Flashback – 16 years ago: Rhyl FC create history in Europe

FK Atlantas 3 (Žernys 14 pen, Laurisas 63, Petreikis 78)
Rhyl 2 (Stones 33, G Powell 62)
UEFA Cup first qualifying round – July 28, 2005
Aggregate 4-4 – Rhyl won on away goals

History was made on this date (almost) 16 years ago when Rhyl became just the second Welsh Premier League side to win a European tie.

Emulating the achievement of Barry Town, who had beaten Latvia’s Dinaburg in 1996/97 to become the first League of Wales team to triumph in Europe over two legs, John Hulse’s heroes lost 3-2 to FK Atlantas in Lithuania, but went through on away goals.

The Lilywhites had won the home leg 2-1 seven days earlier. Lee Hunt, who scored both goals at Belle Vue, did not travel for the away game.

The return clash at the Klaipėdos Central Stadium was marred by ugly scenes after the opposition assaulted members of the Rhyl squad at the final whistle.

Atlantas manager Vacys Lekevicius raced onto the pitch and clashed with Alan Morgan and goalkeeper Gerald McGuigan in the centre circle.

The after-match scuffles, and the Lithuanians’ persistent fouling, overshadowed what was a momentous outcome for Rhyl, who by the end of the day were one of just three Welsh Premier teams – Carmarthen also won through later that evening – to progress in Europe.

The North Wales hopefuls went down 3-2 despite controlling large parts of the game, which started in scorching temperatures.

Hulse’s men were actually a man up for 75 minutes of the game after Atlantas midfielder Dainius Zernys was sent off for a brutal knee-high challenge soon after scoring the opener.

Rhyl were on the back foot in the opening period, Atlantas’ first chance coming as early as 42 seconds.

The hosts made a quick break into the opposition area, and a dangerous cross from the right by Zernys found its way to Aivaras Laurisas, whose blistering shot from 20 yards was parried to safety by McGuigan.

The home side’s strong start was eventually rewarded after 13 minutes, when a clumsy tackle by defender James Brewerton on Laurisas saw a penalty awarded without much argument.

Midfielder Zernys coolly dispatched the ball high into the left-hand corner of the net.

But only 80 seconds later, with Rhyl at that stage facing being knocked out with the score 2-2 on aggregate, Atlantas pressed the self-destruct button.

Zernys lunged at Morgan with a knee-high tackle, leading to a brawl between the teams.

The Lithuanian offender was shown a straight red card, and left the field after several minutes, still pleading innocence and crying his eyes out.

Somehow Atlantas managed to keep their 10 men on the pitch, even after a horrific 29th-minute challenge by Donatas Navikas on Rhyl winger Marc Limbert, which went unseen by the referee.

Rhyl made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute, somewhat against the run of play.

After clever inter-play between Andy Moran and Chris Adamson on the left of the penalty area, the latter crossed for midfielder Greg Stones to glance a deft header into the bottom right-hand corner.

The goal rejuvenated Rhyl, and the half-time whistle came too soon for the North Wales outfit, who were getting into their stride against the full-timers.

Half-time: FK Atlantas 1 Rhyl 1 (2-3)

The second half started in complete contrast, with very little action, but when the first real incident of note came in the 62nd minute, it made the tortuous journey undertaken by the 100 travelling Rhyl fans all worthwhile.

The tricky Adamson held up the ball on the left of the area, and played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Gary Powell, who let loose a rasping right-foot shot from 25 yards into the top corner of the net.

The lead was short-lived though, as on 63 minutes, with the Welsh fans still celebrating, Atlantas made it 2-2.

The ball fell kindly in the Rhyl area to Rimantas Žvingilas, whose gentle shot hit the post. Laurisas was quickest to react, tapping the ball into the net with away players standing still.

McGuigan made amends with a remarkable one-on-one save against Zvingilas on 76 minutes, but soon after, Andrius Petreikis blasted home to make it 3-2.

Every one of the last 12 minutes, and four in injury time, felt like an eternity to the travelling crowd, who knew one more Atlantas goal would knock them out.

After chances went begging for both sides, the final whistle came amid an explosion of excitement from the Rhyl bench and a vicious chorus of boos from the home fans.

Rhyl: Gerard McGuigan, Chris Adamson, Mark Powell, George Horan, Greg Stones, James Brewerton, Alan Morgan (Tom Mutton 46), Gary Powell (Mark Connolly 89), Stuart Graves, Marc Limbert, Andy Moran.
Subs: Chris Taylor, Mike Thompson, Matty Gatfield, Andy Davies, Mark Billingsley.
Att: 1,200.
REFEREE: Lasha Silagadze (Georgia)

RHYL FC’S COMPLETE EUROPEAN RECORD

Played 14
Won 2
Drawn 1
Lost 11
Goals For 13
Goals Against 44

Top goalscorers
3 – Lee Hunt
2 – Mark Connolly, Andy Moran, Gary Powell
1 – Chris Adamson, Greg Stones, Craig Garside, 1 Own Goal

Top appearance makers
12 – George Horan
11 – James Brewerton
10 – Mark Powell, Mark Connolly
9 – Gareth Wilson
8 – Lee Hunt, Andy Moran, Stuart Graves, Greg Strong