Caernarfon Town join elite band of Cymru Premier clubs after thrilling Euro win
Caernarfon Town last night became just the fourth Cymru Premier club to win their debut tie in Europe.
The Canaries’ thrilling 8-7 penalties victory over Crusaders after a 3-3 extra time aggregate score in their Uefa Conference League clash put Richard Davies’ side in an elite group.
Previously, only Llanelli (2006), Prestatyn Town (2013) and gap Connah’s Quay (2016) had won over two legs in Europe at the first attempt representing our national league.
Caernarfon beat NIFL Premiership outfit Crusaders 2-0 at Nantporth Stadium, Bangor on July 11, then lost the return 3-1 six days later after taking 3-0 lead in the tie, but prevailed in a dramatic penalty-shoot out.
Young goalkeeper Stephen McMullan, on loan from EFL League Two club Fleetwood Town, saved two pens and scored one himself.
Experienced former Wrexham striker and Wales Under-21 international Marc Williams coolly dispatched the winning kick at Seaview, Belfast, just a few days short of his 36th birthday.
Next up for the Cofis are Polish giants Legia Warsaw, veterans of more than 250 European games and former European Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finalists.
Here is a rundown of the Cymru Premier’s first-time success stories in Europe
The first three triumphs were all sealed with away wins whereas Caernarfon did their best work at ‘home’.
2006/07
Uefa Cup 1st Qualifying Round
July 13, 2006
Gefle IF 1 Llanelli 2
July 27, 2006
Llanelli 0 Gefle IF 0
Two late goals in the first leg in Sweden from Jacob Mingorance and Rhys Griffiths clinched Llanelli a magnificent away victory after Kristen Viikmae had given the hosts a 20th minute advantage.
And the South Wales Reds completed the job with a 0-0 draw at Stebonheath Park.
2013/14
Europa League 1st qualifying round
July 4, 2013
Prestatyn Town 1 Liepajas Metalurgs 2
July 11, 2013
Liepajas Metalurgs 1 Prestatyn Town 2 (Prestatyn won 4-3 on penalties)
From winning the tier 4 Clwyd League to victory in the Europa League within just 14 years – what an achievement from Prestatyn Town.
The Welsh Cup holders were beaten 2-1 at Belle Vue, Rhyl, by Latvians Leipajas in the first leg, Andy Parkinson equalising in between away goals from Jurgis Kalns and Ilja Sadcins.
Second favourites for the return tussle at the Daugavas Stadium, Town went 3-1 behind in the tie when Valerijs Afanasjev put the hosts ahead on 17 minutes.
The Seasiders were heading out before Ross Stephens made it 1-1 on 77 and then player-manager Neil Gibson brought it to 3-3 on aggregate with a 90th minute finish.
Penalties were needed and Gibson, Stephens, Sean Hessey and Michael Parker all converted to secure Prestatyn a shootout success which will never be forgotten.
2016/17
Europa League 1st qualifying round
30 Jun 2016
gap Connah’s Quay 0 Stabæk 0
7 Jul 2016
Stabæk 0 gap Connah’s Quay 1
Andy Morrison brought true professionalism to Connah’s Quay Nomads during his managerial reign – not a surprise considering his Manchester City background – and if the Deesiders were ever going to win their first European tie, it would have been under his leadership.
The first leg at Belle Vue, Rhyl, against Norwegians Stabæk finished 0-0, but the second instalment at the Fredrikstad Stadion was settled by a 15th minute Callum Morris goal in the Welsh Premier underdogs’ favour.
The Nomads have been a credit to Wales in all of their Euro adventures.
2024-25
Europa Conference League 1st qualifying round
July 11, 2024
Caernarfon Town 2 Crusaders 0
July 18, 2024
Crusaders 3 Caernarfon Town 1 (Caernarfon won 8-7 on penalties)
It took a while for a club of their stature to qualify for Europe, but when they did they certainly made the most of it.
From almost going out of business and playing in tier 3 barely a decade earlier, awoken giants Caernarfon Town of the Cymru Premier won a thrilling UEFA Conference League tie on spot kicks.
Richard Davies’ men defeated Northern Ireland Premiership outfit Crusaders 2-0 in the first leg at Nantporth, Bangor, thanks to goals from Morgan Owen and Zack Clarke.
When Paulo Mendes made it 3-0 to the Cofis on aggregate in the 24th minute of the return in Belfast – a lead Town held to half time – they looked well on course for the next round.
However, Crusaders brought back strongly in the second half, goals from Ross Clarke, Daniel Larmour and Philip Lowry forcing extra time.
No further goals, so it was down to penalties. At 7-7 in sudden death, 19-year-old Canaries goalkeeper Stephen McMullan, a Northern Irishman on loan from Fleetwood who had scored from the spot himself, produced two saves, and while Caernarfon missed their eighth one, veteran Marc Williams put away the decisive pen to send the Cofis fans wild.