravo.

Bala were also beaten in the first qualifying round having taking an early lead against Paide of Estonia through Nathan Peate, but it went to extra time.

They were minutes away from penalties only to be denied by a goal in extra time stoppage time.

“Now this one was so close to be a summer of 10 out of 10 in the first round for all four clubs," said Jones.

“The New Saints and Caernarfon had already gone through the previous evenings and Bala and Connah’s Quay were so close to glory.

Jones said of Connah’s Quay: “Such disappointment, they worked so hard with bodies on the line.

“Then Bala, equally disappointing if not more because they were down to 10 men in extra time, winning away from home and they conceded in the 121st minute, before it could go to pens. Heartbreak.

“It has to be an eight out of 10 collectively - it’s been a really successful couple of weeks.

“But unfortunately probably the fact they were coming up against full-time teams that were just a little bit fitter and that mental block right at the end has cost Connah’s Quay and Bala.”