TIE’S DUN AND DUSTED WITH FIVE TO SPARE
Newtown 1 Dundalk win 5-0 on aggregate DUNDALK became the first side to advance to the second qualifying round of the new UEFA Europa Conference League with victory over Newtown at Park Hall last night.
Already 4-0 up from Thursday’s first leg at Oriel Park, the Co Louth men made sure of their advancement with a 52nd minute strike from Michael Duffy ensuring the club’s biggest ever aggregate victory in Europe.
Vinny Perth’s (inset) side never really had to get out of second gear against the Welsh outfit and can now look forward to a meeting against either Levadia Tallinn of Estonia or St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the next round.
The result sees them equal Shamrock Rovers’ record of 18 European wins. It’s also just the second time in the club’s history they have kept clean sheets over two legs following on from Riga in 2019.
The game itself was a poor affair with Chris Hughes’ men showing good early spirit but with a four goal aggregate deficit heading into the game it was no surprise that it resembled a friendly for large periods.
The home side started on the front foot and could well have pulled a goal back inside four minutes when a loose pass from Patrick Mceleney inside his own
0 Dundalk
penalty area was intercepted by James Davies who was unable to punish the mistake before Andy Boyle cut the chance out.
In a half of few chances, Dundalk’s best would fall to Daniel Kelly on 40 minutes when Duffy’s pull back fell to him but he could only blaze over.
Mceleney then almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion four minutes after the restart when a quick free kick from about 45 yards out caught out Jones only for the goalkeeper’s blushes to be spared by the upright.
The breakthrough did arrive on 52 minutes when Dundalk broke at pace following a Newtown free kick with Duffy racing from halfway onto Kelly’s pass before slotting under Jones.
Alessio Abibi was forced to make a few good saves after that to ensure the clean sheet tipping over a Nick Rushton shot late on before saving at point blank range from Jamie Breese from the resultant corner.
Nevertheless it was a comfortable win for Dundalk, who now host either FCI Levadia or St Joseph’s at Oriel Park on Thursday July 22nd with the Estonians - who they beat over two legs in 2018 - 3-1 up from the first leg last week.