TRIPLE EXIT FOR WELSH CLUBS

ALL three clubs crashed out of the Europa League second qualifying round on a disappointing night for Welsh football.

Bangor City were fancied to beat their unseeded Moldovan opponents Zimbru Chisinau but, after a goal-less first leg at Nantporth a week ago, they fell to a 2-1 away defeat.

Manager Nev Powell predicted his side would score and he proved to be correct as Mark Smyth's goal just before the break gave them hope.

But they already trailed 2-0 to a quick-fire double from Oleg Molla after a bright start in which a Chris Jones effort was cleared off the line.

It took a last ditch tackle to stop sub Dave Morley from getting a shot away when well-placed and City also went close from a stoppage time corner with keeper Lee Idzi thrown into the mixer in the opposition six-yard box.

Cefn Druids of the Huws Gray Alliance saw their Europa League adventure ended with a 5-0 defeat away to MyPa-47 in Finland.

After a superb goal-less draw in the first leg at Wrexham, the Ancients were outclassed in Lahti with midfielder Shutsa Nongotamba, strikers Ville Saxman and Olajide Williams all scoring for the hosts. Nigerian Williams also hit the woodwork in the first-half.

Druids conceded a fourth when midfielder Riley O'Neill scored from a corner straight from the restart and Opoku completed the rout in the 70th minute.

Llanelli failed to stop the rot in the final game of the day at home to Kuopion Palloseura despite taking a 50th-minute lead through a Luke Bowen penalty after the striker had been brought down in the box.

The Finns levelled 10 minutes later through an 18-yarder from half-time sub Aleksi Paananen after keeper Craig Morris had fumbled, wiping out any advantage from Llanelli's away goal, and the home side were unable to find another to take the tie into extra-time.

Attendance of only 534 at the Llanelli game.

I expect the Welsh clubs will say they "learned lot from their experience."
The Llanelli gate was more than twice their average for a Welsh Premiership match.