It was a week of mixed emotions for the four Welsh clubs in Europe with success, disappointment and failure dished out almost equally for the Cymru Premier sides.

Heading into this week TNS, Caernarfon Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads all carried first leg leads however Bala had to overturn a 2-1 home defeat to Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia.

The second legs began on Tuesday as Cymru Premier champions The New Saints travelled to Montenegro, looking to protect a 3-0 lead from the first leg of their opening qualifying round of the Champions League.

A Brad Young penalty before half time provided added security for TNS, adding to his two goals from the first leg and despite a poacher’s effort from Asmir Kajević 20 minutes from time, The New Saints safely secured their place against Hungarian champions Ferencváros.

TNS will hope they can keep hold of Cymru Premier player of the season Young amid rumours that he is sought after by the likes of Bristol City.

Penalty Heroics Send Caernarfon Through

Success didn’t end there either. Caernarfon Town, on their European debut last week, beat Crusaders and travelled to Northern Ireland with a 2-0 lead.

The Canaries were making their first appearance in continental football and did so in the Europa Conference league.

In the second leg, Town appeared to have put the tie beyond doubt when Arnaldo Paulo Fernandes Mendes smashed the ball home from a corner, however, three second half goals from the home side brought the tie back level in normal time.

With minutes remaining in extra-time, Crusaders thought they should have had a penalty for handball, but the referee waved away protests leading to a tense penalty shootout in front of the Caernarfon travelling faithful.

14 penalties were taken and scored before three successive misses. Crucially, two of those were from Crusaders meaning the experienced Marc Williams sent the keeper the wrong way sending Caernarfon Town through to the second round on their first attempt.

Next up for Caernarfon will a trip to Poland and former European Cup semi-finalists Legia Warsaw on Thursday the 25^th of July.

Heartbreak for Nomads

Connah’s Quay Nomads were the third Welsh side to carry a positive result into the second leg after a 0-1 win away at Slovenian side Bravo, courtesy of a Ben Maher smashed finish from close range late on in Ljubljana.

They too looked to be heading into the Europa Conference second round only to see Bravo defender Nemanja Jakšić run from defence, pass the ball out wide and slot coolly home two minutes from normal time.

With scores level the game went into Extra Time, and with six minutes left Matej Poplatnik headed the Clovenian side through, leaving the home side heartbroken.

Paide leave it late to beat Bala

Bala Town were the only Welsh side to have a deficit going into the second leg but had been given a ray of hope after Joshua Ukek’s penalty in the 95^th minute of their first leg left the scores at 1-2 as the sides headed to Estonia.

The Welsh side cancelled out their deficit in the 12^th minute when defender Nathan Peate headed home from a corner.

Home side Paide had chances in normal time but Bala’s defence held firm with the aggregate scores at 2-2 in a tense game.

With 10 minutes or so remaining in Extra time, Bala defender Alex Downes received a second yellow meaning the visitors were down to 10 men as penalties loomed large.

However, in added time of Extra Time, Paide teenager Oskar Hõim took a shot from outside of the box and it arrowed perfectly into the far top corner sparking scenes of mass hysteria amongst the Estonian fans.