WE'RE READY TO GO AGAIN RALLIES ANT

THE New Saints boss Anthony Limbrick says his team are ready “to go again” in Europe next summer to try to break the glass ceiling and reach the first round proper of a Uefa tournament.

- Carl Field

They came agonisingly close to making it to the knock-out round of the Europa Conference League last week, only to see their dreams shattered in a penalty shoot-out against the Czech Republic side Viktoria Plzen.

Taking a two goal lead into the second leg against the team currently unbeaten in second place in the Czech First Division gave the JD Cymru Premier minnows a great chance of going through to the next phase and their hopes got brighter when Louis Robles scored in the fourth minute.

Declan McManus hit the post as the home side brought on the cavalry to try to save face, then save the game. They eventually scored two late goals to win the first 90 minutes 3-1 and force extra time. When that ended 0-0 it meant penalties and an agonising defeat.

“The dream is to make the first round and we have improved the playing squad and our training standards. We will go again next summer if we qualify,” said Limbrick.