EUROPEAN HEROES IN DOMESTIC RETURN
WALES’ three Europa League sides will be back in domestic league action today.
They all have home games this afternoon, with Connah’s Quay Nomads hosting Penybont and hoping the fuss over manager Andy Morrison’s comments after the 1-0 midweek defeat to Dinamo Tblisi are now a thing of the past.
With three players failing COVID-19 tests, and a fourth having symptoms, the day before the game, Morrison was down to 14 players. Others then felt unwell on the day of the game.
Morrison claimed he had “turned a blind eye” to the illnesses, leading to suggesteions that the club had flaunted COVID regulations and an FAW inquiry.
The club and Morrison moved quickly to dispel any fears of breaches of strict protocols
“There were players who, whether it was nerves or what, were just not themselves. Everyone who was in that changing room could only have been there if they had passed a Covid test and gone through all the protocols,” said Morrison.
“They wouldn’t have been in there if there was something wrong with them. Match day situations arise and that’s what it was.
“It was a tragic result and so cruel, but that’s football. It’s a shame by comments have been twisted because it takes away a little bit away from the effort and performance of the players.”
TNS had reached the second round with an extra-time victory over MSK Zilina and their clash in the Faroes also went into overtime after Leo Smith made it 1-1 with 10 minutes to go. The visitors then went ahead thanks to Dean Ebbe only for late leveller to send the tie to penalties
It was 3-3 when Toshavn’s Michal Przybylski hit the bar. That gave Ebbw the chance to win the match, but his shot was saved and the home side went on to win 5-4.
“I’m gutted for the players” said TNS manager Scott Ruscoe.
Ruscoe’s men host Cardiff Met today, while Bala Town will host
Cefn Druids if the visitors can comply with the ‘Safer Return to Play Protocol’ after being in breach at the start of the season.
The midweek games all ended in draws, Haverfordwest drawing 0-0 at Cardiff Met and
Penybont held 1-1 at home by
Aberystwyth Town.
On Friday night, Aberystwyth won 3-1 at home to Flint with goals from Jonathan Evans, Matt Jones and Lee Jenkins. It was a similar score at Jenner Park, where Barry Town United stopped Caernarfon going top with their first win of the season.
A brace of goals from Kayne McLaggon and a bullet header from Curtis McDonald allowed Barry to make amends for their 3-0 home defeat to TNS last weekend.
In the other Saturday fixture, Nick Ruston scored twice in Newtown’s 2-2 draw at Haverfordwest County matcheingtwo goals for the hosts from Jack Williams.