EURO PAIR BALA AND TNS SEAL A DOUBLE
THE night of Thursday, 27 August, 2020, will have to go down as one of the greatest days in the history of the semipro game in Wales.
Not just one, but two wins in Europe with both TNS New Saints and Bala Town making it through to the second round of the Europa League qualification phase. For Bala it was a maiden win, 1-0 over Valetta in Malta, while TNS triumphed 3-1 after extra-time at home to Slovakian side MSK Zilina.
After league champions Connah’s Quay Nomads and Barry Town United had been bundled out of Europe the previous week it was the perfect response that shows real progress is being made in the quality and standard of the JD Cymru Premier League.
“There have been a few European results in the past where I felt we’ve over achieved. Winning away last year when nobody gave us a chance, but this was up there with that,” said TNS boss Scott Ruscoe.
“But as an all-round, accomplished performance it as something else. When you look at the number of chances we had, and the number of goals we should have scored, we should have been out of sight.”
The manager should also take credit for his talent identification given that two of his three summer signings hit the back of the net on the full debuts. First on target was Louis Robles with a header on 56 minutes.
The visitors levelled through a 77th-minute penalty through Patrik Myslovic, taking the game into extra-time, when the fitness of the home side began to tell despite a six-month break since their last competitive match.
“We’re playing a different way this year, pressing teams so they don’t have a chance, so we’ve got to be fit. We were really good on that front,” added Ruscoe, now in his third season in charge.
That extra fitness paid immediate dividends when Leo Smith put TNS 2-1 in front on 100 minutes with a goal set-up by another of the newbies, the former Chester defender Ryan Astles.
And the game was finally made safe three minutes from time when former Wrexham midfielder Adrian Cieslewicz converted from the penalty spot.
“I’m really happy for the new boys. I’ve got nothing but praise for all three new signings – they looked like they’d been playing for us for years,” added Ruscoe.
It was also a night to remember for Bala Town, who had lost every one of their previous five away trips in the Europa League qualifying rounds and had never before made it past the first round.
Those defeats came against Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), Vaduz (Liechtenstein), AIK (Sweden), Differdange 03 (Luxembourg) and Tre Fiori (San Marino). They had a 38th minute goal from Chris Venables to thank for their 1-0 win over Valletta FC in Malta in a game played in 32 degree heat. For manager Colin Caton it was the perfect belated 50th birthday gift and the best result in his 18 years at Bala.
With friendlies against Crewe, Shrewsbury and TNS, the Lakesiders were well prepared and gave their full-time hosts a thorough test. Now Caton is thinking big for the next round.
“Galatasaray, Spurs, AC Milan all come into it. There are a lot of big hitter and it’s a massive opportunity for us,” said Caton.
“If we can get a big draw against one of the big teams it could enhance our reputation that’s been growing for the past 18 years.”